Description:
The red fir is primarily a California tree, with slight extensions into the Tahoe region of Nevada, and the southern Oregon Cascades. It is a common tree in the Sierra Nevada, the northern coast range, and the Klamath mountains in the middle elevations (5000 to 9000 feet) often sharing the upper elevation range of the white fir, and the lower range of the mountain hemlock.
In favorable areas, it can reach 200 feet in height. Its bark is reddish brown, which gives it its name. Its cones are upright, as all true firs, and are larger than the average fir cone at up to 8 inches. Its needles point upwards, like the white fir, but unlike the grand fir, which lie most flat.
Personal Observations:
My observation of this fir is mostly limited to California, my former home state. It was often found at the start of many of my Sierra backpack trips. I also encountered it climbing Snow Mountain in the north coast ranges where it was found near the top of this 7000 feet elevation peak, sometimes touching branches with white fir and not far from Jefferey pine and incense cedar.
In Oregon, I have observed it in south, central Oregon, east of Chemult, which is the only known occurrence east of Highway 97. It becomes more common as you progress south.