Within this forest are outcrops and openings that provide special community structure. Three of these, Deer Knoll, Table Rock, and Cook’s Hollow, are of particular note. The Temperate Calcareous Outcrop Communities and Boreal Calcareous Cliff Communities found at these sites support a number of rare or uncommon plants. These sites are extremely sensitive to human use; general foot traffic in these areas is strongly discouraged.
Above 2,500 feet, the forest changes to one where red spruce and yellow birch are the dominant trees, the soils are less rich, and club mosses and ferns are common on the forest floor. Some parts of this forest are very mature, approaching old growth conditions already. One of these very mature areas can be seen along the Blue Summit Trail around 3000 feet.