The Rila National Park forests act as huge natural air purifiers, oxygen generators, and freshwater keepers for the area. Within the Park, 53,481 hectares of land, or 66% of the Park’s total area, contain forests. This constitutes about 1.3% of the nation’s forestland. About 30.2% of Rila National Park’s nature reserves include forests (16,163.3 hectares).

Of the Park’s 53,481 hectares of forest, only 42,560.6 hectares (52.5% of Park territory) are actually wooded. The rest is treeless, including 778.3 hectares of forest pasture. The total wooded area can be seen as divided into:

1. Natural forests: 24,965.8 hectares (58.7%);
2. Dwarf pine: 15,359.5 hectares (36.1%); and
3. Cultivated (manmade) forests: 2,235.3 hectares (5.2%).

Three-fourths of the Park’s wooded areas are located at altitudes between 1,500 to 2,200 meters above sea level (average is 1,790 meters above sea level). These conditions favor coniferous species, which thrive in the Park, and cover 40,194.2 hectares alone. The most common tree species in Rila National Park is spruce, followed by Macedonian pine, and white and common fir. In comparison, broadleaf forests occupy only 2,366.4 hectares, and are dominated by beech, followed by durmast and aspen.

Mixed forests dominate the Park and account for about 60% of the entire wooded area. The largest are mixed coniferous forests, comprised of spruce and fir, in combination with white fir, a Balkan endemic, and dwarf pine. Other mixed forests include both coniferous and deciduous tree species. The largest homogeneous forests are spruce, followed by Macedonian pine and white fir.

The average forest lifespan in Rila National Park is 90 years: 91 years for coniferous forests and 74 years for deciduous forests. Ancient forests (100 years or over) occupy 13,514.6 hectares. The total timber stock in Rila National Park is estimated at over six million cubic meters, averaging 233 cubic meters per hectare, with an average annual growth rate of 2.82 cubic meters per hectare.

The Park forests are generally healthy. The Macedonian pine and white firtree specimens are least affected by human influence, followed by the spruce and common fir. There has not been a significant proliferation of pests recorded in the Park territory.