They are found on stable summits of foothills and mountains from 200 to 2000 feet above sea level on slopes up to 65%.
These soils associated with marine-type climates that have cool dry summers and mild wet winters.
Olympic soils have a relatively shallow and slightly cemented topsoil followed by five defining Bt horizons.
The Bt horizon can lay exposed where surface soil layers have been removed during erosion.
It has many faint and distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores and is moderately acidic (pH 5.8).
Bt4 horizon: The sixth layer is yellowish-red clay, with moderate medium and fine subangular and angular blocky structure and 7% concretions.
Bt5 horizon: The seventh layer is yellowish-red rubbed, dark red, and reddish-brown clay with a moderately coarse and very coarse angular blocky structure that parts to medium and fine subangular angular blocky structure.
In the Canadian System of Soil Classification, they are most similar to Luvisols due to the prolific Bt horizon.