Stands (32) in the spruce-fir forests of Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks, originally sampled in 1964-1966, were resurveyed in 1982. In each stand 10-25 Bitterlich points were used in 1982 to obtain an estimate of basal area per ha. Data were summarized for low elevation (< 900 m) and high elevation (.gtoreq. 900 m) forests. Red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) declined by 40-60% in basal area for the low elevation forests and by 60-70% above 900 m. Balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) decreases by 35% at high elevations, due to natural disturbance in several of the stands, but was unchanged when only undisturbed stands were considered. The decline of red spruce accounted for about 3 quarters of the total decrease in basal area for both the high and low elevation forests. Spruce seedling frequency for the high elevation sample decreased by 80%, but was unchanged below 900 m. The pattern of spruce decline in the Adirondacks is similar to findings for New England. The cause of the decline is speculative at this time.