Pine-northern hardwood forest occurs on gravelly outwash plains, delta sands, eskers, and dry lake sands in the Adirondacks. Generally, the combined cover of indicator species such as white pine (Pinus strobus) and red pine ( P. resinosa) in the woody layers must be at least 20% and ideally at least 50%, otherwise the occurrence may grade into other forest types such as hemlock-northern hardwood forest or beech-maple mesic forest. Physiognomy ranges from a semi-broadleaf deciduous (75% cover of hardwoods, 25% cover of conifers) to needleleaf evergreen forest.

Pine-northern hardwood forests in New York are often characterized by an emergent canopy of white pines (Pinus strobus) that overtop a mixed forest of white and/or red pine (Pinus resinosa) with northern hardwood species such as red maple (Acer rubrum), red oak (Quercus rubra), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). Blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium, V. myrtilloides) are characteristic shrubs, bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is a common herb, and mosses and lichens may be common to abundant.

Characteristic animals include pine warbler (Dendroica pinus) in mature, well-spaced pines and pileated woodpecker (Drycopus pileatus).

Known examples of this community have been found at elevations between 360 feet and 2225 feet.