Join us for an exciting and picturesque butterfly tour through the stunning Beartooth Mountains and Yellowstone National Park, from July 20 to July 27, 2025. This week-long adventure will take you through diverse habitats at varying elevations, where you’ll have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful butterflies in North America—along with a rich variety of landscapes, from alpine meadows to the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone. This tour offers a great balance of butterfly-focused excursions and wildlife observation in one of the most famous national parks in the world.

Tour Dates:

July 20 - July 27, 2025

Tour Leaders:

Peter DeGennaro and Rob Gilson

• High-Elevation Butterflies: Search for alpine species at Beartooth Pass and Clay Butte.
• Yellowstone’s Butterfly Species: Look for the rare Jutta Arctic butterfly and other species unique to Yellowstone.
• Wildlife Viewing: Explore Lamar Valley for bison, elk, and grizzly bears.
• Spectacular Landscapes: Enjoy the majestic Beartooth Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
• Diverse Habitats: Visit a range of environments, from alpine meadows to river valleys and forests, maximizing your chances to see a wide variety of butterfly species.

This tour is perfect for butterfly enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those seeking to explore the stunning landscapes of Montana and Yellowstone while searching for some of North America’s most beautiful and elusive butterflies.

Sunday, July 27: Arrival in Billings

Arrive in Billings, Montana, and check into your hotel for the evening. This is an arrival day, allowing you time to rest and prepare for the adventure ahead. Overnight in Billings.

We’ll start the morning at Red Lodge Ski Area, with the possibility of exploring a local park in Billings to search for the Acadian Hairstreak. In the afternoon, we'll head to high elevations in the Beartooths, exploring Beartooth Pass and/or Clay Butte for more exciting butterfly sightings. We'll conclude the day with an overnight stay in Cooke City.

Today, we’ll venture into Yellowstone National Park, exploring the Lost Lake Trail and woodlands near Yellowstone Lake in search of the elusive Jutta Arctic (found only in odd-numbered years). Along the way, we’ll pass through the Lamar Valley, renowned for its incredible wildlife, offering a prime opportunity to spot large mammals. We may also make a stop to take in the breathtaking Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, as our route naturally passes by this iconic landmark. After a rewarding day, we’ll return to Cooke City for the night. The day's journey will involve approximately four hours of round-trip driving.

We’ll journey back over the Beartooth Mountains, focusing on high-elevation species such as alpines and arctics in this rugged and scenic landscape. After a day of exploration, we’ll settle in for the night in Red Lodge.

On our last full day in the Beartooths, we head back up into the high mountains for a final butterfly excursion. This will be an opportunity to revisit some of our favorite high-elevation spots or check out any areas we may have missed earlier in the week. Our focus will be on finding any remaining target species, particularly those that are more difficult to spot in the alpine environment.

We’ll continue to explore, possibly looking for additional high-altitude butterfly species or revisiting spots for those elusive butterflies that can sometimes be tricky to find. After our last day in the mountains, we’ll head back to Red Lodge for the night.

Today serves as a flex day to revisit any locations or targets we might have missed earlier in the week. If the weather wasn’t ideal on previous days, we’ll take advantage of any opportunity to chase down butterflies still on our list. This will also allow for a relaxed pace as we wrap up our tour.

In the late afternoon, we’ll head back to Billings for the night, where we’ll review the highlights of the trip and enjoy a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, it’s time to head to Billings Airport for your flight home. You’ll depart feeling accomplished, with new butterfly species under your belt and unforgettable memories from the stunning landscapes of the Beartooths and Yellowstone.