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Best Butterfly Trails in Boulder

Here are a couple facts that might set your heart aflutter: There are more than 200 butterfly species in Boulder County, and our region has the fourth-highest butterfly diversity of any place in the United States! The best way to see them is to get out on the trails that are rich with the ecosystems that these delicate pollinators favor. Here’s where to go.

Help protect Boulder's natural beauty by remembering these Leave No Trace principles, and before you go, check here for trail closures due to trail conditions.

  1. Anne U. White Trail
  2. Rattlesnake Gulch Trail
  3. Goshawk Ridge Trail
  4. Long Canyon Trail
  5. Lion’s Lair Trail
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Anne U. White Trail

Length: 1.7 miles one way
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Restroom: Yes
Parking fee? No

Winding gently along a stream through a narrow, shaded canyon, the Anne U. White Trail feels like a hidden woodland corridor far from the bustle of Boulder. This peaceful path is a favorite among nature lovers for its quiet beauty — and a haven for butterflies. Researchers have documented up to 50 species here, including red admirals, painted ladies and two-tailed swallowtails. They are drawn by the riparian plants and wildflowers that thrive in this moist, sheltered habitat. The trail’s gradual incline makes it approachable for a wide range of hikers, and the steady sound of water, dappled light and winged companions make it an enchanting destination.

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Insider Tip

Boulder County often hosts butterfly talks and walks in the summertime. Check discover.bouldercounty.gov for a calendar of events.

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Rattlesnake Gulch Trail

Length: 1.5 miles one way
Difficulty: Moderate
Restroom: Yes
Entrance fee to Eldorado Canyon State Park

Just 20 minutes from Boulder in Eldorado Canyon State Park, Rattlesnake Gulch Trail climbs steadily through scrub oak and ponderosa forest, offering sweeping canyon views around every switchback. Along the way, you'll pass the ruins of a historic hotel and catch glimpses of soaring cliffs — and, in warmer months, a surprising array of butterflies. From tiger swallowtails to the rare blue hops azure butterfly (known only to live in Colorado’s Front Range), the fauna and flora diversity here is documented with interpretive signage along the way.

Photo by Gwen Gray

Rattlesnake Gulch Trail

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Important Entry Information

Timed-entry reservations are required in Eldorado Canyon State Park on weekends and holidays from May 1-October 1. Passengers who ride the free weekend Eldo Shuttle (available Memorial Day to Labor Day) do not need reservations and are guaranteed entrance to the park (park fees still apply).

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Goshawk Ridge Trail

Length: 3.1 miles (loop with Spring Brook Trail)
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Restroom: No
Parking fee? No

Tucked away beyond the more-traveled paths, Goshawk Ridge offers a spectacular wildflower experience for those willing to put in the steps. Reached via Dowdy Draw and the Spring Brook Loop, this trail rewards hikers with an ever-evolving display of blooms from early spring through mid-summer. By July, bee balm lights up the flourishing meadows, drawing pollinators, including a variety of butterflies. 

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Long Canyon Trail

Length: 1.5 miles one way
Difficulty: Moderate
Restroom: No
Parking fee? Yes, $5 for nonresidents

Long Canyon is a quiet, under-the-radar trail that traces the path of Upper Gregory Creek through a protected ravine that feels wonderfully wild in places, with dense undergrowth brushing the narrow path. From the parking lot, you’ll start on the Ranger Trail, which itself travels through a butterfly-rich corridor of bee balm and other flowers in summer. Aphrodite fritillaries and painted ladies seem to love it here. Then, as you branch off to Long Canyon itself, you’ll find more wildflower and butterfly diversity as you ascend this out-and-back trail fringed with delicate flowers.

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Lion’s Lair Trail

Length: 2.7 miles one way
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Restroom: No
Parking fee? No

Lion’s Lair Trail meanders through shady ponderosa forest, and right off the bat, has a lush flower field of lupines and bee balm that attract pollinators. It’s a relatively mellow climb thanks to smooth switchbacks, and the payoff at the summit is a truly Boulder‑iconic view. Expect to spot species like swallowtails drifting on meadow breeze, blues flitting near the forest edge and nimble skippers dancing around sunlit blooms.

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