Field Trips
The Lane County Butterfly Club of NABA will offer educational field trips in the greater Lane County Region, Central Cascades, and Ochocos. Our field trips often take place in rough or slippery terrain, so proper dress and footwear are essential. NABA field trips may be strenuous or hazardous. The weather and trail conditions can be unpredictable. Participation is at your own risk. Be prepared to sign a release form indicating this. You can view a sample copy of the release form (PDF). Please remember to bring water, lunch (for most trips), and protective sun/weather clothing, sunscreen, and good hiking shoes.
Pre-registration for Field Trips is required
Pre-registration is done per event. See event details for more information on how to register. If you have any questions, please fill out this contact form.
Field Trips 2026
Below are the dates of the currently scheduled field trips and butterfly counts that are sponsored by LCBC. Check back for other field trips as they are scheduled. If you are on our email list, we will notify you of new trips.
For more details about the counts, go to the Counts page.
For information about the Siskiyou Crest Count (not sponsored by LCBC), see this post.
Pop-up Trips
These will be announced on short notice if there is a window of good weather predicted
Mid-Late April: Pop-up Field Trip to Lost Creek Road, Dexter area
Registration: CLOSED (trip was held April 18)
Cost: FREE
May 2-16: Pop-up Field Trip to see Fender’s Blues near Fir Butte Rd, Eugene
Registration: CLOSED (trip was held May 8)
Cost: FREE
West Eugene Wetlands Field Trip
Saturday, June 13, 2026 1-3PM
Join the Lane County Butterfly Club on this field trip to the West Eugene Wetlands led by naturalist Rick Ahrens. Learn to identify local butterfly species and their host plants as well as about how these lands are being managed to increase biodiversity. We will send more information to those who have registered about where to meet a day or two before the trip.
Registration: CLOSED
Cost: FREE
Living Earth Nature Sanctuary and Golden Gardens Field Trip
Saturday, June 20, 2026 1-3PM
Join the Lane County Butterfly Club to look for Monarchs and other butterflies at two locations in West Eugene. The Living Earth Nature Sanctuary (LENS) has a large patch of blooming native milkweed and many other native butterfly host and nectar plants. LENS is a nonprofit charity operating on 15 acres of private land which provide a wildlife corridor between the West Eugene Wetlands and the Fern Ridge Wildlife Refuge. Besides milkweed, another native plant LENS is growing in large quantities is stinging nettle, which is the larval host plant for 5 species of local butterflies. Since 2023, volunteers have planted 64 species of native trees, shrubs, and forbs on the property. The plantings include 3 hedgerows, totaling 550 feet in length and containing a total of 104 native trees, shrubs, and forbs, plus 132 willow cuttings planted along another 176 feet of fenceline. All native plantings are mulched, irrigated, and protected from deer. No herbicides are used. The other location we will visit is the west end of Golden Gardens Park where the Lane County Butterfly Club is stewarding several patches of native milkweed. We will send more information to those who have registered about where to meet a day or two before the trip.
Registration: Fill out this form
Cost: FREE
Ochoco Butterfly Count (37th year)
Saturday, June 27, 2026, all day
Ochoco National Forest near Prineville
We will meet at a campground in the Ochoco National Forest about 15 miles east of Prineville and split into two groups. One group will go north and one will go south around Big Summit Prairie, meeting up at the Crooked River Bridge. Each group will drive to a number of locations and tally butterflies seen at each stop. If enough people participate, a hike to the top of Lookout Mountain can be included. More information can be found on the Counts page.
Pre-registration required. More details about location and time will be released to registered participants prior to the event. Open to anyone interested in butterflies.
Registration: Fill out this form
Cost: $3.00
Eugene Butterfly Count (36th year)
led by Sharon Blick
Saturday, July 4, 2026, 10am – 3pm
Mt Pisgah, Spencer’s Butte, Amazon Park, West Eugene Wetlands, and Whilamut Natural Area (formerly East Alton Baker Park)
The Eugene count circle is centered at Amazon Park. We divide into five groups and send one group to each of the following areas: South Hills, Buford Park East, Mt Pisgah Arboretum, West Eugene Wetlands, and Whilamut Natural Area (formerly East Alton Baker Park). Each group will walk at least 2 miles and possibly up to 5 miles. South Hills has the steepest trails and the West Eugene Wetlands is the flattest. More information can be found on the Counts page.
Pre-registration required. More details about location and time will be released to registered participants prior to the event. Open to anyone interested in butterflies.
Registration: Fill out this form
Cost: $3.00
Metolius Butterfly Count (41st year)
Saturday, July 11, 2026, all day
Camp Sherman area
We will meet at a campground between Black Butte Ranch and Sisters, split into two groups and drive to the Camp Sherman area. One group will go to the east of the Metolius River and the other group to the west. Each group will drive to a number of locations and tally butterflies seen at each stop. If enough people participate, a hike to the top of Black Butte can be included. More information can be found on the Counts page.
Pre-registration required. More details about location and time will be released to registered participants prior to the event. Open to anyone interested in butterflies.
Registration: Fill out this form
Cost: $3.00
Browder Ridge Butterfly Count (25th year)
Saturday, July 18, 2026, all day
Blue River area
Typically, there is one group hiking to Iron Mountain and one group driving and stopping frequently on Frissell Ridge. The hike is 3.3 miles with almost 2,000 feet of elevation gain. The Frissell Ridge area burned in 2023 but the road is now open again. The Frissell group typically records more species, but both groups often see 30 or more species.
Pre-registration required. More details about location and time will be released to registered participants prior to the event. Open to anyone interested in butterflies.
Registration: Fill out this form
Cost: $3.00
Wolf Mountain Road Field Trip (Oakridge area)
Saturday, July 25, 2026, all day
Join the Lane County Butterfly Club for a field trip to Wolf Mountain and vicinity, south of Oakridge. We will drive the forest roads and stop at good places to see butterflies. We generally see hundreds of butterflies of about 33 species.
Registration: Fill out this form
Cost: FREE
Lost Creek Road Field Trip (Dexter area)
Saturday, August 8, 2026 1-3PM
Join the Lane County Butterfly Club for a field trip to Lost Creek Road near Dexter. This field trip will be a drive-and-stop field trip with not a lot of walking. In August we generally see 10-15 species including Great Spangled Fritillaries.
Registration: Fill out this form
Cost: FREE