Fishing in the Beartooths is limited almost exclusively to the high Mountain lakes. The Wilderness includes a wide range of vegetation zones, influenced by elevation and local climate. At lower elevations from 6,000 feet to treeline, broad grass-sage meadows alternate with deep coniferous forest. Some of the common trees you will see in the wilderness are lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and douglas fir. Near treeline, whitebark pine can be found.
Wildflowers abound in the lower meadows throughout the summer and into the fall.
Treeline occurs between 9,000 and 9,500 feet in most areas. Vegetation is low to the ground and adapted to take advantage of pockets of warmth and moisture in the rocks. Although the alpine landscape appears barren, closer inspection of the hardy plants that thrive at this elevation reveals a myriad of dwarf wild flowers, lichens, and shrubs. The plants in the wilderness evolved in this harsh climate over millions of years, and adaptation to the environment has made them hardy and strong. Yet they remain in a delicate balance that can be destroyed if they are disturbed.