The Exploring Gold Butte Challenge
Five ways to get out into the monument this fall — on foot, behind the wheel, trowel in hand, or just listening. Every visit counts toward something.
FRIENDS OF GOLD BUTTE – FALL 2026 to Spring 2027
This fall, Friends of Gold Butte is inviting members and friends of every kind — new visitors, longtime hikers, OHV drivers, and volunteers alike — to take part in the Exploring Gold Butte Challenge. It’s a season-long celebration of everything the monument has to offer, open to anyone who signs up with FoGB and heads out to Gold Butte. The Challenge includes two phases, each with their own awards, and a season finale.
Any qualifying visit signed up through Meetup counts, whichever way you like to spend your time outdoors.
Five Ways In
CHOOSE YOUR OWN WAY(S)
ON FOOT
Hikes and Summits
BY VEHICLE
Jeep & 4×4 tours
STEWARDSHIP
Trash & Land Projects
CULTURAL DISCOVERY
Guided site visits
LEARNING
Speaker series
SAME LEADERS, SAME SIGN UP
The Process You Already Know
Sign up the way you always have
Every outing is scheduled and posted through Meetup, just like our hikes always have been, and led by our existing hike leaders, trip leaders, and event coordinators. Not yet a Meetup member? Head on over and sign up. You’ll be notified of all our upcoming events!
Tracked the familiar way
Participation is tracked through signature log sheets at each outing. Featured peaks also have peak registers on-site for hikers who want that extra bit of documentation.
EARN YOUR PLACE
Get recognized for getting out there
Phase One awards will be presented at the Friends of Gold Butte Annual Auction in December — including time to celebrate everyone’s adventures. Phase Two and Season Finale awards will be presented in late Spring, 2027.
3 Qualifying activities — any mix of hikes, peaks, tours, stewardship, site visits, or speaker talks — earns an Exploring Gold Butte Challenge participation badge.
Top Explorer status goes to members who complete the most activities overall, recognized with gift certificate prizes.
GET YOUR KEEPSAKE BOOKLET
Carry your progress in your pocket
Friends of Gold Butte will provide you with an Exploring Gold Butte passport — a pocket-sized keepsake booklet with a page for each activity category, so leaders can sign off your progress outing by outing.
Watch for more details, including the full fall schedule, on the our website and Meetup page in the coming weeks.