Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

What Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship does

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit trail stewardship organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Quincy, California. It designs, constructs, and maintains non-motorized and motorized trail infrastructure across the Lost Sierra region of northern California and western Nevada, operating under permit relationships with four National Forests: Tahoe, Plumas, Lassen, and Humboldt-Toiyabe. The organization runs three professional Pro Trail Crews plus a Youth Crew development pipeline and deploys both paid staff and a scaled volunteer program to deliver trail miles and host signature events such as the Downieville Classic mountain bike race, the Lost and Found Gravel Festival, and Mountains to Meadows Endurofest.

SBTS's flagship initiative is the Connected Communities program, a 527-mile trail network master plan linking 15 mountain towns; the plan was developed with a $360,525 Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant and has accumulated 73 letters of support, 161 community meetings, and 98% public support. The organization monetizes through a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: 55% grants, 19.3% donations, 15.7% events and campaigns, and 9.7% from its Yuba Expeditions guided-trip subsidiary. In 2023, SBTS operated on a $2.8M annual budget (up from $2.4M in 2022) with a grant portfolio of $2,469,605 across 13 funders, employed 67 staff with $1.27M in payroll, and constructed 17.56 miles of new trail including the 9.75-mile Mount Hough Phase II project. Geographic expansion is active into Nevada via the Peavine motorized singletrack project, and corporate partnerships span the outdoor recreation industry (Santa Cruz, Shimano, WTB, Patagonia, Polaris, Yamaha).

Name

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

Legal name

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

Website

https://sierratrails.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is a Quincy, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs, builds, and maintains trail infrastructure across four National Forests in the Lost Sierra, serving mountain communities, recreational users, and partner agencies through grant-funded crew programs, signature events, and the 527-mile Connected Communities trail network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trail Stewardship and Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Mountain, Glacier & Alpine Nature Tours (THAJAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA)

Keywords

• Trail construction services
• Trail maintenance stewardship
• Outdoor recreation events
• Volunteer trail programs
• Mountain bike race events

Headquarters

HQ city

Quincy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government and Non-Government Grants: Primary revenue source at 55% of operating budget. SBTS received $2,469,605 in grant awards in 2023 from 13 different funders including Sierra Nevada Conservancy, National Forest Foundation, California and Nevada Off-Highway Vehicle Funds, Santa Cruz Bicycles Pay Dirt Fund, REI Cooperative Action Fund, and Fox Trail Trust Fund.
2. Donations: Individual and corporate donations comprising 19.3% of operating budget. Includes corporate sponsorships from outdoor industry partners.
3. Events and Campaigns: Race events and campaign fundraisers including Downieville Classic, Lost and Found Gravel Festival, Mountains to Meadows, and '5 Bucks a Foot' campaign. Comprises 15.7% of operating budget.
4. Yuba Expeditions: Adventure shuttle and bike shop operation in Quincy providing adventure services. Comprises 9.7% of operating budget.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds and maintains multi-use singletrack trails on National Forest lands across the Tahoe, Plumas, Lassen, and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. It operates professional trail crews, hosts world-class cycling events such as the Downieville Classic and Lost & Found Gravel Festival, runs volunteer Epic Weekend trail-building programs, and executes the multi-decade Connected Communities initiative to connect 15 mountain towns with over 500 miles of trail. Revenue comes primarily from government and private grants, donations, event proceeds, and its Yuba Expeditions adventure shuttle subsidiary.

Product overview

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating as a single integrated offering centered on trail stewardship using trails as an economic development tool for mountain communities. The organization's portfolio consists of professional trail construction and maintenance services, major cycling events (Downieville Classic, Lost and Found Gravel Race, Mountains to Meadows Endurofest), volunteer trail-building programs (Epic weekends, Lakes Basin Trail Daze), the Connected Communities long-term trail network expansion initiative, youth programs (Youth Crew, Earn-A-Bike), and the Yuba Expeditions adventure shop. Events serve as both community engagement and fundraising mechanisms to support trail work, while the Connected Communities program represents a major multi-decade infrastructure project linking 15 communities with 527 miles of trail.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lost Sierra: Lost Sierra is the regional brand used by SBTS to describe the northern California and western Nevada area where the organization operates and builds trails, including the Lost Sierra Route and Lost Sierra adventures.
• Yuba Expeditions

Products and services

• Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Race
• Lost and Found Gravel Race
• Mountains to Meadows Endurofest featuring Grinduro
• Volunteer Epic Events
• Lakes Basin Trail Daze
• Connected Communities
• Pro Trail Crew Services
• Youth Crew Program
• Knights of the Lost Sierra Earn-A-Bike Program
• Yuba Expeditions
• 5 Bucks a Foot Gravel Fundraiser

Quantifiable outcome

• 227 miles of new trail built and 3,082 miles maintained to specification since founding in 2003
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Sierra Nevada ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of Connected Communities planning through Resilient Sierra Nevada Communities and Vibrant Recreation and Tourism programs. Awarded $360,525 for Trails Master Plan development and nearly $800,000 for Sierra Valley Recreation Project Planning.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific Southwest Region 5, Tahoe National Forest, Lassen National Forest, and Plumas National Forest partnership for trail construction, maintenance, and stewardship on federal lands. Essential for environmental compliance and project approvals.
• Santa Cruz BicyclescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Downieville Classic All Mountain World Championships and Cross Country Race. Donated PPE during COVID-19 pandemic for first responders. Supports Connected Communities promotional efforts.
• PatagoniacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting trail work through volunteer days and company work days at project sites. Part of outdoor industry coalition supporting SBTS mission.
• ShimanocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partner and 2020 Partner of the Year. Adopt-a-Trail sponsor for Lavezzola Creek Trail. Sponsors Ron's House of Big Air River Jump. Supports 5 Bucks-a-Foot fundraiser. Partner in e-bike policy development with USFS.
• Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB)coreGTM or Marketing Partner2019 Partner of the Year. Title sponsor of inaugural Coyote Classic in 1995. Adopt-a-Trail sponsor for Butcher Ranch Trail. Volunteer work days with staff. Event aid stations. Custom Downieville saddles for podium finishers.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTeamed with SBTS and bike industry brands for Sierra Trail Chasers disaster relief campaign. Supports events and community engagement activities in Lost Sierra region.
• Breakaway PromotionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent organizing partner for Downieville Classic, managing race logistics and promotion alongside SBTS.
• Yuba ExpeditionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuincy-based adventure shop and bike shuttle service operated in connection with SBTS. Provides shuttle services for trail access, bike rentals, and adventure gear. Contributes 9.7% of operating revenue.
• International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpertise partner providing trail design guidance including Chris Orr teaching volunteers proper trail design and drainage techniques.
• Pacific Crest Trail AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Gold Valley Rim Trail project to re-route PCT and expand bicycle/motorcycle singletrack access.
• Clif BarsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor industry partner supporting SBTS trail work and events through corporate sponsorship.
• Fox ShoxsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor industry partner supporting SBTS events and trail building mission.
• Truckee Dirt RiderssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoto club partner providing volunteer support for East Zone Connectivity project and trail work days.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA): National trail stewardship nonprofit with the same mission of building, maintaining, and advocating for mountain bike trails. IMBA is explicitly cited as a partner providing trail design guidance to SBTS, and both organizations share membership-based advocacy and corporate sponsor models.
• Pacific Crest Trail Association: Trail stewardship nonprofit managing the Pacific Crest Trail with similar volunteer-based trail maintenance, federal land management partnerships, and youth engagement programming. PCTA partnered with SBTS on the Gold Valley Rim Trail re-route.
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Long-established 501(c)(3) trail stewardship nonprofit protecting and managing a multi-state trail corridor. Comparable in mission, federal land partnerships, volunteer engagement model, and membership fundraising structure.
• Friends of the Inyo: California-based trail and public lands stewardship nonprofit with a similar model of professional trail crews, volunteer work events, and U.S. Forest Service partnerships in the Eastern Sierra.
• Adventure Cycling Association: Nonprofit cycling organization that develops cycling routes, organizes events, and advocates for bike-friendly infrastructure, sharing SBTS's cycling-focused trail mission and event-based fundraising approach.
• National Forest Foundation: Congressionally-chartered nonprofit partnering with the U.S. Forest Service on conservation and recreation projects; both organizations share federal land stewardship missions and overlapping corporate sponsor bases. NFF is also a direct SBTS grant funder.
• Leave No Trace: Outdoor ethics nonprofit with overlapping outdoor recreation mission, federal land agency partnerships, and educational programming for trail users. Smaller operating budget with similar membership and donor model.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks/trails near urban communities. Operates at significantly larger scale with similar trail development focus but broader conservation mandate.
• Specialized Bicycles: Major cycling industry brand with active support for trail stewardship organizations and race sponsorship programs. Represents the type of large corporate partner ecosystem SBTS operates within.
• PeopleForBikes: National bicycling advocacy organization representing the industry and supporting trail infrastructure investment. Comparable in advocating for bike-friendly communities and connecting cycling to economic development narratives.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sierrabuttes
• Facebookfacebook.com/sierratrails
• Instagraminstagram.com/sierratrails
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sierra-buttes-trail-stewardship

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship