Warrior Expeditions
Warrior Expeditions is a 501(c)(3) veteran nonprofit that delivers free long-distance outdoor expeditions (hiking, biking, paddling) to combat veterans to support psychological transition from wartime service. It operates Warrior Hike (Appalachian Trail), Warrior Bike (Great American Rail-Trail), and Warrior Paddle (Mississippi River) programs funded primarily by individual donations and outdoor-industry sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersRoanoke, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Warrior Expeditions does
Warrior Expeditions is a 501(c)(3) veteran nonprofit (Federal EIN 46-5201997) headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, that delivers long-distance outdoor expedition programs free of charge to combat veterans to support psychological transition from wartime service. The organization was founded in 2013 by Marine Corps veteran Sean Gobin following his personal Appalachian Trail thru-hike after Iraq/Afghanistan deployments, inspired by the historical precedent of WWII veteran Earl Shaffer 'walking off the war.' It operates a three-program portfolio: Warrior Hike (2,200 miles across 14 states on the Appalachian Trail, March-September), Warrior Bike (3,800 miles across 12 states on the Great American Rail-Trail, May-August), and Warrior Paddle (2,300 miles across 10 states on the Mississippi River, June-September). Each program fully outfits the veteran with equipment, clothing, training, orientation, transportation, lodging, food, and weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based email support, with pre/post mental-health assessment using validated PCL-5 and SA-45 instruments.
The business model is donations-based. Warrior Expeditions is funded primarily through individual cash donations, corporate sponsorships, and in-kind product contributions from more than 20 outdoor industry brands including Camelbak, Columbia, Granite Gear, Outdoor Research, Big Agnes, Osprey, and Therm-a-Rest. The organization states that approximately 90% of donated dollars go directly to veteran support and 10% to overhead; the average support provided per veteran per expedition is approximately $10,000, split roughly evenly between $5,000 in-kind product and $5,000 in cash costs. There is no proprietary technology platform: program management, applications, donations, and communications run on standard web infrastructure.
Distribution is direct via a website application flow and is heavily augmented by referral partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), American Legion, and the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, alongside strategic alliances with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and 9/11 Trail. Since 2013 the organization has tracked 107 program participants using standardized clinical measures and holds the 2015 CNN Hero Award received by founder Sean Gobin. Veteran-to-veteran referrals, earned media (CNN, NYT, NPR, Washington Post, PBS, Stars & Stripes), and a small email list (243 subscribers) constitute the remaining acquisition and donor-engagement surfaces.
Warrior Expeditions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Warrior Expeditions
- Legal name
- Warrior Expeditions
- Website
- https://warriorexpeditions.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Warrior Expeditions is a 501(c)(3) veteran nonprofit that delivers free long-distance outdoor expeditions (hiking, biking, paddling) to combat veterans to support psychological transition from wartime service. It operates Warrior Hike (Appalachian Trail), Warrior Bike (Great American Rail-Trail), and Warrior Paddle (Mississippi River) programs funded primarily by individual donations and outdoor-industry sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Warrior Expeditions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran Outdoor Therapy Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA), Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ), Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG)
Keywords
Where Warrior Expeditions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roanoke
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Warrior Expeditions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Warrior Expeditions operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal EIN 46-5201997) and generates revenue primarily through individual cash donations from the public, with donors able to contribute via PayPal or check.
- In-Kind Donations: Equipment, clothing, supplies, transportation, lodging, and food are donated in-kind by dozens of sponsors and hundreds of community supporters. This represents approximately $5,000 of the $10,000 total support value per veteran per expedition.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Major outdoor equipment and retail brands including Camelbak, Columbia, Granite Gear, Outdoor Research, Big Agnes, Osprey, Therm-a-Rest, and others provide product donations. Sponsors receive logo placement and recognition on the organization's website.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Warrior Expeditions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Warrior Expeditions is a 501(c)(3) veteran nonprofit that provides three long-distance outdoor expedition programs at no cost to combat veterans: Warrior Hike (2,200-mile Appalachian Trail), Warrior Bike (3,800-mile Great American Trail), and Warrior Paddle (2,300-mile Mississippi River). The organization fully outfits participating veterans with equipment, clothing, supplies, training, and on-trail support, complemented by weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based email support and standardized pre/post mental health assessments (PCL-5 and SA-45).
Product overview
Warrior Expeditions is a veteran nonprofit outdoor therapy program that operates three distinct long-distance outdoor expedition programs: Warrior Hike (hiking the Appalachian Trail), Warrior Bike (biking the Great American Trail), and Warrior Paddle (paddling the Mississippi River). All three programs are provided at no cost to veterans and include equipment, clothing, supplies, training, orientation, and community support. The programs help combat veterans transition from wartime experiences through structured outdoor expeditions ranging from 2,200 to 3,800 miles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Warrior Hike: A veteran outdoor therapy program that traverses the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail across 14 states from Georgia to Maine, taking place March through September.
- Warrior Bike
- Warrior Paddle
Products and services
- Warrior Hike
Quantifiable outcome
- Documented reductions in PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms across 107 veteran participants since 2013, measured using PCL-5 and SA-45 standardized clinical instruments
Companies that use Warrior Expeditions
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Warrior Expeditions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Warrior Expeditions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rails to Trails ConservancycorePrimary strategic partner for the Warrior Bike program, which traverses the Great American Rail-Trail. RTC collaborates with Warrior Expeditions on expedition logistics, advocacy for trail infrastructure, and co-marketing of veteran expeditions as part of trail development initiatives.
- Visit NorfolkminorLocal tourism partner hosting veterans during the Warrior Bike America 250 Celebration expedition milestone events in Norfolk, Nebraska, providing community engagement and celebration programming.
- Nebraska Game & Parks CommissionminorState agency partner collaborating on America 250 Celebration events alongside Warrior Bike veterans, providing park facilities and programmatic support for milestone celebrations.
- Appalachian Trail ConservancycorePrimary partner for Warrior Hike program along the Appalachian Trail. Collaborates on veteran expedition logistics, trail maintenance initiatives, and mutual advocacy for outdoor recreation therapy programs.
- DAV (Disabled American Veterans)coreMajor veteran service organization partner that refers veterans to Warrior Expeditions programs and provides organizational endorsement and outreach support to veteran beneficiaries.
- VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)coreMajor veteran service organization partner referring veterans to Warrior Expeditions programs and providing member outreach and endorsement for veteran transition services.
- American LegioncoreMajor veteran service organization partner referring members to Warrior Expeditions and providing programmatic endorsement for veteran outdoor therapy initiatives.
- Department of Veterans AffairscoreFederal agency partner that has featured Warrior Expeditions on the VA blog and potentially refers veterans to programs, providing official government endorsement of outdoor therapy services.
- Granite GearcoreMajor outdoor equipment sponsor providing product donations. Board Member Rob Coughlin serves as Partner and VP of Sales/Marketing at Granite Gear, creating direct organizational connection.
- CamelbakcoreOutdoor hydration equipment sponsor providing product donations for veteran expeditions.
- Columbia SportswearcoreOutdoor apparel sponsor providing clothing donations for veteran expedition participants.
- Pacific Crest Trail AssociationminorTrail organization partner supporting veteran expeditions along Pacific Crest Trail routes.
- Continental Divide Trail CoalitionminorTrail organization partner supporting veteran expeditions along Continental Divide Trail routes.
- Outdoor ResearchcoreOutdoor equipment sponsor providing technical apparel and gear donations for veteran expeditions.
- 9/11 TrailminorTrail organization partner focused on veteran commemorative expeditions connecting 9/11 memorial sites.
- Disabled Veterans National FoundationminorVeteran nonprofit partner referring disabled veterans to Warrior Expeditions programs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Warrior Expeditions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Student Veterans of America: A large national veteran support nonprofit that, while not expedition-based, shares the post-9/11 veteran transition mission and serves as a broad referral channel and fundraising peer.
- National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Long-established outdoor education provider with veteran-specific courses, comparable in trail-based programming and wilderness skill-building for adult learners.
- REI Adventures: Commercial guided multi-day adventure travel operator with trips comparable in distance and structure to Warrior Expeditions' long-distance expeditions, though serving paying consumer customers rather than veterans.
- Wounded Warrior Project: One of the largest U.S. veteran service nonprofits, with programming spanning mental health, physical wellness, and transition support; a much larger-scale comparator for fundraising and program breadth.
- Backroads: Premium multi-day active travel operator offering hiking and biking trips across the U.S., a commercial analogue for the multi-state trail products Warrior Expeditions delivers to veterans at no cost.
Direct peers
- The Mission Continues: National veteran nonprofit deploying veterans into service and outdoor activities, including expeditions, with overlapping post-9/11 veteran transition and outdoor programming.
- Outward Bound Veterans: Outward Bound runs multi-day outdoor expeditions designed to build resilience and community for veterans, directly mirroring Warrior Expeditions' therapeutic wilderness model and target population.
- Boulder Crest Foundation: Provides wilderness-based and residential PTSD recovery programs for combat veterans, making it one of the closest clinical comparables in the therapeutic outdoor veteran space.
- Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB): Veteran nonprofit that uses physical and outdoor activities to build community and support veteran mental health, overlapping with Warrior Expeditions on outdoor-based veteran wellness.
Regional players
- Appalachian Mountain Club: A long-standing outdoor recreation and trail organization in the Northeast that operates guided hiking experiences and could serve as a regional infrastructure partner or peer for guided outdoor expeditions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Warrior Expeditions social profiles
Digital presenceWarrior Expeditions compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Warrior Expeditions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Warrior Expeditions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Warrior Expeditions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Warrior Expeditions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Warrior Expeditions
What does Warrior Expeditions do?
Warrior Expeditions is a 501(c)(3) veteran nonprofit that provides three long-distance outdoor expedition programs at no cost to combat veterans: Warrior Hike (2,200-mile Appalachian Trail), Warrior Bike (3,800-mile Great American Trail), and Warrior Paddle (2,300-mile Mississippi River). The organization fully outfits participating veterans with equipment, clothing, supplies, training, and on-trail support, complemented by weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based email support and standardized pre/post mental health assessments (PCL-5 and SA-45).
Is Warrior Expeditions a public or private company?
Warrior Expeditions is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Warrior Expeditions founded?
Warrior Expeditions was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Warrior Expeditions based?
Warrior Expeditions is headquartered in Roanoke, United States, in the North America region.
How does Warrior Expeditions make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are in-Kind Donations and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Warrior Expeditions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Student Veterans of America, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), REI Adventures, Wounded Warrior Project and Backroads. Direct peers are The Mission Continues, Outward Bound Veterans, Boulder Crest Foundation and Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). Appalachian Mountain Club is listed as a regional player.
Does Warrior Expeditions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Warrior Expeditions.
What industry is Warrior Expeditions in?
Warrior Expeditions's product category is Veteran Outdoor Therapy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAG, Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs, with a secondary code of THAAADAA, Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators. Its NAICS code is 561520 and its SIC code is 7900.