LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION
Los Padres Forest Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1979 and the official partner of the Los Padres National Forest, providing trail maintenance, visitor education, and forest stewardship programs to the public and the U.S. Forest Service across California's central coast.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersGoleta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION does
Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Goleta, California, operating as the official partner of the Los Padres National Forest. Its mission is to maintain trails, support public education, and enable safe and sustainable public use of the forest, which spans Los Angeles County to Monterey and is the second-largest forest in California. LPFA runs a core portfolio of conservation programs: a professional year-round Trail Crew of approximately 10 staff, multi-day Working Vacations in backcountry locations, single-day volunteer trail projects, graffiti removal, and fire-damage restoration (including over 11 miles restored after the 2024 Lake Fire and 30+ miles on the Condor Trail since 2022). It operates two visitor centers — Wheeler Gorge (near Ojai) and Big Sur Station (open 360+ days per year) — and hosts free summer interpretive programming on California condors, Chumash storytelling, bikepacking, and thru-hiking.
LPFA's core technology is operational rather than digital: hand tools and chainsaws applied under Project Activity Level (PAL) fire-safety protocols, supplemented by the HikeLosPadres.com trail information portal (a content resource launched in 2013 and being revamped in 2026) and standard CRM/e-commerce tooling via Salsa Labs. The organization does not sell a software product; its "products" are conservation services and educational content. LPFA's revenue model is multi-source non-profit funding: (1) individual donations and annual GivingTuesday campaigns (e.g., $15,000 goal in 2025 for Condor Trail maintenance), (2) grants from SCE, NFWF, National Forest Foundation, Santa Barbara Foundation, and Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) funds, and (3) merchandise sales, principally the annual Los Padres-themed wall calendar (17x11 inches, 100% of proceeds to the Trail Care Program) sold through the LPFA online store and at REI locations in Oxnard and San Luis Obispo, plus an annual Used Gear Sale. Visitor center programs and trail work are free to the public. Customers and beneficiaries are the U.S. Forest Service, the general public hiking and recreating in the forest (~25 million people within driving distance), and a deep volunteer and partner network (Montecito Trails Foundation, Santa Paula Canyon Crew, Ventana Wilderness Alliance, Student Conservation Association, Friends of the California Condor, and corporate sponsors such as Topa Topa Brewing and Los Padres Outfitters).
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION
- Legal name
- Los Padres Forest Association
- Website
- https://lpforest.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Los Padres Forest Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1979 and the official partner of the Los Padres National Forest, providing trail maintenance, visitor education, and forest stewardship programs to the public and the U.S. Forest Service across California's central coast.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forest Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)
Keywords
Where LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Goleta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: LPFA raises funds through individual donations, annual GivingTuesday campaigns (e.g., $15,000 goal for Condor Trail maintenance in 2025), and general fundraising. Donations are the primary revenue stream supporting trail maintenance operations.
- Grants: LPFA receives grant funding from organizations including SCE (Southern California Edison), NFWF (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation), National Forest Foundation, Santa Barbara Foundation, and Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) funds for trail restoration and forest health projects.
- Merchandise Sales: LPFA sells Los Padres-themed wall calendars (annual, 17x11 inches) with 100% of proceeds directed to the Trail Care Program. The organization also hosts an annual Used Gear Sale with proceeds going to the LPFA Trail Care Fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free events | Free public programs at Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that partners with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain and improve trails, provide visitor services, and educate the public about Los Padres National Forest. The organization operates two visitor centers (Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center and Big Sur Station) and runs a professional Trail Crew program supplemented by extensive volunteer support. It also produces educational materials, a calendar series, and a used-gear program to support its mission.
Product overview
Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1979 and serves as the official partner of the Los Padres National Forest. The organization operates a portfolio of conservation and education programs rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include: the Trail Crew program and Working Vacations for trail maintenance and restoration; Visitor Centers at Wheeler Gorge and Big Sur providing forest information and interpretive programs; the HikeLosPadres.com online resource for backcountry planning; annual Los Padres Calendars and Used Gear Sales as fundraising initiatives; and volunteer programs for forest stewardship including graffiti removal and youth education. The organization does not offer a technology platform but provides hands-on conservation services supporting safe, sustainable forest use.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Trail Maintenance and Construction Program Professional trail maintenance, construction, and reconstruction services delivered by LPFA's paid Trail Crew across Los Padres National Forest. Designed for the U.S. Forest Service and the recreating public, with supplemental volunteer support.
- Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center Operations Operation of the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center, providing in-person visitor information, trip planning assistance, and interpretive education for the recreating public visiting Los Padres National Forest.
- Big Sur Station Visitor Services Operation of the Big Sur Station, providing in-person visitor information, trip planning, and educational services for visitors to the Big Sur region of Los Padres National Forest.
- Volunteer Trail Stewardship Program Organized volunteer program that engages community members in trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and visitor service workdays in Los Padres National Forest, supported by LPFA's professional Trail Crew.
- Los Padres Calendars and Used Gear Merchandise Branded merchandise sold by LPFA, including annual Los Padres calendars and used outdoor gear, distributed to support the organization's funding and outreach.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60 miles of trails maintained and restored per year
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Montecito Trails FoundationcoreLong-standing partnership on Santa Barbara Frontcountry trail maintenance. Organizations co-host volunteer days including San Ysidro Trail restoration, Romero Trail, West Fork Cold Spring Trail, and Cold Springs Ridge Trail Loop. LPFA's Trail Crew supported the Montecito Trails Foundation in reopening San Ysidro Trail after 2023 storm damage.
- Santa Paula Canyon CrewcoreOngoing partnership for graffiti removal and trash cleanup in Santa Paula Canyon. LPFA and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew have conducted multiple cleanup events to address over-visitation impacts including graffiti around the lower waterfall and general trash removal.
- Topa Topa BrewingminorTopa Topa Brewing supplies cold drinks for LPFA volunteer events, including the Piedra Blanca Trail Working Vacation. Provides refreshments for volunteers as a community supporter.
- Los Padres OutfittersminorLos Padres Outfitters provides pack animal support for LPFA Working Vacations, packing in supplies and equipment to backcountry work sites including Pine Mountain Lodge.
- Wilderness Land TrustminorNon-profit land trust that secures land parcels for addition to public lands. In 2025-2026, secured and transferred 160 acres near Church Creek in the Ventana Wilderness to become public land of the Los Padres National Forest.
- United Water Conservation DistrictcoreCollaborated with the Forest Service and LPFA on the Pothole Trail Reroute project, funded by SCE and NFWF. The new trailhead off Lake Piru opened May 17th after nearly two decades of planning and five years of construction.
- Student Conservation Association (SCA)minorPartnership with SCA in spring 2021 involved a crew spending 6 weeks maintaining trails impacted by the Jesusita Fire, including Rattlesnake, Tunnel, and Jesusita Trails.
- South Coast Habitat RestorationminorPartnered with LPNF staff and South Coast Habitat Restoration to remove four Arizona crossings at Wheeler Gorge Campground and replace them with two clear span bridges, restoring access to 13.3 miles of stream habitat for migrating aquatic biota.
- Ventana Wilderness AlliancecoreVentana Wilderness Alliance and LPFA work on parallel trail restoration efforts across the Los Padres. VWA led restoration of the Marble Peak Trail in the Ventana Wilderness. Both organizations coordinate on forest stewardship and volunteer programs.
- Friends of the California CondorminorPartner organization that provides expert presentations for LPFA's Wheeler Gorge Summer Interpretive Programs, including the 'Saving the California Condor' presentation kicking off the 2026 summer program series.
- Ventana Wildlife SocietyminorMonitors and reports on California condor populations in the Big Sur area. Reports the central coast Condor population at 114 individuals (20 birds higher since the 2020 Dolan Fire). LPFA supports condor habitat access through trail maintenance in condor country.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION social profiles
Digital presenceLOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION 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 LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION
What does LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION do?
Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that partners with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain and improve trails, provide visitor services, and educate the public about Los Padres National Forest. The organization operates two visitor centers (Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center and Big Sur Station) and runs a professional Trail Crew program supplemented by extensive volunteer support. It also produces educational materials, a calendar series, and a used-gear program to support its mission.
Is LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION a public or private company?
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION founded?
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION was founded in 1979. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION based?
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION is headquartered in Goleta, United States, in the North America region.
How does LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are grants and merchandise Sales.
Does LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION have an API?
No public API is recorded for LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION.
What industry is LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION in?
LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION's product category is Forest Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAD, Forestry & Reforestation, with a secondary code of IMAMAJAM, Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.