About Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

Our mission is building sustainable recreation-based communities through stewardship, job creation and world-class events, and providing quality outdoor experiences through trail construction and maintenance in the Lost Sierra.

Formed in 2003, the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is a volunteer-driven 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to the maintenance and enhancement of trail systems in the Lost Sierra, a region that offers natural beauty, remote accessibility and diverse multi-use recreational opportunities. Our professional trail crew helps create and rebuild trails that are enjoyable for all user types: hikers, cyclists, dirt bikers, equestrians and anglers.

SBTS employs around 37 full-time and seasonal employees, most of which are Sierra and Plumas County residents, working on trail projects across the region in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. In addition to staffing a paid crew, SBTS has to-date donated 140,000 hours of labor through its dedicated volunteers. Together, we have maintained more than 3,000 miles of shared-use trails and built 220+ miles of new trails.

What We've Accomplished Since 2003

227

Miles of New Trail Built

3,082

Miles of Trail Maintained to Specification

3

Pro Trail Crews in 2026

40

Employees in 2025

“What makes Sierra Buttes different? The fact that they can drum up volunteers when they need them, at a moment’s notice,” said Rick Stock, a retired teacher at the Feather River College in Quincy. Stock taught recreation classes and was on the board of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship for four years. “People drive up from the bay or Sac to be part of some volunteer event. I don’t want to say it’s unheard of, but Sierra Buttes has a way to do it that’s more prolific than others I would say.”

— SF Gate

Withstanding The Test of Time

While these trails see more than 200,000 visitors per year, they continue to maintain a level “A” standing, due to the hard work of SBTS staff and volunteers. In a perfect world, the Forest Service would be able to attend to all of these system trails (wilderness, roadless, recreation) as part of ongoing resource management. And that’s where SBTS and our family – our hardworking volunteers and members – come in, partnering with land managers to make dirt magic happen.

Trail bed armoring, grade reversals, drainage reconstruction, and grade reductions are all techniques employed for longevity and erosion control. By minimizing use impact through trail maintenance while not restricting access, the historic and recreational value of these trails has been maintained. And we’ve worked on everything from garden-variety singletrack, to Pacific Crest Trail in wilderness areas, to ADA-compliant paths, to multiple-use flow trails.

Making Our Effort Count

Event income, membership, grants (county, state, federal, private), donations, and our bike shop Yuba Expeditions in Quincy go directly to trail maintenance and development in the Lost Sierra. Donations are multiplied by over 500 percent through organized volunteer labor and in-kind contributions. And we have even helped other trail user organizations in South Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz, the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra foothills with planning, construction and trail improvements. View our 2025 Annual Report to learn about our economic impact, partnerships and fundraising we achieved to support Lost Sierra communities.

Click to view the 2025 Annual Report

The SBTS Family

Our organization is a shining example of what a small group of dedicated, passionate people can do. We are hikers, mountain bikers, motorcycle riders, equestrians and anglers playing in the outdoors. We are the descendants of native tribes and fourth-generation miners. We are the ones with chainsaws in backpacks as the snow melts, doing maintenance and clearing away winter's deadfall. We are the people caring for something very special, and keeping it special for our friends, families, and generations to come. And we have fun too! Join us – become a member, dedicate your time at one of our Volunteer Epic weekends and/or race events, and make a difference!