Incorporated Charitable Non-Profit

Incorporated in May 2020, Mariposa Trails is a charitable non-profit with Federal 501(c)(3) status obtained through the extended Form 1023 application process.


Our Vision

We believe that individuals, communities and the planet can all thrive together, and that this health is attained through relationships of reciprocity.

Our vision was inspired by the book, "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Kimmerer. We strive to align our programs with the values of reciprocity, gratitude and belonging. Learn more here

Learn more about us in this welcome video


Our Mission

Our mission is to provide trail access and promote its use for adventure, health, stewardship, education and community prosperity. Through respectful use, be it hiking, riding, camping or trail-tending, we embrace trails as gifts, and in gratitude invite you to build comradery with one another and with nature.

Our Guiding Principles

Our Compass

  • points to understanding that through healing and sustaining the natural world, the natural world sustains us as well.
  • includes a bearing that encourages people to nourish and teach a meaningful relationship of reciprocity with the earth and all her beings, to mindfully listen and learn from the natural world, and in gratitude, share and apply that knowledge.

Our Map

  • charts the recognition that it is essential to gather, support and celebrate the diverse gifts of individuals and organizations to enable achievement of shared missions.
  • reveals that exploring, tending and experiencing the natural world brings understanding that nature is an essential element of humanity.


Our Volunteers

Volunteers are the heart of the MARIPOSA TRAILS organization, shaping its vision, enlivening its mission, and achieving its goals.



Our Board

Our Bill King, President/Executive Director

What moment in time changed your life? Mine occurred when I was 8 years old while growing up in perpetually smoggy Los Angeles. It was the reason I became an avid hiker, why I studied geology, ecology and anthropology at UCLA, why I worked for the Park Service and Forest Service, and why I moved to Boise. The event sparked my interest in land use and transportation- the foundation of a 28-year career in city planning. It is why I’ve resided in Mariposa since 1999, and feel more at home outdoors than in, and why I now seek ways to enable and encourage people to explore the wilds. You see, in 1974, a rather simple but profound thing happened; for the first time in my life the magnificent and colorful San Gabriel Mountains literally burst into my view after a winter storm washed away the cloak of smog.

Beth Kellner, Treasurer

When asked if she could do anything she wanted, what would it be? Beth Kellner answered “live outside”. Her love of trails, plants, animals, adventure and a passion for the great outdoors is a perfect match for work with Mariposa Trails. With a background in horticulture, horse training, and as a lifetime small business entrepreneur, she brings solid organizational and bookkeeping skills to the board. She is also a volunteer member of the Central California Animal Disaster Team and an advocate for emergency preparedness.

Marcus Padilla

Marcus Padilla is a dedicated California Naturalist and passionate Environmental Educator. He was born and raised in the Central Valley and has been exploring the Sierras as long as he can remember. Holding degrees in Organizational Leadership and Healthcare equipped him with a holistic understanding of human interaction with the natural world. In 2018 Marcus’ outdoor hobbies turned into a passion and he started leading small group hikes and nature-based workshops for youth. A few years later he joined Mariposa Trails as a volunteer trail tender and after collaborating on projects for two years became a board member. Marcus continues to guide hikes and co-lead outdoor conservation projects often focused on the youth and underserved folks.

Steve Humphry


Our Partners

Planning, building, maintaining and enjoying local trails takes community effort.

TRAIL ORGANIZATIONS

LOCAL BUSINESSES

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS