Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue Program
Backcountry Search and Rescue (BSAR) is an essential service to search for and rescue lost or injured individuals and sometimes recover deceased individuals from the backcountry. BSAR delivers these services at no cost to the person in need.
As a network of first responders who provide critical, life-saving services to the public, BSAR teams are located throughout Colorado. These teams are affiliated with county sheriff’s offices and are composed of dedicated, highly skilled professionals and volunteers.
If you experience an emergency in the backcountry, call 911.
$6.8
Million Awarded to BSAR Teams since 2023
197
Grants Awarded
36
Colorado Counties Invested In 2025
$2.75
Million funds awarded for BSAR training, equipment, mental health programs in 2025
Help Fund Colorado BSAR Teams
Dedicated volunteer search and rescue professionals across Colorado are ready to mobilize to help those stranded, lost or injured in the Colorado backcountry. Because of your support and tremendous generosity towards search and rescue responders, the Colorado BSAR Fund has awarded over $6.8 million in grants to county sheriffs' search and rescue teams.
Keep Colorado Wild Pass
Colorado residents can opt in to purchase a $29 Keep Colorado Wild pass for their car registration, which allocates $2.5 million in annual sales to BSAR programs.
Outdoor Recreation Supporting BSAR
When you buy a CPW license or registration for recreation, you also support BSAR teams.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife adds the $1.25 Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue (BSAR) fee to snowmobile, boating and OHV registrations and hunting and fishing licenses, which play a critical role in allocating funds for BSAR teams.
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card
You can purchase a 1-year Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card for $5 or a 5-year card for $20.
Available for purchase at cpwshop.com, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, and at any of our Colorado Parks and Wildlife sales locations.
*These cards are not insurance for the purchaser and does not reimburse individuals for medical expenses or pay for medical transport.
What Do the Funds Pay For?
Mental Health Training for Backcountry Search and Rescue 1st Responders
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has established a partnership for providing first responder mental health to those who are participating members on search and rescue team in Colorado.
Team Equipment
Backcountry Search and Rescue teams are in constant need of equipment to meet the demands of the backcountry terrain and to keep rescuers safe. Types of equipment purchased vary widely based on the team size, geography of incident territory, number of incidents in a county, number of team members, types of rescues frequently conducted. Equipment needs are diverse ranging from small bandaids to large vehicles.
Rescuer Trainings
All rescuers are medically trained professionals and have developed skills necessary for reaching and rescuing people in any season and in all Colorado backcountry terrain. Training is an ongoing necessity to keep rescuers adept in their skills; Whether on a remote mountainside during a blizzard or on an exposed mountain cliff in the summer, rescuers are trained for their role. Every incident demands a high level of rescuer skill to find, reach, address the emergent needs and extract the subject.
Backcountry Search and Rescue Study
In 2021, a study of the Backcountry Search and Rescue system was conducted for the purpose of identifying focused areas of need within the system of coordination to support long-term sustainability.
How You Can Play a Role
Being a backcountry search and rescue member is a challenging but rewarding experience that requires specialized training and a passion for keeping the public safe as they experience the outdoors.
Visit the Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR) website for a county map and contact information of active Backcountry Search and Rescue organizations. Most Backcountry Search and Rescue Team websites provide information about how to become a member with team contact information if you have further questions.
How to Apply for BSAR Grants
After a backcountry search and rescue incident concludes, the county in which the incident occurred sends a request to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for reimbursement.
- If the subject of the incident has a CORSAR card or eligible Parks and Wildlife license or registration, a reimbursement payment is processed immediately.
- If the subject of the search does not have a CORSAR Card or eligible Parks and Wildlife license or registration, the request for reimbursement is held until the end of the year. If money is available in the fund at the end of the year, the requesting county receives reimbursement.
All reimbursement requests must be certified by the sheriff and submitted to CPW, using the Incident Reimbursement Request' Google Document, within 60 days of the incident end date.
Contact the BSAR Program Manager if you intend to submit a request late or have any other questions.
There are two ways for SAR teams to receive state BSAR funding: 1) through requests for reimbursement for equipment, training and other expenses, and 2) through a formula-based allocation provided to county applicants that apply for the funds. Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis with accountability measures for the expenditures.
CPW BSAR funding is distributed through incident reimbursement forms and awarded through an application process.
As recommended by the BSAR Council, these models were put in place to ensure equitable opportunity, funding accountability and oversight. Funds are awarded to county sheriff's offices for their SAR teams to ensure accountability of funds and equity across the state. County SAR teams can use these funds to purchase equipment, training, vehicles, small capital improvement projects, mental health services and computer software.
Colorado counties with coordinated backcountry search and rescue teams are eligible to apply for Year-End Distribution funding and for County Allocation funding using the Universal Application Google Form. The Universal Application is used to apply for both funding opportunities.
Allowable fund uses for Year-End Distribution or the County Allocation Funds with supporting documentation requirements.
Colorado counties with coordinated backcountry search and rescue teams are eligible to apply for Year-End Distribution funding and for County Allocation funding using the Universal Application Google Form. The Universal Application is used to apply for both funding opportunities.
CPW is committed to supporting volunteer BSAR teams across the state and provides statewide funding. The chart below shows how much BSAR funding was allocated to Colorado counties from 2022-2025. County BSAR teams have used these funds to purchase equipment, training, vehicles, small capital improvement projects, mental health services and computer software.
| County | Total Allocation |
|---|---|
| Adams County | $ 48,433.50 |
| Alamosa County | $ 130,579.40 |
| Archuleta County | $ 175,299.80 |
| Boulder County | $ 553,257.30 |
| Chaffee County | $ 334,299.00 |
| Clear Creek County | $ 440,340.39 |
| Conejos County | $ 80,346.70 |
| Custer County | $ 150,410.50 |
| Delta County | $ 120,135.80 |
| Dolores County | $ 258,984.54 |
| Douglas County | $ 279,735.20 |
| Eagle County | $ 308,676.10 |
| El Paso County | $ 404,400.70 |
| Elbert County | $ 51,147.40 |
| Fremont County | $ 100,171.50 |
| Garfield County | $ 148,531.40 |
| Gilpin County | $ 26,118.15 |
| Grand County | $ 296,848.80 |
| Gunnison County | $ 252,420.60 |
| Hinsdale County | $ 165,281.20 |
| Huerfano County | $ 89,512.40 |
| Jackson County | $ 117,799.19 |
| Lake County | $ 121,910.00 |
| La Plata County | $ 59,329.00 |
| Larimer County | $ 398,077.56 |
| Las Animas County | $ 112,551.40 |
| Logan County | $ 4,850.00 |
| Mesa County | $ 296,149.90 |
| Mineral County | $ 203,784.40 |
| Moffat County | $ 61,003.00 |
| Montezuma County | $ 108,107.70 |
| Montrose County | $ 116,310.40 |
| Otero County | $ - |
| Ouray County | $ 92,495.20 |
| Park County | $ 159,220.00 |
| Pitkin County | $ 293,380.10 |
| Pueblo County | $ 37,088.00 |
| Rio Blanco County | $ 84,981.00 |
| Routt County | $ 301,262.80 |
| San Juan County | $ 242,986.36 |
| San Miguel County | $ 34,831.00 |
| Summit County | $ 446,837.80 |
| Teller County | $ 206,616.50 |
| Total | $ 7,914,501.69 |
Backcountry Search and Rescue Council
The primary goal of the Backcountry Search and Rescue Council is to faithfully serve the citizens of Colorado by providing expert BSAR opinions and advice to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife about systemic enhancements and about the disbursement of funds from the Backcountry Search and Rescue Fund.