A trail crew working on a project in Indian Peaks
About the Grants
Non-Motorized Trails Grants
The Colorado State Recreational Trails Grant Program funds projects to continue to improve outdoor recreation opportunities, including trail construction, maintenance, planning, and support while protecting wildlife, habitat, and cultural resources. Funded by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP), eligible project types include trail construction, maintenance, planning, and support.
Local, county, federal and tribal government agencies, recreation and metro districts, and charitable organizations (tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) are invited to apply.
1000+
Colorado-based projects funded
$2
million available for grant opportunities each year
30+
years of improvements
A trail crew working on a project at Devil's Head Lookout
About the Grants
Non-Motorized Grant Program Manual
The manual is designed for both new applicants and existing grant recipients.
New Applicants: The manual provides comprehensive guidance on how to apply for funding, covering eligibility, required documents, timelines and the selection process.
Existing Grant Recipients: The manual outlines grantee responsibilities with regards to project management, required reporting and reimbursement procedures.
Property Ownership:
All properties on which State Trails’ funded projects take place must be under the control of the applicant or authorized agent, and open to the public for at least 25 years. A deed, easement, license, long-term lease or other documentation may be requested as proof of ownership or public access rights.
GRANT CYCLE 2024-2025
How to Apply
Choose a Project
- Trail construction projects include: new trail or trailhead construction, including the installation or creation of new facilities where none currently exists.
- Trail maintenance projects include: maintenance, re-route or reconstruction of existing trails and trailheads, and improvement of current trailhead facilities.
- Trail planning projects include: trail layout, design, engineering, feasibility studies, inventory, use studies, analysis of existing and proposed trails and master plans.
- Trail support projects include: building and enhancement of volunteer organizations, increasing volunteer capacity, and implementing trail training and education.
- Trail stewardship crews projects include (2025 pilot project): funding two to eight person trail stewardship crews who complete work on an existing trail system.
Project Requirements
- Construction and Maintenance – no minimum, up to $250,000
- Planning and Support – no minimum, up to $45,000
- Trails Stewardship – no minimum, up to $150,000
- 25% of the total grant request must be matched funds, 10% of that minimum amount must be cash
- Grantee insurance – required for non-governmental organizations only. Compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations and policies (including Build America, Buy America)
- All permits and clearances in hand before grant award.
- Project completion within 2 to 2.5 years of grant award.
Begin by Emailing Your Letter of Intent
All applicants must send a letter of intent to trails@state.co.us. Include a basic project scope with a high level overview of your project and a project site map that outlines where work will be performed This information will be sent to the appropriate CPW Area Wildlife Manager to initiate a pre-application review for identification of potential wildlife concerns. This process provides time for applicants to consider and begin addressing any concerns raised by CPW before the application deadline in October.
Compile Your Full Application
You will need to include:
- your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
- letters of support (up to 5 in a single PDF)
- a signed letter of resolution
- your application (construction, maintenance, trail stewardship, planning, support)
- any maps or photographs (5 page limit)
- your project budget or multi-project budget
- either the federal environmental form or non-federal environmental form
- an environmental impact assessment from NEPA (for projects on federal lands only) approved and finalized before grants are awarded
Email your full application to trails@state.co.us.
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
If you haven’t already, register for a UEI.
Register for a Unique Entity IdentifierApplication Documents
Having trouble downloading Excel or Word files? Right-click on the link, choose 'Save link as' and download to your desktop or designated folder.
- Download the Construction Application
- Download the Maintenance Application
- Download the Trail Stewardship Application
- Download the Planning Application
- Download the Support Application
- Application Manual
- Detailed information on the program priorities and process of applying for a non-motorized trails grant.
- Download the Example Budget Form
- Download the Single Project Budget Form
- If you are applying for a single project, fill out this budget form.
- Download the Multi-project Budget Form
- If you are applying for multiple projects, fill out this budget form.
- If you are applying for multiple projects, fill out this budget form.
- NEPA Environmental Impact Assessment
- If your project is on federal land, you will need an approved and finalized NEPA Environmental Impact Assessment before grants are awarded.
- Wildlife Impacts Assessment Guidelines
- Read this document for more information on what to expect during preparation and full wildlife review.
- Wildlife Review Process
- Read this document for more information on what to expect during the pre-application and full wildlife review.
- Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
- Review the SCORP as you put together your application.
- State Trails Strategic Plan
- Review the State Trails Strategic Plan as you put together your application.
- Planning Trails with Wildlife in Mind
- This guide focuses extensively on collaborative approaches to problem solving to meet both conservation and recreation goals, and includes the current best practices and science to Colorado's land managers, trail advocates, and conservationists engaged in trail planning.
- Conservation Data Explorer
- Helpful to applicants as you prepare your applications
Review Subcommittee
Grant Application Review Process
The State Recreational Trails Committee and its grant review and ranking subcommittees meet to review the grant applications. These meetings are open to the public and provide a platform for verbal comments on the applications.
Grant Deadlines
Key Topic |
Description |
Date |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Application Opens |
August 1, 2024 |
||
|
To help navigate the application process, a 45-minute webinar will be held to cover application requirements and commonly asked questions. |
Thursday, August 8, 2024 |
2:00 p.m. MT. |
|
|
To help navigate the application process, a 45-minute webinar will be held to cover application requirements and commonly asked questions. |
Thursday, August 15, 2024 |
10:00 a.m. MT. |
|
|
Letters of Intent Due |
Pre-application letters of intent are due to the program coordinator. |
September 3, 2024 |
5:00 p.m. MT. |
|
Full Applications Due |
Compile and email all required documents by this date. |
October 1, 2024 |
5:00 p.m. MT. |
|
Presentations |
Applicants are asked to make themselves available in January to provide a 15-minute presentation (10 minutes plus a 5 minute question and answer session) to the subcommittee. |
January 2025 |
|
|
Projects Reviewed |
Subcommittee scoring, ranking and funding recommendations to the State Trails Committee. |
January, 2025 |
|
|
Grants Awarded |
CPW Commission review and approval to award grants. CPW awards grants. |
March, 2025 |
|
|
Projects Start |
CPW commences contracting. Grantee may begin grant funded work once the contract or purchase order with CPW is finalized. |
April through June, 2025 |
Grant Decision and Award Process
Grant Submissions
The 2025 grant applications are posted here for public review. Comments can be emailed to [email protected]. Public Comment must be received by close of business on Friday, December 6, 2024.
2024-2025 Public Comment Meetings
Non-Motorized grant applicant presentations:
- Maintenance/Trail Stewardship - Monday, January 13, 2025, webinar link
- Planning/Support - Tuesday, January 14, 2025, webinar link
- Construction - Wednesday, January 15, 2025, webinar link
In-person location: Littleton Office Complex, 13787 US Hwy 85, Littleton CO 80125 (lower conference room)
The public is invited to review and comment at four separate stages: upon submission and posting of the applications on CPW’s website, before the application review subcommittees, before the State Trails Committee and before the Parks and Wildlife Commission.
2024-2025
- Chimney Hollow Open Space Trail
- Riverdale Bluffs Open Space
- Austin Bluffs Open Space Improvements
- Nature Center Accessibility Trails
- Fraser River Trail Extension
- Firefly Meadow Natural Natural Area Trails
- Sunset Area Trails, Ph. 1
- Virginia Canyon Mountain Park, Ph. 4
- Partnership for Stewardship 2025
- Conifer High School Campus Trails
- Twin Lakes Village Connector Trail
- Delta County Miners Trail
2023-2024
- Partnership for Stewardship 2024 - Awarded
- Country Park Trailhead
- Rails to Trails Parking Areas
- Ramp and Stairs Improvement Project
- Maroon Creek Trail
- West Steamboat Trail, Ph. 2 - Awarded
- Blodgett Open Space Development - Awarded
- Palmer Lake Creekside Trail System
- Delta County Miners Trail
- Trail Expansion-Ridgway Area Trails Network - Awarded
- Paths to Mesa Verde
2024-2025
- Countywide Trail Maintenance Crew 2025
- Trail Stewardship through Community Involvement
- RFMBA Seasonal Trail Crew 2025
- Mesa County Trail Sustainability
- Toivo Malm Trail Maintenance
- Trail Conservation Services 2025
- 2025 Crested Butte Conservation Corps
- Blob Rock Climbing Access Trail, Ph. 2
- VVMTA Trail Conservation Crew
- Flat Tops Wilderness Trail Crew
- GFO Trail Stewardship Crew
- RCR-HPBE Trail Crew 2025
- Wilder Bunch Stewardship Crew 2025
- Gunnison Trails’ 2025 Trail Crew
- Clear Creek County Trail Maintenance
2023-2024
- Blob Rock Climbing Access Trail, Ph. 1
- Greeley Trail Stewardship Crew
- MRHI Trails Stewardship
- Trail Conservation Services 2024 - Awarded
- Countywide Trail Maintenance Crew - Awarded
- Trail Stewardship Crew Expansion - Awarded
- VVMTA Trail Conservation Crew
- 2024 Crested Butte Conservation Corps - Awarded
- Durango Trails Stewardship Initiative
- Rio Grande NF Trail Stewardship
- Trail Maintenance-San Luis Valley Public Lands - Awarded
Maintenance Specific
- Larimer County Trail Stewardship - Awarded
- RFMBA Seasonal Trail Crew Program 2024 - Awarded
- Gunnison Field Office Trail Stewardship Crew - Awarded
- Wilder Bunch Stewardship Crew 2024 - Awarded
2024-2025
- Backcountry Trail Maintenance Maroon Bells-Snowmass
- Grizzly Creek & Jessie Weaver Trails
- Burmac Trailhead Transformation
- Hewlett Gulch Trail Improvement Project
- Buchanan Park Trail Improvements
- Project Raghorn 2025
- Trail Wayfinding Signage
- Statewide 14er Maintenance 2025
- Venable-Comanche Trail Maintenance
- 2025 Canyon Lakes Ranger District Trail Crew
- Gill Trail Restoration Pilot Project
- San Isabel Nat’l Forest Trail Maintenance
2023-2024
- East Harvard Gulch Trail Resurfacing
- Roaring Creek, Ph. 2
- South Valley Trail Improvement
- CDT Maintenance and Stewardship - Awarded
- Dry Lake Campground and Trailhead Restoration
- Frontcountry Infrastructure Upgrades
- Meadow Creek Trail Maintenance - Awarded
- Meeker Trail System Maintenance
- Burmac Trailhead-Racetrack Trail Improvements
- Leadville RD Trail Crew
- Mount Shavano, Ph. 2 - Awarded
- Oil Well Flats - Awarded
- Devils Playground Trail Reroute - Awarded
- South San Juan Wilderness Trail Maintenance
2024-2025
- William F. Hayden Park Master Plan
- Poudre River Trail Realignment-Trailhead Design
- Silt’s Mountain Bike Trail Connection
- Sawtooth and Naturita Flattops Trails Proposal
- Sunset West Trail Connection
- Forest Lakes-USF715 NEPA Planning Process
- Grand Mesa Nordic Council Trail Expansion
- Mineral Belt Trail Extension-Leadville Junction
2023-2024
- Coyote Ridge Open Space Planning
- Fall River Trail Final Design - Awarded
- Pike NF Trail Condition and Assessment
- Poudre River Trail - Narrows Planning - Awarded
- Camp Hale Continental Divide National Monument Access - Awarded
- Coffman Ranch River Access
- Future of Kokopelli Master Plan
- GMNC Trail Expansion Planning
- Blodgett Peak - USFS Area Planning
- Cucharas River Trail
- Wormhole Trails System - Awarded
- Regional Trails Connectivity
- Rito Seco Trail Expansion - Awarded
Grant Applicant Locations
A map of the locations of the 2025 grant applications.
2023-2024
Contact
Please email any questions about non-motorized trail grants to:
Grants Program Coordinator
- Pam O'Malley
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- [email protected]
Trails Grants
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers several trail grants to apply for.
Off-Highway Vehicle Grants
Eligible project types include trail construction, maintenance, planning, support and trail stewardship crews.
About Off Highway Vehicle GrantsSnowmobile Trail Grants
Purchase new or repair existing trail groomers, make trailhead improvements, create new or maintain maintenance facilities, or purchase signs and trail markers.
About Snowmobile Trail Grants