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A trail crew working on a project in Indian Peaks

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.

Currently Open: This grant application opens with an initial deadline in September and a secondary deadline in October. 

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

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.

Download the Manual

GRANT CYCLE 2024-2025

How to Apply

    Step 1: Choose a Project

    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.
    Step 2: Submit Your Letter of Intent

    Begin by Emailing Your Letter of Intent

    All applicants must send a letter of intent to trails@st​​​ate.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.

    Step 3: Compile Your Full Application

    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@st​​​ate.co.us​.

    Application 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.

      Application Forms
      Budget Forms
      Environmental Forms
      Impact Assessments
      Insurance Requirements
      Resources
      Step 4: Application Review
      Trail crew using alpacas to transport tools and supplies

      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.​

      Learn more about the review process

      Grant Decision and Award Process

      Grant Submissions

      2024-2025 grant applications will be posted here, and the public comment period will be announced at that time. 2023-2024 grant applications are currently listed here, but the public comment period has closed.

      2024-2025 Public Comment Meetings

      Presentation schedules, Zoom registration links and public comment information will be posted prior to the January events.

      These meetings take place in the Denver area. 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 Grant Applications Summary
          ​Region Wildlife Impact Summaries​
          1. Northeast
          2. Northwest
          3. Southeast​
          4. Southwest
          Construction Projects
          1. Partnership for Stewardship 2024 - Awarded
          2. Country Park Trailhead
          3. Rails to Trails Parking Areas
          4. Ramp and Stairs Improvement Project
          5. Maroon Creek Trail
          6. West Steamboat Trail, Ph. 2 - Awarded
          7. Blodgett Open Space Development - Awarded
          8. Palmer Lake Creekside Trail System
          9. Delta County Miners Trail
          10. Trail Expansion-Ridgway Area Trails Network - Awarded​
          11. Paths to Mesa Verde
          Trail Stewardship Projects
          1. Blob Rock Climbing Access Trail, Ph. 1
          2. Greeley Trail Stewardship Crew
          3. MRHI Trails Stewardship
          4. Trail Conservation Services 2024 - Awarded​
          5. Countywide Trail Maintenance Crew - Awarded
          6. Trail Stewardship Crew Expansion - Awarded​
          7. VVMTA Trail Conservation Crew​
          8. 2024 Crested Butte Conservation Corps - Awarded
          9. Durango Trails Stewardship Initiative
          10. Rio Grande NF Trail Stewardship
          11. Trail Maintenance-San Luis Valley Public Lands - Awarded

          Maintenance Specific

          1. Larimer County Trail Stewardship - Awarded
          2. RFMBA Seasonal Trail Crew Program 2024 - Awarded
          3. Gunnison Field Office Trail Stewardship Crew - Awarded
          4. Wilder Bunch Stewardship Crew 2024 - Awarded
          Maintenance Projects
          1. East Harvard Gulch Trail Resurfacing
          2. Roaring Creek, Ph. 2​
          3. ​South Valley Trail Improvement
          4. CDT Maintenance and Stewardship - Awarded
          5. Dry Lake Campground and Trailhead Restoration
          6. Frontcountry Infrastructure Upgrades
          7. Meadow Creek Trail Maintenance - Awarded
          8. Meeker Trail System Maintenance
          9. Burmac Trailhead-Racetrack Trail Improvements
          10. Leadville RD Trail Crew
          11. Mount Shavano, Ph. 2 - Awarded
          12. Oil Well Flats - Awarded
          13. Devils Playground Trail Reroute - Awarded
          14. South San Juan Wilderness Trail Maintenance
          Planning Projects
          1. Coyote Ridge Open Space Planning
          2. Fall River Trail Final Design - Awarded
          3. Pike NF Trail Condition and Assessment
          4. Poudre River Trail - Narrows Planning - Awarded​
          5. Camp Hale Continental Divide National Monument Access - Awarded
          6. Coffman Ranch River Access
          7. Future of Kokopelli Master Plan
          8. GMNC Trail Expansion Planning
          9. Blodgett Peak - USFS Area Planning
          10. Cucharas River Trail
          11. Wormhole Trails System - Awarded
          12. Regional Trails Connectivity
          13. Rito Seco Trail Expansion - Awarded
          Support Projects
          1. Gear and Volunteer Support
          2. Capacity, Training and Leaders ​- Awarded​
          3. Colorado Regional Representative Support
          4. Advancing Engagement in Volunteer Stewardship
          5. Salida to Leadville Stage and Rail Route Project​​

          Grant Deadlines

          Application Opens

          August 1, 2024

          Application Help Webinar 1

          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.

          Application Help Webinar 2

          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

          Contact

          Please email any questions about non-motorized trail grants to:

          Trails Grants

          Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers several trail grants to apply for.

          Off Highway Vehicle Grants.

          Off-Highway Vehicle Grants

          Eligible project types include trail construction, maintenance, planning, support and trail stewardship crews.

          About Off Highway Vehicle Grants
          Snowmobile Trail Grants.

          Snowmobile 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