Montana State Parks administers the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), a federally funded grants program that supports Montana’s trails.

The RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, and represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from nonhighway recreational fuel use: fuel used for off-highway recreation by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-highway light trucks.

RTP applicants can include federal, tribal, state, county or city agencies, private associations and clubs. Examples of eligible projects include: urban trail development, basic front and backcountry trail maintenance, restoration of areas damaged by trail use, development of trailside facilities, and educational and safety projects related to trails.

Montana State Parks collaborates with the State Trails Advisory Committee to review the RTP applicants each year. 

The 2022 application cycle will open in the winter of 2022.  The application cycle will open later than its usual date of November 1.

• The 2021 grant application cycle is now closed and applications are currently under review.
• Projects have been selected for funding. See the list of selected projects below. Public comment on these projects is being accepted through May 16, 2021. To comment, email FWPRecreationalTrails@mt.gov.
• List of Projects Selected for Funding, 2021

• 2021 Recreational Trails Program Grantee Guidelines
• Recreational Trails Program Glossary of Terms
• Direct and Indirect Costs Guidelines
• Snowmobile & Cross-Country Ski Clubs Grooming Information
• Volunteer Hours Form
• Travel and Personal Property Reimbursement Form (xls)
• RTP Travel and Personal Property Reimbursement (pdf)
• RTP Travel and Personal Property Reimbursement Cover Sheet
• RTP Status and Final Report Form (word)

AmpliFund Help Documents

• AmpliFund Instructions from FWP: This was created by FWP for RTP grantees specifically. MTSGP grantees may find it useful, as well. It takes you through AmpliFund processes step by step.
• AmpliFund User Guide: This a universal user guide created by AmpliFund. Some information will not be useful/relevant to FWP grantees because of the way FWP has configured its awards in AmpliFund.

Visit the State Trails Advisory Committee page for more information. 

2021 Recreational Trails Award Recipients

2020 Recreational Trails Award Recipients