Recreational Trails Program Grants

Recreational trails provide benefits for all of us that include: public health, economic, transportation, and local community pride and identity. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities in Montana.

About the Program

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.

2021 Grant Application Cycle

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
The next grant application cycle will open in Fall 2021.

Upcoming Training Sessions

Training sessions were offered virtually for prospective applicants from October through January.

These sessions are free and highly recommended for new and returning applicants to any of these programs: Recreational Trails Program (RTP), Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program (MTSGP), Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program, and the Summer Motorized Trail Pass Grant Program.

The trainings provide tips on writing a competitive application, using the grant management software to submit an application, and understanding differences and similarities between programs.