Montana Snowmobile Program Grant

Montana Snowmobile Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Amount: Up to US $75,000
Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Summary

The Montana Snowmobile Program Grant supports snowmobile clubs in maintaining safe trails and promoting winter recreation. This initiative funds trail grooming, equipment purchases, and safety education, benefiting over 4,000 miles of trails managed by Montana State Parks. Grants, typically under $20,000, aim to enhance trail safety and accessibility for motorized enthusiasts. Clubs must coordinate with land management agencies for proposals, ensuring sustainable trail use and community engagement in snowmobiling activities.

Overview

Montana Snowmobile Program Snowmobiling is one of the most exciting ways to experience the great outdoors! The Montana Snowmobile Program provides grant funding to support snowmobile trail grooming and education so enthusiasts can ride safely in Montana. This state grant program supports snowmobile trail grooming, the purchase and repair of grooming-related equipment, safety education, public outreach, and law enforcement. Montana State Parks administers the snowmobile program and its 4,000 miles of trails. The funds that support the snowmobile program are completely separate from all Montana State Park revenues, camping fees, and related funding sources. Grants are awarded to 26 private snowmobile clubs in western-and central Montana. These clubs perform snowmobile trail grooming primarily managed by the Forest Service. The goal of the program is to provide safe and enjoyable winter recreation for motorized enthusiasts through trail grooming, trail signing, ethics-and safety education, and other related pursuits. Montana State Parks, in cooperation with volunteer instructors, provides safety-and-ethics education for all snowmobilers. Because grooming on public lands can only take place with the cooperation and assistance of the land managing agency, new snowmobile clubs wishing to access Montana Snowmobile Program grants, or clubs wishing to expand existing trail systems should first take their proposals to the U.S. Forest Service or appropriate land managing agency for review. In all likelihood, new clubs or new proposals will take a considerable time (perhaps several years) to go through the review and approval process. Until approved by the land managing agency, Montana State Parks, and the Montana Snowmobile Advisory Committee, new clubs or proposals do not have access to grant funding. The Snowmobile Program Advisory Committee meets each year to make recommendations on the use of all snowmobile grant funds. Although grants of up to $75,000 have been awarded, most clubs generally receive grants of less than $20,000 annually.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants include snowmobile clubs and organizations, but not individuals.Although grants of up to $75,000 have been awarded, most clubs generally receive grants of less than $20,000 annually.No matching funds are required to apply for a snowmobile grant. However, most clubs spend a considerable amount of money over their annual grant awards.The program relies on the cooperation of land-managing agencies, private landowners, and some municipalities. The majority of groomed trails are located on properties managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.The Snowmobile Advisory Committee, comprised of private snowmobilers and representatives of state and federal agencies, advises Montana State Parks on the expenditure of program funds including snowmobile grants awarded for the maintenance of snowmobile trails.The following are some examples of eligible projects.Operation of trails-related environmental protection, safety and ethics education.Trail projects on routes legally designated or otherwise appropriately approved by the land-managing agency. Maintenance and rehabilitation of existing trails open to snowmobile use.On federal lands, grants will only be approved for trails legally designated by the appropriate federal agency, and included in official forest plans, resource area plans, or travel plans. Development of trailside and trailhead facilities on existing snowmobile trails.Providing features to assist disabled individuals on existing snowmobile trails.Signs and other traffic control devices on existing snowmobile trails.Equipment necessary for grooming of snowmobile trails.Eligible projects include the development, operation, or maintenance of a current MEPA-approved snowmobile trail system. Some examples of good projects are these: grooming of snowmobile trails, construction of groomer maintenance sheds, construction of a trail bridge, installation of snowmobile trail signs, and plowing of snowmobile trailhead parking lots.

Ineligibility

Individuals are not eligible applicants.