Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program: Trails Stewardship Crews

The Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program by Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers funding for trail stewardship projects, enhancing outdoor recreation while protecting resources. With a budget of $500,000, it supports trail maintenance crews of two to eight workers. Eligible applicants include local governments and non-profits with land management partnerships. Projects can receive up to $150,000, focusing on safety, sustainability, and community engagement, fostering responsible stewardship of Colorado's natural landscapes.

NOTE: If interested in this pilot, we recommend you reach out to trails@state.co.us to discuss this funding opportunity in more detail.
See Construction & Maintenance Grants page here. See Planning or Support Grants page here.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Colorado Non-Motorized Grants Program provides funding for projects to improve outdoor recreation opportunities, 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.​
Which projects are eligible?
Eligible projects fall under one of the following non-motorized trails grant categories:
Construction - New trail or trailhead construction, including the installation or creation of new facilities where none currently exists.Maintenance - Maintenance, re-route or reconstruction of existing trails and trailheads - Improvement of current trailhead facilities.​Planning - Trail layout, design, engineering, feasibility studies, inventory, use studies, analysis of existing and proposed trails and master plans.Support - Building and enhancement of volunteer organizations, increasing volunteer capacity, and implementing trail training and education.​ Trail Stewardship Crews - A pilot category to fund two to eight person trail stewardship crews who complete work on an existing trail system.
Non-Motorized Trails Stewardship Crews
The State Trails Program is launching a Non-Motorized Trails Stewardship pilot program. This pilot is based on the ‘Good Management’ concept which the OHV Program has operated successfully for trail maintenance and resource protection. Non-Motorized trails land managers and partners would adapt the same program concept.
The State Trails Program will utilize $500,000 in funding from Great Outdoors Colorado to start this pilot. Based upon feedback from partners, Non-Motorized Trail Stewardship crews will build upon existing trail maintenance crews who work on public lands and perform similar duties as the OHV Good Management crews. These increased 'boots on the ground' trail crews will help support the Governor’s Wildly Important Goals to balance conservation and recreation by increasing the number of trail crew hours funded by the State Trails Program.
A stewardship crew is made up of two to eight trail workers employed to complete work on an existing trail system. The pilot program is for one year of funding for applicants to hire paid staff to perform the continuous and routine work necessary to keep the trail surface and surrounding area in compliance with its design and construction standards. The stewardship crews are hired directly by the organization managing and/or working in the area to keep trails in a sustainable and safe condition to ensure visitor safety, protect natural and cultural resources, and preserve public investment in the trail and/or area.
This work can consist of:
Clearing out deadfall after a severe weather eventRerouting unsustainable trail sectionsBrushing, clearing, and vegetation managementDecommissioning and revegetating old and illegal trailsRepair and/or installation of structures such as turnpikes, check steps, and drainsTread reestablishment, armoring, outsloping, and drain clearingSignage replacement and/or installationDeadfall and hazard tree mitigationAssessment, monitoring, and reportingUser education and outreachPlanning and mobilizationFencing and/or trail area delineation
Funding Amounts
Applicants can request up to $75,000 for 2-4 person crews, and up to $150,000 for 5-8 person crews.

Eligibility

Who can apply?Local, ​County, Federal or Tribal government agenciesRecreation and Metro DistrictNon-Profit OrganizationsEligible applicants may include land managers and non-profit organizations that have a long-term relationship with a land management agency. If not a land manager, applicants need to provide a letter from any relevant land manager(s) where work would occur that outlines the existing partnership (including the number of years of the relationship) and shows support of the proposed crew opportunity.Successful applicants will:Have success with retaining a paid professional staff and completing quality work.Have shovel-ready trail projects to work on when funding is received.Provide a competitive wage in the State and their community or an ability to increase based on additional funds.Prioritize work based on user safety and the detriment to surrounding resources and wildlife.Prioritize public and partner organization engagement via volunteer work and/or support letters.Eligible items for funding:Working time - boots on the ground project workMobilization and prep-timeTool purchases and maintenanceEquipment or vehicle rentalFleet vehicle(s) for trail crew members - fixed and variable expenses, fuel and fluidsNormal maintenance and repairs on trail machines and equipmentPer diem (backcountry projects only)

Ineligibility

Ineligible costs generally include:Uniforms/Law EnforcementWork completed prior to the grant award and signed contractExpenses related to the promotion of the organization or fundraisingComponents that do not have direct benefit to trail usersVehicle repair/maintenanceAlcoholFood (outside of eligible per-diem)Office suppliesProgramming and/or outreach (Construction/Maintenance projects only)TaxContingencies