Trail Grants
There are several grant programs for building and maintaining trails, from city trails to rugged backcountry trails. These grants provide funding for:- Buying land
- Building or renovating trails
- Maintaining trails
Examples
- Build a new trail along an abandoned railroad track or utility coridor
- Renovate existing trails
- Maintain trails and trail heads
- Reroute existing trails
- Support trail education and enforcement programs
Overview
| ALEA - Aquatic Lands Enhancment Account | ||||
Provides funding to buy, protect, and restore aquatic lands habitat and to provide public access to the waterfront. Projects must be associated with navigable waters of the state. Learn more. |
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| Applications Accepted | Who’s Eligible | Match | Eligible Project Types | Grant Limit |
| Even years | Local agencies* State agencies Tribes |
50 percent | Acquisition of land or easements Development Renovation |
$500,000 to $1 million |
| LWCF - Land and Water Conservation Fund | ||||
Provides funding to buy or develop public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Grants support both acquisition and development of active and passive recreation areas and conservation lands. Public use is required. A comprehensive plan is required. Learn more. |
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| Applications Accepted | Who’s Eligible | Match | Eligible Project Types | Grant Limit |
| Even years | Local agencies* State agencies Tribes |
50 percent | Land acquisition Development Renovation |
$500,000 |
| NOVA - Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicle Activities | ||||
Provides funding to buy, develop, or maintain backcountry recreational areas or off-road vehicle parks. Projects are for motorized and non-motorized trail recreation that is accessed by a non-highway road.*** These grants also may be used to fund education and enforcement officers patrolling areas eligible for these grants. Snowmobile projects are not eligible. A comprehensive plan is required. Learn more. |
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| Applications Accepted | Who’s Eligible | Match | Eligible Project Types | Grant Limit |
Annually |
Local agencies* |
None |
Planning |
For non-motorized and nonhighway road category projects:
For off-road vehicle projects:
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| RTP - Recreational Trails Program | ||||
Program provides funding to rehabilitate and maintain recreational trails and facilities that support a backcountry experience. Emphasis is to perform annual, routine maintenance on backcountry trails Snowmobile trails are eligible in this program. Learn more. |
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| Applications Accepted | Who’s Eligible | Match | Eligible Project Types | Grant Limit |
| Annually | Local agencies* |
20 percent | Maintenance |
General: $150,000 |
| Trails Category WWRP - Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
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| Provides funding to acquire, develop, or renovate pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle, or cross-country ski trails. Program is for non-motorized trails that provide connections to neighborhoods, communities, or regional trails. A comprehensive plan is required. Learn more. | ||||
| Applications Accepted | Who’s Eligible | Match | Eligible Project Types | Grant Limit |
| Even years | Local agencies* |
50 percent |
Land acquisition Development Renovation |
None |
| State Lands Development and Renovation Category WWRP - Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
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| Provides funding to two state agencies to develop and renovate outdoor recreation facilities. A comprehensive plan is required. Learn more. | ||||
| Applications Accepted | Who’s Eligible | Match | Eligible Project Types | Grant Limit |
| Even years | Department of Fish and Wildlife Department of Natural Resources |
None | Development Renovation |
$325,000 |
*Local agencies means a city, county, town, federally recognized Native American tribe, special purpose district, port district, or other political subdivision of the state providing services to less than the entire state if legally authorized to acquire and develop public open space, habitat, farmlands, riparian habitat, or recreation facilities.
** State agencies eligible are Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Department of General Administration, and State Parks and Recreation Commission
*** A non-highway road is any road owned or managed by a public agency or private road for which the owner has granted an easement for public use for which motor vehicle funds were not used for construction or reconstruction in the past 25 years or maintenance in the past 4 years.
