Trail Crews Paid From Permit Fees
When you buy a Montana OHV trail pass, it is reasonable to wonder whether that money actually reaches the trails you ride. Some permit revenue supports trail-maintenance grants, but it does not all go directly to a crew or a single trail. Here’s how Montana’s grant programs work, what kinds of projects they can support, and how trail work gets funded.
How Montana permit revenue reaches trail work
According to Montana State Parks, 65 percent of revenue from OHV trail passes and permits is distributed through grants to maintain OHV trails. That means permit revenue can help pay for practical work on trails, but it is allocated through a grant process rather than automatically assigned to the nearest trail or crew.
The Summer Motorized Trail Pass program is a key part of the process for resident-pass funding. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the program provides grants to OHV clubs and organizations, and that its funding comes from revenue from sales of the Resident OHV Trail Pass. Montana State Parks administers the program, while the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee assists with grant allocation.
That chain matters. A rider buys a pass; pass revenue helps fund the grant program; eligible clubs and organizations apply for project funding; and selected projects can then pay for work such as trail upkeep or a hired trail steward. The pass is not a direct payment to a particular club, nor does each pass purchase guarantee that a specific trail will receive work.
The broader revenue allocation also includes uses beyond trail grants. According to Montana State Parks, the remaining 35 percent is divided among OHV enforcement, noxious weed control, Search and Rescue, and permit seller compensation. So the full revenue stream supports several parts of motorized recreation management, while the grant share is the portion directed through grants for trail maintenance.
| How permit revenue is used | What it supports |
|---|---|
| Grant distribution | OHV trail maintenance through grants, according to Montana State Parks |
| Other allocated uses | OHV enforcement, noxious weed control, Search and Rescue, and permit seller compensation, according to Montana State Parks |
| Resident-pass grant program | The Summer Motorized Trail Pass program, funded by Resident OHV Trail Pass sales, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks |
The distinction between “funds trail work” and “pays every trail crew” is important. A grant can support an approved project, but funding is awarded through applications and decisions. A club may propose maintenance on a route, signage, or a paid trail-steward position; it still needs to apply and receive an award. For a broader explanation of the pass revenue allocation, see Where Montana Trail Pass Money Goes.
The Resident OHV Trail Pass is not the only permit-related source riders may encounter. The requirements depend on who owns the machine and where it is used. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says a permanent registration decal must be displayed conspicuously when an OHV is ridden off-highway on public land or trails. For visiting riders, the relevant permit details are covered in Montana’s Non-Resident Temporary Use Permit and What the Non-Resident Permit Covers.
Permits, registration, and grant funding are related, but they answer different questions. A permit or registration concerns whether a machine may be used under the applicable rules. A trail grant concerns whether a proposed maintenance or improvement project receives funding. For help separating those rider obligations, What Montana Riders Need Before They Ride is a useful companion.
What trail grants can pay for
The eligible work is broader than simply clearing a blocked route. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lists signage and trail markers, trail maintenance, trail improvements, reroutes, mitigation of motorized resource impacts, brushing and delimbing, and noxious weed control on trail corridors among the eligible SMTP grant projects.
That range reflects the different problems a trail system can face. A route may need signs so riders can follow the approved path. A trail may need routine clearing, or an improvement to address a damaged or difficult section. A reroute may be proposed where the existing alignment needs to change. A project may also focus on reducing resource impacts or controlling weeds along a corridor. The grant category is not limited to work that is visible from the trailhead.
The program can also support labor. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks identifies funding for a club-hired trail steward to clear and maintain trails as an eligible project. That is the clearest connection between permit revenue and paid trail crews: grant funding may help a club hire someone for stewardship work, rather than relying only on volunteers.
That does not mean every club has a paid employee or that every maintenance day is funded by a grant. The program supports eligible work through awards, and clubs may undertake trail work in different ways. The grant opportunity is a funding route for approved projects, including hired stewardship, not a guarantee of ongoing wages or a promise that a crew will be assigned to a particular trail.
For riders, the funded work may be noticeable in different ways. Fresh markers or signs can make an authorized route easier to follow. Clearing brush can improve passage. A reroute may change where a trail goes, while resource-impact mitigation may be less obvious to someone passing through. Work can also be seasonal or project-specific, so a grant award should not be read as a promise that a route will be open or fully maintained at all times.
Clubs and organizations can be important links between permit revenue and the trails themselves. Local groups may know which routes need attention and can propose work that fits the grant criteria. If you want to understand the role clubs play beyond applying for funding, see Montana OHV Clubs and Trail Adoption. For context on how grants support local trail systems, Montana State Parks Grants for Trails also relates to this funding picture.
How the grant application process works
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the Summer Motorized Trail Pass grant application cycle opens on November 15 and closes on February 1 each year. Funding decisions are announced in late April. Applications are accepted through WebGrants, and Montana State Parks administers the program.
Those dates give applicants a defined window to prepare and submit project proposals. A club or organization considering trail work needs to identify a project, describe what it will accomplish, and apply through the program’s stated process. The Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee assists with grant allocation; Montana State Parks administers the program. In practice, that means the application process and allocation role are separate parts of how the program operates.
A strong proposal should make the planned work understandable: which trail or corridor needs attention, what work is proposed, why it is needed, and how the project fits the eligible categories. The specific application requirements should be confirmed in the current program materials rather than assumed from a previous application cycle. Project eligibility alone does not mean an application will be funded.
There is also a separate Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says this program provides project funding to enhance and maintain OHV recreational opportunities. Montana State Parks administers it using funds appropriated by the State Legislature, and applications are accepted through WebGrants. The application cycle closes on February 1 each year, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
This distinction is worth keeping clear. The Summer Motorized Trail Pass program is funded from Resident OHV Trail Pass sales. The separate OHV Grant Program uses funds appropriated by the State Legislature. Both can support projects related to OHV recreation, but their funding sources are not the same. A club looking for support should check which program fits its proposed project and the current application instructions.
For local groups, the process can involve more than filling in a form. A project may need coordination with the relevant land manager, agreement on the route or work area, and a clear plan for who will do the work. Those practical details can affect whether a proposal is ready to submit. The grant program’s published criteria and application materials are the right place to confirm what is required.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks identifies Seth McArthur as the Montana Snowmobile and OHV Program Manager. Applicants with program-specific questions should use the official program contact information and current WebGrants materials to confirm the appropriate contact and requirements. For additional background on applications, How Montana Clubs Apply for Trail Money and Trail Crews Paid From Permit Fees are related topics; for identifying the right group to raise a trail issue with, see Who Fixes a Washed-Out Montana Trail.
What riders can reasonably expect from the funding
The simplest takeaway is that permit revenue contributes to trail work through a formal funding system, but it is not a direct, trail-by-trail payment. According to Montana State Parks, the grant share of OHV pass and permit revenue is distributed to maintain trails. The Summer Motorized Trail Pass program channels Resident OHV Trail Pass revenue into grants for eligible projects, and one eligible use is a club-hired trail steward.
That system can help fund real work: clearing, signage, improvements, reroutes, weed control, and measures to mitigate motorized resource impacts. It also means there can be a gap between paying for a pass and seeing visible work on a particular route. Projects must be proposed, considered, and funded; work then depends on the project’s scope and implementation.
For a rider checking a specific trail, a pass purchase is not a reliable way to determine whether that route is open, maintained, or suitable for a particular machine. Check current route and land-manager information before heading out. A grant can support maintenance or improvements without guaranteeing current access conditions. If your concern is a damaged or blocked route, Reporting Trail Damage in Montana can help you think through the next step.
It is also useful to keep permit compliance separate from questions about grant spending. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says a resident OHV owner using a machine exclusively on private property is exempt from fees, registration, permits, and titles. That private-property exemption does not describe riding on public trails, where the applicable permit or registration requirements still matter. Riders can review Do You Need a Permit on Deeded Montana Ground? for the private-land distinction.
For public-land riding, display requirements matter too. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the permanent registration decal must be displayed in a conspicuous location when an OHV is ridden off-highway on public land or trails. If the ride includes a paved highway, separate street-legal requirements apply: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says an OHV must be street legal and have a license plate attached to the rear when ridden on paved highways. Funding trails through permit revenue does not replace those riding requirements.
The practical picture is therefore straightforward: riders contribute through the applicable permit system; part of the revenue is distributed through grants; eligible clubs and organizations can propose trail projects; and awards may support both physical trail work and hired stewardship. That is meaningful support, but it is not an automatic maintenance schedule. For the specific trail you plan to ride, verify access and conditions independently of whether a grant program exists.
Sources
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — ACTIVITIES :: Off-Highway Vehicles | Montana FWP (checked November 3, 2026)
- Montana State Parks — ohv-brochure_2021_final.pdf (checked November 3, 2026)
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Summer Motorized Trail Pass Grants | Montana FWP (checked November 3, 2026)
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Off-Highway Vehicle Program Grants | Montana FWP (checked November 3, 2026)
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
