Montana Trail Grants to Local Clubs
Montana trail grants can help local OHV clubs keep routes rideable, improve trail safety, and address impacts from motorized use. The challenge is knowing which grant program fits a project and when to apply. Montana has a pass-funded program and a separate OHV grant program, so clubs should identify the right funding source before preparing an application.
How Montana Trail Grants Support Local Clubs
The Summer Motorized Trail Pass Program, often called the SMTP Program, provides grant funding to OHV clubs and organizations. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, revenue from sales of the Resident OHV Trail Pass funds this program. Montana State Parks administers it, while the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee, or OHVAC, assists with grant allocation.
This arrangement connects trail-pass purchases to work on motorized routes. According to Montana State Parks, 65 percent of revenue from OHV trail passes and permits is distributed through grants to maintain OHV trails. The remaining 35 percent is divided among OHV enforcement, noxious weed control, Search and Rescue, and permit seller compensation. The allocation is a helpful starting point for understanding where pass revenue goes; it does not mean that a particular club automatically receives a grant.
The SMTP program is relevant when a club has a defined trail project and is prepared to apply through the program’s application system. A club might be considering trail maintenance, signage, a reroute, or work to reduce resource impacts. The right proposal describes the need clearly and connects the requested work to an eligible purpose.
A separate funding route is the Off Highway Vehicle Grant Program. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, this program funds projects that enhance and maintain OHV recreational opportunities. Montana State Parks administers it with funds appropriated by the State Legislature. Because its funding source differs from the pass-funded SMTP program, clubs should not treat the two programs as interchangeable, even if a project could appear relevant to both.
For a broader explanation of how pass revenue is distributed, see Where Montana Trail Pass Money Goes. Clubs comparing funding with volunteer work may also find Montana OHV Clubs and Trail Adoption and Montana Trail Adoption and Volunteer Days useful.
What a grant can support
Eligible SMTP grant work includes practical projects that improve or care for trail corridors. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, eligible projects include:
- Signage and trail markers
- Trail maintenance and trail improvements
- Trail reroutes
- Mitigation of motorized resource impacts
- Brushing and delimbing
- Noxious weed control on trail corridors
- Funding for a club-hired trail steward to clear and maintain trails
These categories can cover different kinds of work, but a club should describe the actual problem rather than simply naming a broad category. For example, a proposal about trail maintenance is more useful when it identifies the section needing attention, explains what work is planned, and shows how that work will help maintain the route.
A reroute is different from routine clearing, and signage work is different from weed control. Being specific helps a club present a project that reviewers can understand and evaluate. It also gives the club a clearer basis for planning labor, materials, and coordination before asking for funding.
For a project involving recurring upkeep rather than a one-time repair, consider whether a trail steward would make sense. The program lists funding for a club-hired trail steward among its eligible project types. A club should still check the current application requirements before assuming how staffing costs must be documented or what activities are covered.
Which Grant Program Fits Your Project
The key first step is deciding whether the project belongs in the pass-funded SMTP program, the separately appropriated OHV grant program, or whether it may be worth asking the program administrators which route is appropriate. The fact that both programs support OHV recreation does not establish that they have the same funding rules, application expectations, or available funds.
| Program | Funding source | What it supports | Application route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Motorized Trail Pass Program | Revenue from sales of the Resident OHV Trail Pass, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks | Eligible club and organization projects such as trail maintenance, signage, reroutes, weed control, and trail stewardship | WebGrants |
| Off Highway Vehicle Grant Program | Funds appropriated by the State Legislature, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks | Projects to enhance and maintain OHV recreational opportunities | WebGrants |
The SMTP program may be a natural fit when a club’s proposal matches one of its listed project types. The separate OHV grant program is described more broadly as supporting projects that enhance and maintain OHV recreational opportunities. A club should read the current program instructions rather than infer that a project qualifies based only on its general purpose.
An application is not a guarantee of funding. The facts available here establish the programs’ funding sources, broad purposes, and application channels, but they do not promise that every eligible project will be selected or that an award will cover every cost. Clubs should confirm current eligibility, documentation, budget rules, and award conditions through the official program before committing to spending.
This distinction matters when a project has several parts. A club planning trail improvements, for instance, should list each component and check whether each is eligible under the program it chooses. It should also avoid counting the same planned expense as funded by more than one source unless the relevant grant rules explicitly allow that arrangement. When the answer is unclear, ask the program administrator before submitting.
If the need is a washed-out route, a blocked corridor, or maintenance beyond the club’s capacity, the funding question may be only one part of the solution. Who Fixes a Washed-Out Montana Trail explains the broader trail-maintenance context, while Reporting Trail Damage in Montana can help readers think through how to report a problem. A grant proposal should not be treated as permission to work on land or a route without the necessary coordination.
Application Timing and Preparing a Strong Proposal
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the SMTP grant application cycle opens on November 15 each year and closes on February 1 each year. Funding decisions are announced in late April. Applications are accepted through WebGrants.
The Off Highway Vehicle Grant Program also accepts applications through WebGrants, and its application cycle closes on February 1 each year, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The shared closing date does not mean the programs have identical requirements. Check the instructions for the specific program before preparing an application, and do not assume that an application to one program automatically counts as an application to the other.
A club can make the process easier by preparing the project details before it starts entering information into an application system. The application instructions control what is required, but clear planning helps the club answer questions about the work and explain why it matters.
A practical preparation process is:
- Define the trail problem. Identify the route or corridor and describe the specific need, such as missing markers, overgrowth, a maintenance issue, or a resource impact.
- Match the work to an eligible purpose. For the SMTP program, compare the project with the listed eligible work categories from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. For the OHV grant program, confirm that the project fits its purpose of enhancing or maintaining OHV recreational opportunities.
- Describe the work, not just the goal. State what the club proposes to do and what the finished work is expected to address. Keep the description grounded in the actual project rather than making claims the club cannot support.
- Build a realistic plan. Identify the people, equipment, materials, and coordination the work may require. Confirm the program’s current budget and cost rules instead of assuming particular expenses will qualify.
- Review the right application instructions. Both programs use WebGrants, but check the relevant program’s requirements and any supporting materials it asks applicants to provide.
- Submit before the closing date. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the SMTP cycle closes on February 1, and the OHV program’s application cycle also closes on February 1. Leave enough time to resolve submission questions before the deadline.
For the SMTP program, its opening date and late-April decision announcement give clubs points in the cycle to plan around. These dates are not a substitute for checking the current application instructions. A club should confirm that the program is open, that it is using the correct application, and that it has received whatever confirmation WebGrants provides after submission.
A focused proposal is easier to assess than a broad request to “improve trails.” The club can explain the issue, the planned work, and how the project fits a listed category. For brushing and delimbing, for example, describe the trail corridor that needs clearing. For a reroute, explain the need for that change and what the proposed work addresses. For a trail steward, state the maintenance role the club is proposing, while checking the program rules for allowable costs and supporting details.
Clubs that have not applied before should also make sure that the person managing the application can access WebGrants and has time to complete the required fields. The application channel is stated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, but the precise account setup steps and current documentation requirements should be confirmed in the system. For more on local trail work and club involvement, see Montana Trail Crews and Summer Repairs and How Montana Clubs Apply for Trail Money.
What Riders and Clubs Should Understand About Pass Revenue
For riders, the practical takeaway is that Resident OHV Trail Pass revenue helps fund grants for trail work through the SMTP program. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Resident OHV Trail Pass costs $20. That price is stated as of November 2026. Pass rules and purchase details can change, so riders should verify current requirements with the official program before heading out.
The grant program is not the same thing as an individual trail pass, machine registration, or road-use authorization. A grant supports eligible projects; it does not determine whether a rider has the required pass or whether a particular machine may be used on a particular route. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, an OHV ridden off-highway on public land or trails must display a permanent registration decal in a conspicuous location. On paved highways, the same agency says an OHV must be street legal and have a license plate attached to the rear.
Those rules are separate from how trail projects receive funding. Riders should not assume that paying for a pass authorizes every route or that a grant-funded improvement changes the route’s access rules. Check route status and applicable requirements before riding, and use What Montana Riders Need Before They Ride for related permit information.
For clubs, the grant process works best when it is paired with local trail knowledge. A club may know where markers are missing, where a section needs brushing, or where a reroute could address an ongoing problem. That knowledge can help shape a useful proposal, but the club should still follow the relevant program’s current requirements and coordinate appropriately for the location and work involved.
The broader lesson is straightforward: Montana has more than one OHV funding route, and clubs should match a project to the program rather than treating all trail grants as one pool. The SMTP program is funded through Resident OHV Trail Pass revenue and lists specific eligible work. The separate OHV grant program receives legislative appropriations and supports projects that enhance and maintain OHV recreation. Both use WebGrants, but clubs should confirm the details for the program they intend to pursue.
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.
