The National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partner Funding Program

A joint partnership effort between NWSA and the USDA Forest Service, and you! 

This program is a collaboration of NWSA and the Forest Service, with American Hiking Society, American Trails, Back Country Horsemen of America, International Mountain Bicycling Association, National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, and the American Motorcyclist Association all participating in the rating and selection of projects.  These program funds are provided to trail and stewardship organizations to improve trail maintenance on the National Forest System Trail System.  

2023 Trail Partner Funding Program Information is now Posted!  Applications accepted beginning February 1st 2023.

2023 National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partner Funding Will Begin Accepting Applications February 1st, 2023.  Deadline for submissions is APRIL 15th 2023.

The National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partner Funding Program is intended to encourage and support volunteer and stewardship group trail maintenance accomplishments and trail deferred maintenance backlog on the National Forest trail system.  The ideal project proposal will engage volunteers in the accomplishment of trail maintenance over the course of a field season over a broad area of a District or Forest.  

NWSA and our partner organizations are proud to manage this funding program to support the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Partner Funding Program.  This program directly support the implementation of the National Trails Strategy, which has a goal of doubling volunteer trail work in the next decade.  

**  BREAKING NEWS  **

After meeting with the Forest Service at Hike the Hill in Washington DC the week of February 13th there are some exciting new program changes to announce!

• Projects can now extend over two field season.  Essentially there will be 18 months for project completion, from approximately May 2023 to December 2024.
• The Partner Match requirement is dropping to a minimum of 10%, and can be either cash or inkind contributions.  This is in line with recent changes with all FS agreements.  It is hoped that the lower match requirement will encourage more groups to apply for this funding.
• The maximum project size is being increased to $30,000.  This will allow for larger scale and longer projects.

We are also anticipating a large increase in available funding, though the final amounts will be contingent on the overall federal budget process.

These changes are being incorporated into the application materials below. 

Here are a few basics of the Trail Funding Program:

• Any non-profit group recognized by the IRS may apply for Trail Stewardship Funding.
• These grants are for work on any and all National Forest System terra trails.  Work can be performed on motorized or non-motorized trails, both inside and outside of wilderness.
• Trail work is usually performed during the Summer/Fall Field Season (May - December).  in 2023 projects are moving to a 2 field season basis.
• Grants range from $2,000 - $30,000.
• Require either a non-federal cash or in-kind match of at least 20%.

2023 Trail Partner Program Information HERE

Complete information on the Trail Stewardship Partner Funding program can be found in the Fact Sheet.

Click Here for UPDATED INFORMATION on the 2023 Trails Stewardship Partner Funding Program Fact Sheet.

Read the News Release.

Quick Guide to Invoices for Trail Partner Funding Program

To apply complete and submit:

  Application Form (Word or Adobe Acrobat formats only)  Note Updated 3.10.2023

  Budget Form  (Excel or Adobe Acrobat formats only)

  Direct Deposit Form - all reimbursement are via Direct Deposit

  an IRS 501 (c) (3) determination letter if not already on file with NWSA

  A Letter of Recommendation from the Local District Ranger or Forest Supervisor approving and supporting the project

All applications should be submitted to:  [email protected] by end of day, April 15th 2023.

Questions about the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partnership Funding may be addressed to Randy Welsh, Executive Director, NWSA at either 801-808-2167 or [email protected]

10 Strategies for a Successful Trail Application

March 7th 2023 Webinar on NWSA Funding Programs

March 7th Powerpoint - NWSA Funding Programs 2023

Thank you for your support of NWSA and the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partner Fund.

National Forest System Trail Stewardship Trail Partner Funding Programs for 2022

A total of 25 out of 76 projects have been selected for funding.  You can read this FACT Sheet about selected projects.  Organizations with selected projects include:  

Appalachian Trail Conservancy
BCHA - Gila
BCHA - Motherlode
BCHA - San Joaquin-Sierra
BCHA - Teton Valley
Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
Cadillac Area Ski Club
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Eagle Summit Wilderness Association
Friends of Pathways
Friends of Scotchman Peak
Headwaters Trail Alliance
Heart of the Gila
Idaho Trails Association
LaVeta Trails
Loweslife
Munising Bay Trails
New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Ridgeline Outdoor Collective VMBA
Routt County Riders
Sawtooth Society
Source One Serenity
Tahoe Rim Trail Association
Tuolumne River Trust
Trails Foundation of Northern Utah
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Wallowa Mountain Hells Canyon
Washington Trail Association
Wilderness Volunteers - Intermountain Region
Wilderness Volunteers - Superior
Wildlands Restoration
Wounded Soldiers and Families

Organizations Funded in 2021 include:

With over $550,000 in funding 2021 was our biggest year yet.  49 organizations received funding out of the 92 that submitted proposals.

American Endurance Ride
Arnold Rim Trail
Ascend Wilderness Experience
BCHA - Gila
BCHA - MotherLode Chapter

BCHA - San Joaquin-Sierra
BCHA - Virginia Highlands
Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
Camp Grier
Colorado Fourteeners
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Cottonwood Canyons Foundation
Durango Trails
Enchanted Circle Trails
Friends of Panthertown
Friends of Pathways
Green Mountain Club
Headwaters Trail Alliance
Idaho Trails Association
LaVeta Trails
Love in Motion
Mammoth Lake Recreation
Mountain Bike the Tetons
National Forest Foundation - Gunnison CO
National Forest Foundation - Sawtooth
Nevada County Woods Riders
New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors
Northeast Tennessee Economic Development
Overland Mountain Bike
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Roaring Fork Outdoors Volunteers
Routt County Riders
Santa Fe Fat Tire Society
Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation
Sierra Buttes

Silver Threaders Club
Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists
Source One Serenity
Toulomne River Trust
Tucson Off-Road Cyclists
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Wallowa Mountain Hells Canyon
Washington Trail Association
White Mountain Trail Collective
Wild Alabama
Wild Arizona
Wildlands Restoration 1
Wounded Soldiers and Families
Yavapai Trails
Yosemite South Gate Trails

Organizations Funded in 2020 include:

Thank you to everyone who expressed support for this program to the Forest Service.  We had 65 proposals submitted, 39 were funded.  And even with Covid-19 issues affection projects, most projects were completed.

View Final Report Summary

Arizona Trail Association
BCHA-Kentucky
BCHA-Mother Lode Chapter TRTA
BCHA-San Joaquin Chapter
BCHA-Washington - Umatilla
BCHA-Washington - Mt Baker
Blue Mountain Land Trust
Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
Cascades Volunteers
Chequamegon Mountain Bike
Climbing Resource Advocates for Greater Sacramento
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance
Friends of Blackwater
Friends of Panthertown
Friends of Scotchman Peaks
Idaho Trail Association
LaVeta Trails
Mountain Bike the Tetons
New Mexico Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance
New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors
North Carolina Bartram Trail Society
Northwoods Volunteer Connection
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
Reno Area Dirtriders
Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association
Salt Lake Climbers Alliance
San Diego Ultra Running Friends
Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund
Selway Bitterroot - Frank Church Foundation
Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship
Upper Merced River Watershed Council
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Volunteers of Lewis Trails
Washington Trails Association
Watershed Research Center
Wild South
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers
Yavapai Trails Association

Summer of 2019 - No Program

Summer 2018 National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partnership Funded Projects

Final Year End Summary

Trail Projects by Region

Organizations with funded projects during the Summer 2018 Trails Stewardship Program

Alaska Trails
American Endurance Ride Conference
Arizona Trail Association
Back Country Horsemen of America - Mother Lode Chapter
Back Country Horsemen of America - San Joaquin Chapter
Back Country Horsemen of America - Wild Horse Plains Chapter
Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance
Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
Friends of Panthertown
Friends of Pathways
Friends of Scotchman Peak Wilderness
Friends of the Dillon Ranger District
Friends of the Shawnee
Idaho Trails Association
LaVeta Trails
Mazamas
Montana Wilderness Association
Mountain Bike the Tetons
National Smokejumpers Association (2 projects)
Northwoods Volunteer Connection
Partners of Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness
Pony Express Association
Redwoods Park Conservancy
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
Selway Bitterroot-Frank Church Foundation
SORBA - NEGA Jake-Bull
South Dakota Trails Development
Upper Merced Watershed Council
Southwest Montana Mountain Biking Association
Stewards of the Sequoias
Tucson Off Road Cyclists
Volunteers For Outdoor Colorado
Wallowa Mountain-Hells Canyon Trails Association
Washington Trails Association
Watershed Research Center
Wild South
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers
Wyoming Wilderness Association
Yosemite South Gate Coalition

Summer 2017

Organizations with funded projects during the Summer 2017 Trails Stewardship Program

• Alaska Trails
• Arizona Trail Association
• BCHA - Idaho Foundation
• BCHA - Washington
• Boulder MountainBike Alliance
• Evergreen MBA
• Friends of Scotchman Peaks
• Friends of the Desert Mountains
• Friends of the Dillon Ranger District
• Friends of the Shawnee
• Idaho Trails Association
• Mountain Bike Missoula
• Mountain Bike the Tetons
• Northwoods Volunteer Connection/Friends of Boundary Waters Wilderness
• Partners of JoyceKilmer-Slickrock
• Prescott Trail Riders
• Santa Barbara Trail Bike Volunteers
• Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship
• Stewards of the Sequoias
• Volunteers for Outdoors Colorado
• Washington Trails Association
• Wild South