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.
National Forest System Trail Stewardship Grants Awarded for 2023
Seventeen Trail Stewardship Projects Funded on National Forests Across the Nation
The National Forest System Trail Stewardship (NFSTS) Funding Program awarded a total of $262,000 to 17 trail projects in US Forest Service regions across the nation.
The NFSTS partnership grant is a joint partnership between the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and the US Forest Service, in collaboration with American Trails, American Hiking Society, Back Country Horsemen of America, the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), and the American Motorcyclist Association. The grants support organizations leading trail maintenance efforts in National Forests.
In addition to significant trail maintenance, this funding engages thousands of volunteers and adds significant leverage to Federal dollars. The slate of projects selected this year will support maintenance and repair of 975 miles of trail, engage approximately 3,225 volunteers in 48,750 hours of maintenance work, and match federal dollars with $1,554,000 in cash and in-kind support at a ratio of 6:1.
“The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is proud to be working with the USDA Forest Service and trail stewardship partners to distribute funding to a variety of trail user groups to address critical trail maintenance needs on National Forest system trails” said Joelle Marier, Executive Director of National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance. “By bringing together diverse partners from across the nation, we engage thousands of volunteers, leverage funding to accomplish more work with less Federal expense, and support essential trail maintenance and repair projects to maintain access and facilitate sustainable use of our national forest trails for all.”
“American Hiking Society is proud to join the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and the USDA Forest Service, in collaboration with the broader trails community, in support of funding for these projects” said Tyler Ray, Senior Director of Programs and Advocacy, American Hiking Society.”The National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partner Funding Program is a critical way to address trail maintenance by leveraging non-profit partnerships that improve access for hikers and all types of trail users across the Forest Service.”
“IMBA values the opportunity to work with the National Forest System and to strengthen connections among national trail organizations,” said IMBA Executive Director David Wiens.” Trails are truly common ground for environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation. We will continue to engage and educate our IMBA Local partners on funding and advocacy opportunities that bring more trails close to home.”
"Back Country Horsemen of America appreciates the manner in which the US Forest Service has made trails a national priority, including these annual Trail Stewardship grants," said Mark Himmel, Chairman of the organization. "We're excited to see Back Country Horsemen, and a diverse number of trail user groups, receive grants that bolster the efforts of volunteers and partners to keep forest trails open and enjoyed by the public."
The NFSTS Funding Program is made possible through the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Act of 2016. The Act significantly increases the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance to aid in addressing backlogged projects such as signage upgrades, trail clearing, reroutes, bridge and structure repair, and improvements to drainage. The funding comes from dedicated USFS funds, demonstrating the significance the agency gives to the program.
View the Fact Sheet with final program statistics
Congratulations to all of the local stewardship groups that received grants this year:
Ascend Wilderness Experience http://ascendwilderness.org/
Backcountry Horsemen of California, Mother Lode Unit https://bchcmlu.org/
Backcountry Horsemen of Oregon, Sourdough Unit https://www.bcho.org/chapters/sourdough-chapter/
Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation https://www.bmwf.org/
Continental Divide Trail Coalition https://continentaldividetrail.org/
Friends of Panthertown https://panthertown.org/
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness https://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/
Hungerford Trail Riders Association http://www.hungerfordtrailriders.org/
Tuff Riders Los Alamos, NM http://tuffriders.losalamos.com/
Munising Bay Trail Network https://www.mbtn.org/
New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors https://nmvfo.org/
Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance https://pwora.org/
Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association https://www.southwestmontanamba.org/
Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance https://www.vvmta.org/
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado https://www.voc.org/
Washington Trails Association https://www.wta.org/
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers https://www.wlrv.org/
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.
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.
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
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
