Snowmobile Program and Trail Grooming Grants

The Colorado Snowmobile Program Grants, administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), offer funding opportunities to support the improvement and maintenance of winter trail infrastructure across the state of Colorado. This program is funded through snowmobile registrations and use permits and is guided by state statute C.R.S. 33-14-101 through 33-14-119. The primary objectives of the program include enhancing snowmobile recreation opportunities, supporting safety and education initiatives, and funding enforcement patrols and support for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The program also partners with the Colorado Snowmobile Association (CSA), which advocates for organized snowmobiling in the state. Two categories of grants are available under the Snowmobile Program: general Snowmobile Program Grants and Trail Grooming Grants. Eligible uses for Snowmobile Program grants include maintenance, repair, or construction of new winter trail facilities; maintenance, repair, or purchase of new equipment; and trail support services. Trail Grooming grants focus on grooming and trail maintenance and are specifically available to applicants with active Special Use permits from the U.S. Forest Service. The Trail Grooming grant application for the 2025-2026 season opens on July 10, 2025, with submissions due by August 4, 2025. Key milestones in the timeline include a CSA subcommittee recommendation meeting on August 9, presentation to the State Trails Committee on September 19, funding requests from the Federal Highways Administration in September, and setup of RTP spending authority in September and October. Purchase orders for grooming equipment will be issued in November, and the official grooming season begins on November 15, 2025. Applications must be submitted via email or mail, and fax submissions are not accepted. All applications must include a comprehensive packet with required exhibits: Application Form (Exhibit A), Project Budget (Exhibit B), Land Manager Approval (Exhibit C), Project Selection Criteria (Exhibit D), Maps (Exhibit E), Grooming Permit (Exhibit F), Route Mileage and Description in Excel format (Exhibit G), and either a Workers Compensation Exemption form or Workers Compensation Insurance Certificate (Exhibit H). Capital construction project forms, if applicable, must be completed prior to submission. The review process follows a structured three-tiered system. First, the Snowmobile Grant Review and Ranking Subcommittee, which includes 14 members representing snowmobiling interests and regional trail coordinators, evaluates and ranks applications based on need, community benefit, and funding leverage. Next, the State Trails Committee reviews the rankings and recommends funding strategies to the Commission. Finally, the Commission grants approval for selected projects. Applicants are encouraged to present their proposals to the subcommittee and be available for questions. Public input is also welcomed throughout the review process. For the 2024-2025 funding cycle, the program awarded approximately $1.9 million in grants. Past recipients have included snowmobile groups and projects such as the Buena Vista Groomer Repairs, Northwest Colorado Tiller Rebuild, and Westend Sledders Groomer Purchase. Inquiries about the grant process can be directed to Gabrielle Smiley, Trails Grant Administrator at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, via email at gabrielle.smiley@state.co.us.