The Nevada Division of State Parks has opened the pre-application window for the 2026 Recreational Trails Program, putting about $1.2 million in federal grant money on the table and setting an Aug. 4, 2025, 5 p.m. PST deadline for submissions (state parks notice).
The pre-application window opened July 3, 2025, and all pre-applications are due by Aug. 4, 2025, at 5 p.m. PST. Invitations to file full applications will be sent out in late summer or fall 2025. Applicants will present their projects at the January 2026 proposal meeting, after which awards are finalized, according to the application timeline.
Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Native American tribal governments.
Private campground and RV park operators are not eligible to apply on their own, but RTP-funded trailhead features can positively affect nearby outdoor hospitality businesses by increasing foot traffic and improving the overall visitor experience.
The grants can fund construction and maintenance of both motorized and non-motorized trails, as well as trailhead amenities, trailside signage, outdoor-education programs, and certain planning or environmental clearance work (program details).
The application process starts with submitting a pre-application through the State Parks Online Grant Portal. Paper or email submissions will not be accepted, as stated in the online grant portal. Applicants deemed eligible will be invited to complete a full application and present their projects in January 2026. Funding decisions are made competitively by the RTP Advisory Committee and state parks administrators.
Past RTP dollars have paid for the Sierra Front Trail construction in Washoe County, trail maintenance in the Humboldt-Toiyabe Wilderness, accessibility upgrades at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, and motorized trail remediation at Rosaschi Ranch (project examples).
Prospective applicants should review the most recent RTP Applicant Handbook, available at the RTP handbook, and, if needed, consult free WebGrants training materials in the WebGrants guide. For additional help, applicants may contact Elyse Jolly, park and recreation program manager, at 775-684-2775 or [email protected], or Tamara O’Brien, grants and projects analyst, at 775-684-2784 or [email protected].