DENVER, COLORADO — In a major win for Colorado’s outdoor recreation and conservation efforts, Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced this week the award of $2.4 million in non-motorized trail grants to fund 26 trail projects across the state.
These projects will enhance access to Colorado’s natural landscapes while preserving and maintaining key recreation areas — including restoration work on twelve of the state’s most popular 14,000-foot peaks, like Mount Bierstadt and Quandary Peak.
Here’s what you need to know about this exciting news for Colorado’s public lands.
“Our iconic 14ers will now be even more accessible and safe to summit! This funding will help Coloradans have fun, get outside, and be active while protecting our awe-inspiring natural landscapes.”
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Funding Colorado’s Outdoor Future
The Non-Motorized Trail Grant Program is a collaborative effort between CPW, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Colorado Lottery, and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP). This year’s $2.4 million in awards supports everything from trail construction and maintenance to long-term planning and year-round stewardship crews.
This year’s grant allocations include:
🛠 Construction: 3 grants totaling $575,000
🧰 Maintenance: 10 grants totaling $1,089,281
🧭 Planning/Support: 8 grants totaling $280,023
🥾 Trail Stewardship: 5 grants totaling $493,710
As outdoor use continues to grow and climate impacts like wildfires and erosion affect access, this funding plays a key role in both expanding and protecting trail systems across the state.
Major Investments in 14er Trail Maintenance
One of the most exciting projects announced is a $250,000 grant to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) to reconstruct and maintain summit trails on 12 of Colorado’s famed 14ers. These efforts will improve safety, sustainability, and overall user experience on some of the state’s most visited and beloved high-altitude peaks.
14ers Targeted for Trail Work in 2025:
CFI’s work will include trail tread maintenance, rock and timber step installation, boardwalk repairs, and alpine tundra restoration to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Boosting Trail Stewardship Crews
Another key focus of this year’s funding is growing Colorado’s trail stewardship workforce. With $1.5 million in support from GOCO, CPW is expanding its Trail Stewardship Pilot Program — funding seasonal and full-time trail crews dedicated to maintenance, conservation, and restoration.
Highlights include:
Grand County: Headwaters Trails Alliance will manage a 4-6 person crew to maintain 450 miles of trail, clear deadfall, manage drainage, and restore damaged trail sections.
Front Range: COMBA (Colorado Mountain Bike Association) received $150,000 to tackle a backlog of trail maintenance in high-use national forest areas near Denver.
Crested Butte: The local mountain bike association will receive $75,000 to support their stewardship corps in the Gunnison Valley.
Mesa County: A new year-round 5-person crew will focus on beginner trails, closing social trails, and mitigating erosion in the Grand Valley.
“These increased ‘boots on the ground’ trail crews will help support the Governor’s Wildly Important Goals to balance conservation and recreation,” said CPW Assistant Director
Additional Projects of Note
The diversity of the funded projects speaks to Colorado’s varied trail needs across communities:
Austin Bluffs Open Space (Colorado Springs): $250,000 to build 2.65 miles of new trail and restore illegal routes near Pulpit Rock.
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness: $148,566 for high-priority wilderness maintenance on remote trails near Avalanche Creek.
Toivo Malm Trail (Alamosa): $66,534 to improve access year-round with crusher fines and a new boardwalk in a popular birding area.
Poudre River Trail (Greeley): $45,000 for planning trail realignment and a new trailhead after river migration caused damage.
Each project supports the state’s dual mission of enhancing recreation while protecting natural resources — a guiding principle echoed throughout the grant program.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
How Grants Are Awarded
The Colorado Recreational Trails Committee oversees the application review process, which includes three levels of evaluation:
Grant Subcommittee: Made up of volunteers, State Trails Committee members, and staff who score and rank proposals.
State Trails Committee: Reviews rankings and makes recommendations.
CPW Commission: Provides final approval.
This thorough process ensures that limited funding supports the most impactful, shovel-ready, and sustainable trail projects.
Conclusion: Trails for Today and Tomorrow
These 26 trail grants represent a significant investment in Colorado’s outdoor infrastructure — one that recognizes the deep connection between access and stewardship.
Whether you’re summiting a 14er, biking Front Range singletrack, or taking your kids on a beginner-friendly trail in Grand Junction, chances are these projects will benefit your next outdoor adventure.
For hikers, climbers, and conservationists alike, this news is a reminder that our trails don’t maintain themselves — they require vision, funding, and countless hours of hard work. Thanks to CPW, GOCO, and countless local partners, Colorado continues to lead the way in sustainable recreation.
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