Recreational Trails Program

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal-aid assistance program designed to help states provide and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail use.



  • Two-year grant cycle.
  • Administered by SCPRT under the approval of the Federal Highway Administration.
  • Develop or improve trails for off-road motorcycles, ATVs, mountain bikes, equestrians, hikers and water trails.
  • Eligible applicants must be a state, federal or local government agency or qualified private organization.
  • All applications graded utilizing a competitive Open Project Selection Process (OPSP) reviewed by a grading team.
  • A 20% match is required.

Deadline is Sept. 28 for Letters of Intent for RTP Education Grants


Through RTP, a state may elect to set aside a small percentage of its apportionment to be allocated to educational projects (not to be confused with regular trail projects) that benefit diverse trail user groups. This year, South Carolina will set aside a limited amount of RTP funds on a first come, first served basis for eligible sponsors who are project-ready and can complete their project within the 2019 federal fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2018-Sept. 30, 2019).


RTP Education funds are used for recreational, trail-related educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection. Eligible elements must directly convey a safety or environmental message. Education Grant funding has been utilized for chainsaw safety courses, speaker fees, environmental education training workshops and the design of trail brochures, websites and maps. 


For more information on RTP Education Grants, contact State Trails Coordinator Neal Hamilton at nhamilton@scprt.com.

Please click on the links below for more information on the 2018 and 2019 RTP grant cycle and additional eligible applicant criteria:


2019 RTP Education Letter of Intent (LOI)

2018 & 2019 RTP Grant Schedule

2018 & 2019 RTP Applicant Memorandum

2018 & 2019 RTP Application [download]

2015–2017 RTP Grant Cycle Summary

RTP Documentation Forms for Project Sponsors:

Procurement Certification Form | Reimbursement Request Form | Individual Volunteer Timesheet | Group Volunteer Timesheet | FEMA Equipment Form | Project Completion Form