Recreational Trails Program

Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a competitive grant program that offers funding for quality public trail projects throughout New Hampshire. Limited grants are available for motorized, non-motorized and diversified trails. Eligible projects include maintenance and restoration of existing trails, purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment, construction of new trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages. Applicants may be non-profit organizations, private groups, educational institutions, or government entities.

RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, and represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from nonhighway recreational fuel use: fuel used for off-highway recreation by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-highway light trucks. These funds are appropriated to the states by the Federal Highway Administration as authorized through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program in New Hampshire is administered by the Bureau of Trails.

The RTP application for Federal Fiscal Year 2023 is now closed. Please check back in Spring 2023 for the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 application and workshop dates.

RTP Forms


For application:

RTP Project Administrator's Authorization  
RTP Landowner Permission Form for PRIVATE land
RTP Landowner Permission Form for PUBLIC land 

For contracts:

RTP Municipality Certification of Authority
RTP Sole Proprietor Certification of Authority
RTP Corporate Resolution

For reimbursement/match:

RTP Billing Form  
RTP Match Form  
RTP Volunteer Labor Match Form  
RTP Progress Report Form  
RTP Annual Equipment Report Form 


Guidelines

RTP Information Presentation 
NH RTP Guidelines
NH RTP Scoring Guidelines for Grant Selection
Best Management Practices for Erosion Control During Trail Maintenance and Construction  
Buy America FHWA Guide  
USDA Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails
USDA Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) Pocket Version
Citizens Guide to section 106 review
Everything You Wanted to Know about DES Trail Permits Presentation  

Awards

2014 NH RTP Projects  
2015 NH RTP Projects  
2017 NH RTP Projects  
2018 NH RTP Projects
2019 NH RTP Projects
2020 NH RTP Projects
2021 NH RTP Projects
2022 NH RTP Projects

Links

FEMA Schedule of Equipment Rates
Natural Heritage Bureau Datacheck
NH Dept of Environmental Services, Wetlands Bureau
American Trails
Federal Highway Recreational Trails Program
Recreational Trails Program Database
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
NH GRANIT
USGS National Map Downloader
USGS Topo Viewer: a free topo map viewer and downloader (this only works with a new browser) 
Buy America Field Compliance 
How to set up Direct Deposit
NH Division of Historical Resources Request for Project review
How to Request a Certificate of Good Standing ​

Contact Information

For more information about the Recreational Trails Program contact: 

Jay Scarborough
Jay.A. Scarborough@dncr.nh.gov
172 Pembroke Road
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-3254
Fax: (603) 271-3553
Click the video below for a presentation of an overview of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Recreational Trails Program grants: