$1.78M awarded to dozens of off-highway vehicle recreation projects statewide.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation has approved funding for thirty off-highway vehicle recreation projects across the state.

According to the Utah Division of Outdoor recreation (DOR), a total of $1.78 million will be rewarded to a variety of projects focusing on trail maintenance, search and rescue, education, snowmobile grooming, access protection, tourism, and land acquisition in Utah.

The funding has been approved as part of the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation (OHVR) grant summer cycle. Any grant proposals are reviewed by DOR and the OHV Advisory Council, and this program supports “projects that plan, build and care for responsible motorized recreation across Utah.”

“We saw a strong volume of applications and noticeable rise in proposal quality this cycle, which shows how committed Utah is to safe, sustainable riding,” said Wade Allinson, OHV program manager for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation.

He added, “Partners are leaning into trail stewardship, safety and community benefit, and it shows in the work we’re funding. From clearing and signing singletrack to equipping search and rescue teams and educating riders, these projects improve experiences today while protecting access for tomorrow.”

According to DOR, some of the projects funded by the OHVR grant include the following:

• Southern Utah University – Dixie National Forest Pine Valley & Cedar City OHV Trail Systems: Four seasonal interns will maintain more than 50 miles of motorized trail, including logging out, brushing, tread work and signage ($176,619.98).
• Millard County Tourism – Countywide Trail Maintenance: Purchase of a trail dozer and tools to maintain 1,000+ miles of routes and support coordinated assessments with land managers ($123,682).
• BLM Salt Lake Field Office – Fivemile Pass Restroom Maintenance & Kiosk Installation: Facility repairs and new kiosks at high-use staging areas to improve sanitation and deliver clear safety and resource messages ($53,300.96).
• Grand County Economic Development – Moab Motorized Trail Ambassador Program, Phase 2: Expands on-trail education and rider engagement to promote safe, responsible recreation in the Moab area ($98,157.15).
• Tread Lightly! – Utah Program Manager & Statewide Education: Funds a Utah-based manager to lead year-round stewardship education, outreach and volunteer projects with local partners ($150,000).
• Grand County Search and Rescue – OHV Update & Refresh: Replaces two aging UTVs to improve backcountry response and reliability during multiple or extended rescue operations ($61,673.85).
• Utah Avalanche Center – Motorized Avalanche Forecasting: Supports daily winter forecasts, field operations and motorized outreach that improve safety for riders across key mountain zones ($94,543.04).
• Sand Rock Ridge Riders ATV Club – OHV Staging Area Land Purchase: Purchase of a 3-acre parcel of land in Millard County to build a new OHV staging area ($82,045).

More information on these and other projects funded by this round of OHVR grants can be found here.

Future Funding Opportunities

Since being launched in 2020, the OHVR Grant has funded over $24 million in related projects across Utah, and it provides funding opportunities twice a year, during the spring and during the summer.

Reportedly, cities, counties, state and federal land managers, and non-profit organizations are all eligible for OHVR grants, though the funding amounts may vary depending on the field of the project.

For trail work, access protection, and education-related projects, up to $350,000 is available per application. For search and rescue and snowmobile grooming, projects may receive up to $150,000 in funding. And for tourism-related projects, up to $50,000 is available.

Additionally, for land acquisition grants, year-round funding is available, and funding opportunities range from $10,000 to $1,000,000.

The next OHVR grant cycle opens on January 15, 2026.