CALIFORNIA — October 27, 2026. California cities, counties, districts and qualifying nonprofits seeking funding for motorized recreation trails have a near-term deadline: Monday, November 2, 2026 at 5 p.m. Pacific time, according to California State Parks’ 2026 Recreational Trails Program (R26) calendar. Applications must be submitted through the state’s Online Grants Application (OLGA) system.
This deadline concerns the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), a federal-aid program administered in California by State Parks. It is separate from the 2026 Grants and Cooperative Agreements awards announced on October 27. Those existing awards have already been selected; this is an open application process for another program.
Who can apply?
State Parks lists eligible applicants for the motorized RTP program as cities and counties, districts, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations with management responsibilities for public lands. Applicants are responsible for at least 12% of total project costs; the RTP portion can cover at most 88%. The state lists several potential sources of matching support, including local funds, private funds and eligible donated materials or services.
These are grants for eligible trail work, not direct personal reimbursements for an individual’s ATV purchase or private recreation trip. Applicants should examine the program rules and environmental requirements before submitting. The state specifically notes that some projects require federal environmental documentation, and certain work on federal land requires completed NEPA documentation before the application deadline.
What happens after November 2?
The agency’s schedule lists application review beginning November 4, 2026 and recommendations for funding scheduled for January 6, 2027. Recommendations are not the same as a final award or permission to begin construction.
How to apply: consult the official California State Parks RTP page for the OLGA portal, procedural guide, eligibility details and contact information. The agency directs questions to OHV.Grants@parks.ca.gov.
Related California58 reporting: Read about the separate $28.1 million 2026 OHV grant awards announced October 27. Those are already awarded projects; this article explains the still-open November 2 application opportunity.
Deadline and eligibility were checked against the agency’s current program page on October 27, 2026. Organizations should verify the portal status and grant instructions directly before filing.
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