The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR), working with the OHV Advisory Council, has approved funding for 30 projects through the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation (OHVR) grant summer cycle, investing $1.78 million in trail maintenance, search and rescue, education, snowmobile grooming, access protection, tourism and land acquisition across the state.
“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. “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.”
2025 Summer OHVR Grant Project Highlights:
- 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).
The OHVR Grant supports projects that plan, build and care for responsible motorized recreation across Utah. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, state and federal land managers and nonprofits. Typical awards range from $1,500 to $350,000 for trail work and for access protection and education; $1,500 to $150,000 for search and rescue and for snowmobile; $1,000 to $15,000 for OHV tourism; and $10,000 to $1,000,000 for land acquisition, which is open year-round. Proposals are evaluated for safety and stewardship impact, community partnerships and readiness to deliver. The next OHVR grant cycle will open for applications on Jan.15, 2026.
The OHVR Grant, launched in 2020, has now funded over $24 million in OHV-related projects throughout Utah.
The OHV Advisory Council reviews, scores and recommends grant applications. Council members help shape the future of OHV activities in Utah, and play a vital role in advocating for OHV enthusiasts by engaging in impactful activities.
For a full list of the 2025 OHVR Grant summer cycle recipients, visit recreation.utah.gov/grants/. For more information on the Division of Outdoor Recreation and available grants, visit recreation.utah.gov.
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