NOVA-Trails: Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Program
NOVA-Trails: Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Program supports trail and off-road recreation projects through land acquisition, planning, development, and upkeep to meet users’ needs and reduce conflicts.
Funder: Recreation and Conservation Office
Due Dates: September 1, 2026 (Plan) | November 3, 2026 (Application) | January 22, 2027 (Technical completion)
Funding Amounts: $8.5 million in program funding; project limits of $200,000 or $350,000 in capped categories
Summary: Supports land acquisition, planning, development, maintenance, and operation for trail, back-road, and off-road vehicle recreation.
Key Information: Except for off-road vehicle facilities, supported recreation must be accessed via a nonhighway road.
Description
The Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities (NOVA) Trails program funds recreation opportunities reached by nonhighway roads and facilities for off-road vehicle use. The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board administers the program with support from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Activities served include hiking, horseback riding, mountain bicycling, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, sightseeing, motorcycling, and all-terrain and four-wheel-drive vehicle riding.
Grants can support land acquisition, recreation planning, trail and trailhead construction or renovation, maintenance of trails and associated campgrounds, and operation of off-road vehicle parks. The program aims to provide recreation opportunities that meet users’ needs while encouraging environmentally responsible use and minimizing conflicts among visitors. Education and enforcement are a separate NOVA funding category.
