California State Parks Awards More Than $28 Million in Grants for Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation for 136 Projects in California
California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division awarded $28.1 million for its 2026 (G26) Grants and Cooperative Agreements program. Eighty-one local and federal agencies, districts, and nonprofit organizations will receive funding for a total of 136 off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation projects.Supporting California’s Outdoors for All initiative to expand access to nature,these grants support a range of efforts, including maintaining trails for OHV use and for motorized access to non-motorized recreation, educating the public about safe and responsible OHV recreation, protecting wildlife, property, and natural and cultural resources, and restoring habitat damaged by both legal and illegal OHV use.
“The grant awards represent an investment in California’s public lands, the communities that depend on them, and the future of responsible off-highway vehicle recreation,” said Sarah Miggins, deputy director of OHMVR Division. “Through our partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations, we are expanding recreational opportunities, protecting natural and cultural resources, and improving public safety. Together, we are ensuring that California’s extraordinary landscapes remain accessible, sustainable, and enjoyed for generations to come.”
The OHMVR Division evaluated more than $44 million in grant funding requests. Examples of the grant recipients include:
- Stanislaus National Forest received a development project grant for $75,000 to add an additional bathroom at Spicer SNO-Park for both summer and winter use.
- Butte County Search and Rescue received a safety project grant for $31,605 to provide OHV related search and rescue patrol in Butte County on both the Lassen and Plumas National Forests for both summer and winter recreation.
- Southern California Mountains Foundation received a restoration project grant for $897,873 to restore 8 miles of routes and 40 acres within Upper Mission Springs, Big Morongo Canyon and Willow Hole areas within the Coachella Valley/Desert Hot Springs region.
- Bureau of Land Manangement’s Eagle Lake field office received $127, 600 to support annual ground operations maintenance at Fort Sage and Rice Canyon OHV areas.
The 136 projects awarded by project type include:
- Ground Operations: $12,761,067 (31 projects)
- Planning: $738,933 (three projects)
- Development: $1,500,000 (six projects)
- Restoration $5,599,344 (10 projects)
- Education & Safety: $1,500,000 (19 projects)
- Law Enforcement: $6,000,000 (67 projects)
Since launching this grants program in 1974, the OHMVR Division has awarded over $884 million in grants and other assistance agreements to support well-managed OHV recreation across the state.
Funded through the OHV Trust Fund, the annual program provides financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations that develop, maintain, operate, expand and support high-quality OHV areas, roads and trails. The program also emphasizes the responsible stewardship of wildlife, soils and habitat within project areas, helping ensure that OHV recreation can be enjoyed for generations to come.
To view a complete list of 2026 awarded projects or to obtain more information about the grants program and opportunities, please visit the OHMVR Division grants webpage at OHV.parks.ca.gov/OHV Grants.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.