Whether your organization applied in the recent round of the Maine Trails Program (MTP) or you are planning for future trail projects, we want to hear from you!
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The Maine Trails Coalition (MTC) and other partners work alongside the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL, which administers the Maine Trails Program) to help organizations across the state navigate the application process. Your feedback directly shapes the practical guides, tip sheets, and workshops we offer to help groups of all sizes successfully apply for grants.

Beyond immediate applicant support, your input helps us understand the bigger picture: the real capital needs and long-term funding required to maintain and grow Maine’s trail networks.

Major trail networks aren’t built on single windfalls - they are built over time with stacked capital investments and deep community trust. Outdoor Sport Institute’s (OSI) recent success in Northern Maine proves exactly how powerful a diverse funding mix can be. By pairing a $1 million federal grant with a $250,000 Maine Trails Program (MTP) award, OSI has secured the vital state and federal pieces needed to accelerate a synchronized regional network known as Katahdin Area Trails (KAT). 
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Selected as one of 44 projects statewide from over 100 Maine Trails Program (MTP) applications, Rockland’s Benner Hill Trail Development is proving just how vital state trail funding is for local communities. Backed with its $250,000 MTP grant, the City is kicking off construction on the highly anticipated project this July.

The ambitious project serves as a significant leap forward for the city's long-term Waterfront to Wilderness initiative, a decade-long vision to connect Rockland Harbor in the east to the pristine Rockland Bog in the west. When finished, the regional patchwork will span five to six miles of interconnected trails.

For some, the "magic of the outdoors" is a hobby discovered later in life, but Julia Neumann discovered it early. Growing up in Utah, the desert and mountains weren't just scenery, they were the places where she spent countless hours with her parents from an early age. From canoeing and kayaking to cross-country skiing and backpacking, Julia spent her childhood immersed in Utah’s rugged outdoors whenever possible.

But even a lifelong adventurer can find a new kind of magic. When Julia moved to Maine for college, she discovered a unique geographical jackpot. "I used to tell my friends back home that Maine is the perfect state," she laughs, "because it has the ocean and the mountains. You get the whitewater and the coastline all in one place."
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The past year has been remarkable for Maine’s trail networks. The overwhelming support for the trails bond last fall immediately fueled the launch of the brand-new Maine Trails Program (MTP). As we enter the holiday season, we have much to be grateful for, especially the dedication of the organizations and volunteers working to make Maine’s trails better.

The Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) moved rapidly to establish the program. Bureau staff not only defined the new program and application process but also took their show on the road, offering workshops and trainings around the state and online. Meanwhile, the MTC (with the support of the Natural Resources Council of Maine) ramped up our MTP Task Force and Ambassador volunteer network to support applicants.