Updated October 2026
E-Bikes on Los Padres National Forest Trails
Mountain bike
251mi
designated on 56 segments
18% of mapped trail
E-bike
240miClass 1
designated on 78 segments
17% of mapped trail
Mountain bike
251mi
designated on 56 segments
18% of mapped trail
- Season on record
- Year-round
E-bike
240miClass 1
designated on 78 segments
- Class 1240 mi
- Class 2240 mi
- Class 3240 mi
Treated as a motor vehicle: ridden only where designated.
- Class 2 segments
- 78
- Class 3 segments
- 78
Both lanes share one scale: the 1,381 mi of National Forest System trail mapped in Los Padres National Forest, California. From USFS National Forest System Trails records, updated October 2026.
In Los Padres National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 78 trail segments (240 mi), Class 2 on 78, and Class 3 on 78. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 56 segments. On Forest Service land an e-bike is a motor vehicle, so it is allowed only where designated.
E-bike access by class
This forest has completed e-bike travel-management designations: the dataset records Class 1 access on more trail segments than it does for conventional bikes, because the e-bike fields were filled in comprehensively during that process.
| E-bike class | Trail segments with access | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1designatedPedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph, no throttle. | 78 | 240 mi |
| Class 2designatedThrottle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 78 | 240 mi |
| Class 3designatedPedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle. | 78 | 240 mi |
Trail-by-trail (largest bike trails)
Conventional-bike and Class 1 e-bike status with season windows, per USFS designation.
| Trail | Miles | Bike | Class 1 e-bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa CruzYear-round | 18.98 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Snowy Ohv #130 | 14.26 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Red ReefYear-round | 13.48 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Divide Peak Ohv | 12.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Prewitt LoopYear-round | 12.13 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Romero Camuesa Ohv | 11.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Mono-AlamarYear-round | 10.09 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Buckhorn Ohv | 9.63 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Cold SpringYear-round | 9.52 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Willow SpringYear-round | 9.34 | Allowed | Not designated |
| AlamarYear-round | 9.17 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Tejon Ohv #122 | 9.15 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| GibraltarYear-round | 9.1 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Ortega Ohv | 8.64 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Kerry Canyon Ohv | 8.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Piru Creek Ohv #128 | 8.38 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| TunnelYear-round | 7.88 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Middle SespeYear-round | 7.61 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Indian CanyonYear-round | 6.94 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Lion CanyonYear-round | 6.9 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Yellowjacket Ohv #126 | 6.84 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Tinta Ohv #101 | 6.83 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Pine Mountain Ohv | 6.75 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Old Romero RoadYear-round | 6.73 | Allowed | Not designated |
| PoplarYear-round | 6.56 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Bear Canyon Loop Ohv | 6.44 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Buckhorn Ridge Ohv | 6.37 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| GridleyYear-round | 5.85 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Blue CanyonYear-round | 5.46 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Don VictorYear-round | 5.27 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Chorro GrandeYear-round | 5.17 | Allowed | Not designated |
| FranklinYear-round | 4.77 | Allowed | Not designated |
| East Tecuya Ohv #117 | 4.72 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Matias PotreroYear-round | 4.7 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Garcia Ohv | 4.68 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Deer Park Ohv #29 | 4.6 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| San YsidroYear-round | 4.53 | Allowed | Not designated |
| PrattYear-round | 4.52 | Allowed | Not designated |
| FernandezYear-round | 4.48 | Allowed | Restricted |
| BuckhornYear-round | 4.42 | Allowed | Not designated |
Frequently asked questions
- Are e-bikes allowed in Los Padres National Forest?
- On National Forest System land, e-bikes are legally motor vehicles. Under U.S. Forest Service policy (36 CFR 212; FSM 7700), an e-bike of any class may be ridden only on routes that are designated for motor-vehicle use or specifically designated for e-bike use — not on every trail where a conventional (non-motorized) mountain bike is allowed. In Los Padres National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 78 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 78 and 78 respectively.
- Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Los Padres National Forest trails?
- No. Under USFS policy an e-bike of any class is a motor vehicle, even Class 1 pedal-assist. A trail being open to conventional bikes does not by itself permit e-bikes — the trail must carry an e-bike or motorized designation.
- When are bikes open in Los Padres National Forest?
- Most bike-designated trails in Los Padres National Forest carry a Year-round season window in the USFS data; higher-elevation trails open later as snow clears. Always confirm current conditions with the ranger district.
See also: Los Padres National Forest trail data profile · E-bikes across California
E-bike rules in other California forests
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