USFS travel-management data · Updated June 2026
E-Bikes on Los Padres National Forest Trails
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 | Definition | Trail segments with access | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 designated | Pedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph, no throttle. | 78 | 240 mi |
| Class 2 designated | Throttle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 78 | 240 mi |
| Class 3 designated | Pedal-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 | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 18.98 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Snowy Ohv #130 | 14.26 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Red Reef | 13.48 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Divide Peak Ohv | 12.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Prewitt Loop | 12.13 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Romero Camuesa Ohv | 11.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Mono-Alamar | 10.09 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Buckhorn Ohv | 9.63 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Cold Spring | 9.52 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Willow Spring | 9.34 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Alamar | 9.17 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Tejon Ohv #122 | 9.15 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Gibraltar | 9.1 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| 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 | — |
| Tunnel | 7.88 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Middle Sespe | 7.61 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Indian Canyon | 6.94 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Lion Canyon | 6.9 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| 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 Road | 6.73 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Poplar | 6.56 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Bear Canyon Loop Ohv | 6.44 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Buckhorn Ridge Ohv | 6.37 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Gridley | 5.85 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Blue Canyon | 5.46 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Don Victor | 5.27 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Chorro Grande | 5.17 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Franklin | 4.77 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| East Tecuya Ohv #117 | 4.72 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Matias Potrero | 4.7 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Garcia Ohv | 4.68 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Deer Park Ohv #29 | 4.6 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| San Ysidro | 4.53 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Pratt | 4.52 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Fernandez | 4.48 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Buckhorn | 4.42 | Allowed | Year-round |
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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