Are e-bikes allowed in Medicine Bow-Routt 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 Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 145 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 145 and 145 respectively.

Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Medicine Bow-Routt 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 Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest?

Most bike-designated trails in Medicine Bow-Routt 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.

Updated October 2026

E-Bikes on Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest Trails

Mountain bike

134mi

designated on 48 segments

6% of mapped trail

E-bike

800miClass 1

designated on 145 segments

34% of mapped trail

Mountain bike

134mi

designated on 48 segments

6% of mapped trail

Season on record: Year-round

E-bike

800miClass 1

designated on 145 segments

Class 1800 mi
Class 2800 mi
Class 3800 mi

Treated as a motor vehicle: ridden only where designated.

Class 2 segments: 145
Class 3 segments: 145

Both lanes share one scale: the 2,367 mi of National Forest System trail mapped in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Colorado. From USFS National Forest System Trails records, updated October 2026.

In Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 145 trail segments (800 mi), Class 2 on 145, and Class 3 on 145. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 48 segments. On Forest Service land an e-bike is a motor vehicle, so it is allowed only where designated.

Reviewed by CanIBikeHere Editorial Team · Updated Oct 15, 2026

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 access by class in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, from USFS travel-management data
E-bike class	Definition	Trail segments with access	Miles
Class 1designatedPedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph, no throttle.	Pedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph, no throttle.	145	800 mi
Class 2designatedThrottle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling).	Throttle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling).	145	800 mi
Class 3designatedPedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle.	Pedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle.	145	800 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
Wyoming Trail	63.49	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Snyder Creek Loop	50.28	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Bears Ears	45.17	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Grizzley-Helena	28.46	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Divide Snowmobile	26.7	Not designated	Allowed	—
Lost Park Snowmobile	23.3	Not designated	Allowed	—
Radial Mountain	22.55	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Albany Trail	20.31	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Main Fork	19.06	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Buffalo Pass Winter	17.41	Not designated	Allowed	—
Pumpcreek Trail	16.11	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Elkhorn	16.02	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
California Park Snowmobile	14.9	Not designated	Allowed	—
Whiskey Park Rd Snowmobile	14.74	Not designated	Allowed	—
Tie City Trail SystemYear-round	13.75	Allowed	Not designated	Year-round
Never Summer	13.24	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Morrison Divide	13.1	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Kellog Trail	12.66	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Continental Divide Atv	12.32	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Farwell Snowmobile	12	Not designated	Allowed	—
Quealy Reservoir Spur	11.74	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Nipple Peak	11.09	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Meaden Peak Snowmobile	10.6	Not designated	Allowed	—
Red Park Snowmobile	10	Not designated	Allowed	—
Bears Ears Snowmobile	10	Not designated	Allowed	—
Sunquist	9.75	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Seedhouse Snowmobile	9.5	Not designated	Allowed	—
East Upton Loop 1	9.23	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Prospector	8.79	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Rainbow Lakes	8.3	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Whiskey Creek	8.1	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
East Fork TrailYear-round	7.52	Allowed	Not designated	Year-round
Parkview Creek	7.2	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Fish Creek	7.17	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Hay Park	7.16	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Columbine Snowmobile	7	Not designated	Allowed	—
Columbine Snowmobile	7	Not designated	Allowed	—
Ute-Heart Lake	6.96	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
West Fish Creek Atv	6.74	Accepted but discouraged	Allowed	—
Little Laramie Trail SystemYear-round	6.29	Allowed	Not designated	Year-round

Frequently asked questions

Are e-bikes allowed in Medicine Bow-Routt 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 Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 145 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 145 and 145 respectively.
Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Medicine Bow-Routt 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 Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest?: Most bike-designated trails in Medicine Bow-Routt 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.

E-bike rules in other Colorado forests

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests

319 Class 1 segments

Pike and San Isabel National Forests

183 Class 1 segments

San Juan National Forest

131 Class 1 segments

White River National Forest

100 Class 1 segments

Rio Grande National Forest

59 Class 1 segments

Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests

53 Class 1 segments

All Colorado e-bike rules

Where to stay near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest

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