Updated October 2026
E-Bikes on Rio Grande National Forest Trails
Mountain bike
0mi
No mountain-bike designation recorded
0% of mapped trail
E-bike
514miClass 1
designated on 59 segments
41% of mapped trail
Mountain bike
0mi
No mountain-bike designation recorded
0% of mapped trail
- Season on record
- Not recorded
E-bike
514miClass 1
designated on 59 segments
- Class 1514 mi
- Class 2514 mi
- Class 3514 mi
Treated as a motor vehicle: ridden only where designated.
- Class 2 segments
- 59
- Class 3 segments
- 59
Both lanes share one scale: the 1,247 mi of National Forest System trail mapped in Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado. From USFS National Forest System Trails records, updated October 2026.
In Rio Grande National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 59 trail segments (514 mi), Class 2 on 59, and Class 3 on 59. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 0 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. | 59 | 514 mi |
| Class 2designatedThrottle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 59 | 514 mi |
| Class 3designatedPedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle. | 59 | 514 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Divide Nst | 139.66 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| La Garita Sd. | 56.86 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Dry Creek | 15.62 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Fern Creek | 13.65 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Archuleta | 12.83 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Silver Mtn | 12.18 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Bennett | 11.36 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Shady | 11.26 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| La Garita Creek | 11.13 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Trout | 10.3 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Willow Mountain | 9.49 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Miner'S Creek | 8.95 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Wolf Creek | 8.94 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Perry Creek | 8.2 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Burro | 8.15 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| West Frisco | 7.8 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Pole Creek | 7.47 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Hot Creek | 7.44 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Lost Trail | 7.25 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| West Lost | 6.95 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Blanca Peak | 6.72 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Alder Bench | 6.52 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Empedrado Lake | 6.41 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Groundhog | 6.36 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Tewskberry | 6.19 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| West Alder | 6.19 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Embargo | 6.15 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Alamosa Rock | 5.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Middle Alder | 5.17 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Benino | 5.05 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Bear Creek | 4.76 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Shrader | 4.73 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Cross Creek | 4.68 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| West Bear | 4.35 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Saddle Creek | 4.19 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Cathedral | 3.63 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Castle Rock | 3.47 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Church Creek | 3.37 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| East Fk. Middle Pole | 3.34 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Hughes Trail | 3.31 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
Frequently asked questions
- Are e-bikes allowed in Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 59 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 59 and 59 respectively.
- Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande National Forest?
- Season windows vary by trail and elevation; check each trail's designation and current conditions with the ranger district.
See also: Rio Grande National Forest trail data profile · E-bikes across Colorado
E-bike rules in other Colorado forests
319 Class 1 segments
183 Class 1 segments
145 Class 1 segments
131 Class 1 segments
100 Class 1 segments
53 Class 1 segments
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