USFS travel-management data · Updated June 2026
E-Bikes on Sawtooth National Forest Trails
In Sawtooth National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 318 trail segments (1,184 mi), Class 2 on 318, and Class 3 on 318. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 197 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. | 318 | 1,184 mi |
| Class 2 designated | Throttle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 318 | 1,184 mi |
| Class 3 designated | Pedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle. | 318 | 1,184 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston Mill-Castle Divide | 21.56 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Warm Springs Creek | 20.75 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Harriman Trail | 18.64 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Big Smoky | 18.6 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Alpine Way | 16.66 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Skyline Trail | 15 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Iron Creek - Stanley Lake | 14.54 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Martin-Big Casino | 13.75 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Soldier Cr-Miller Cr | 13.66 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Paradise Creek | 13.51 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Skyline | 12.73 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Big Peak/East Fork Big Peak | 12.42 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Alturas Lake-Mattingly | 12.24 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Big Cottonwood | 12.1 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Grand Prize | 11.74 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Skeleton Creek | 11.55 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Willow Creek | 11.29 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Little Water Gulch | 11.29 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Osberg Ridgeline Trail | 11.28 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Germania Creek | 11.04 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| West Fork Big Smoky Creek | 10.73 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| North Fork Lime Creek | 10.69 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| The Grinder | 10.55 | Allowed | Jun–Nov | |
| Mule Creek | 10.29 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Ranger | 10.08 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Iron Mountain Trail | 9.96 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Wolftone-Curran | 9.89 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Bluff Creek/West Fork Big Peak | 9.83 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Shake Creek | 9.73 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| South Fork Lime Creek | 9.68 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Norton Creek-Prairie Creek | 9.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Warfield-South Fork | 9.33 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Sunny Gulch | 9.26 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Williams Creek | 9.08 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Johnson Creek Jeep Trail | 8.91 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Harrington Fork | 8.85 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Johnson Creek | 8.62 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Boardman Creek | 8.49 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Front Trail East - Atv | 8.42 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Adams Gulch Trail | 8.21 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
Frequently asked questions
- Are e-bikes allowed in Sawtooth 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 Sawtooth National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 318 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 318 and 318 respectively.
- Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Sawtooth 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 Sawtooth National Forest?
- Most bike-designated trails in Sawtooth 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: Sawtooth National Forest trail data profile · E-bikes across Idaho
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