Updated October 2026
E-Bikes on Ottawa National Forest Trails
Mountain bike
115mi
designated on 125 segments
5% of mapped trail
E-bike
1,697miClass 1
designated on 3,152 segments
71% of mapped trail
Mountain bike
115mi
designated on 125 segments
5% of mapped trail
- Season on record
- Year-round
E-bike
1,697miClass 1
designated on 3,152 segments
- Class 11,697 mi
- Class 21,697 mi
- Class 31,697 mi
Treated as a motor vehicle: ridden only where designated.
- Class 2 segments
- 3,152
- Class 3 segments
- 3,152
Both lanes share one scale: the 2,375 mi of National Forest System trail mapped in Ottawa National Forest, Michigan. From USFS National Forest System Trails records, updated October 2026.
In Ottawa National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 3,152 trail segments (1,697 mi), Class 2 on 3,152, and Class 3 on 3,152. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 125 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. | 3,152 | 1,697 mi |
| Class 2designatedThrottle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 3,152 | 1,697 mi |
| Class 3designatedPedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle. | 3,152 | 1,697 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Use | 15.01 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Gogebic RidgeYear-round | 9.09 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Nfst-120 | 7.15 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Watersmeet Snowmobile #3Apr–Nov | 6.57 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Davidson LakesYear-round | 6.42 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Ontonagon Equestrian ComplexMay–Nov | 4.99 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Ontonagon Equestrian ComplexMay–Nov | 4.9 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Nfst-687 | 4.86 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Land O' Lakes Ski TrailApr–Nov | 4.38 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Ontonagon Equestrian ComplexMay–Nov | 4.27 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Nfst-6881-E | 4.14 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-5235 | 3.91 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-3117 | 3.86 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-530 | 3.82 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-T2500 | 3.69 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-866 | 3.67 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-1355 | 3.62 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-5145 | 3.33 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-3693 | 3.31 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-8890 | 3.23 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Blue Road HunterYear-round | 3.14 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Bluebill Creek HunterYear-round | 3.06 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Nfst-734 | 3.06 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Deer Marsh InterpretiveYear-round | 3.03 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Nfst-2292 | 3.01 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-696-C | 3.01 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-8150 | 2.97 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-615-D | 2.91 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-3658 | 2.77 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-5134 | 2.76 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-3662 | 2.73 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-6924 | 2.68 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-5254 | 2.65 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Bluebill Creek HunterYear-round | 2.64 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Nfst-615 | 2.6 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-715 | 2.6 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-7020 | 2.55 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-884 | 2.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-T2291-D | 2.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Nfst-2012-C | 2.46 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
Frequently asked questions
- Are e-bikes allowed in Ottawa 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 Ottawa National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 3,152 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 3,152 and 3,152 respectively.
- Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Ottawa 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 Ottawa National Forest?
- Most bike-designated trails in Ottawa 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: Ottawa National Forest trail data profile · E-bikes across Michigan
E-bike rules in other Michigan forests
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