Updated October 2026
E-Bikes on Flathead National Forest Trails
Mountain bike
79.6mi
designated on 27 segments
4% of mapped trail
E-bike
235miClass 1
designated on 67 segments
10% of mapped trail
Mountain bike
79.6mi
designated on 27 segments
4% of mapped trail
- Season on record
- May–Oct
E-bike
235miClass 1
designated on 67 segments
- Class 1235 mi
- Class 2235 mi
- Class 3235 mi
Treated as a motor vehicle: ridden only where designated.
- Class 2 segments
- 67
- Class 3 segments
- 67
Both lanes share one scale: the 2,260 mi of National Forest System trail mapped in Flathead National Forest, Montana. From USFS National Forest System Trails records, updated October 2026.
In Flathead National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 67 trail segments (235 mi), Class 2 on 67, and Class 3 on 67. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 27 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. | 67 | 235 mi |
| Class 2designatedThrottle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 67 | 235 mi |
| Class 3designatedPedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle. | 67 | 235 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine 7 | 55.25 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Tally- Ashley | 19.59 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Columbia Mtn. Loop | 12.06 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Ingalls - Mt Conner | 10.01 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Jimmie Ridge | 8.42 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Foys To BlacktailYear-round | 7.39 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Wire Trail | 6.89 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| BeardanceYear-round | 6.82 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Elk Mtn.Jun–Oct | 6.79 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Peterson Creek | 6.03 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Ashley Divide | 5.84 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Wild Bill - Truman Creek | 5.78 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Wild Bill - Eagle Mtn. Trail | 5.76 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Pine Grass | 5.58 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| SummitJun–Sep | 5.58 | Allowed | Restricted |
| South Fork Hemler Creek | 5.56 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Ashley Mtn | 5.54 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Abbot CreekMay–Oct | 4.74 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Sixmile Lookout | 4.44 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Skyland | 4.23 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Upper Dayton Creek Ohv | 4.19 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Johnson PeakJun–Oct | 4.17 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Lupine LakeJun–Nov | 3.95 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Holbrook TrailYear-round | 3.95 | Allowed | Restricted |
| PhillipsYear-round | 3.94 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Griffin Creek | 3.81 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Lakeside To BlacktailYear-round | 3.38 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Krause Basin 905 | 3.35 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Round Meadow LoopMay–Oct | 3.33 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Doris Creek | 3.27 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Runaway TrainJun–Sep | 2.89 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Doris Ridge | 2.82 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Strawberry Lake | 2.77 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| ChechakoMay–Oct | 2.73 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Lower South Fork | 2.71 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Peters Ridge | 2.64 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Sixmile Sidehill | 2.5 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Boney GulchJun–Nov | 2.48 | Allowed | Restricted |
| SnowberryMay–Oct | 2.44 | Allowed | Restricted |
| FreebirdJun–Sep | 2.34 | Allowed | Restricted |
Frequently asked questions
- Are e-bikes allowed in Flathead 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 Flathead National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 67 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 67 and 67 respectively.
- Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Flathead 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 Flathead National Forest?
- Most bike-designated trails in Flathead National Forest carry a May–Oct season window in the USFS data; higher-elevation trails open later as snow clears. Always confirm current conditions with the ranger district.
See also: Flathead National Forest trail data profile · E-bikes across Montana
E-bike rules in other Montana forests
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