USFS travel-management data · Updated June 2026
E-Bikes on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Trails
In Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 323 trail segments (1,178 mi), Class 2 on 323, and Class 3 on 323. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 497 segments. On Forest Service land an e-bike is a motor vehicle, so it is allowed only where designated.
E-bike access by class
Where a trail is open to conventional bikes, check the e-bike columns separately — a non-motorized mountain bike being allowed does not by itself mean an e-bike is.
| E-bike class | Definition | Trail segments with access | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 designated | Pedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph, no throttle. | 323 | 1,178 mi |
| Class 2 designated | Throttle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 323 | 1,178 mi |
| Class 3 designated | Pedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle. | 323 | 1,178 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Divide | 69.09 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Continental Divide | 51.76 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Two Med-Heart Butte | 29.79 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Poe Park | 24.88 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Dry Pole Creek | 22.28 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| North Fork Teton | 20.51 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Lewis And Clark Pass | 20.44 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Tenderfoot | 20.28 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Landers Fork Trail | 19.27 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Lange Creek | 19.1 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Crow Creek | 18.16 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Mortimer Gulch | 17.96 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Moose Creek | 17.16 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Edith Lake | 16.76 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Route Creek Pass | 16.2 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Belt Mountain Divide | 16.12 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Deep Creek-Biggs Creek | 15.93 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| South Birch Cr | 15.49 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Pilgrim Creek | 15.14 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Dry Creek Trail | 14.85 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Rierdon Gulch | 14.66 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Old Baldy | 14.49 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Mt Frazier-Chicken Coulee | 14.07 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Rock Creek | 13.99 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Bilk Mountain | 13.85 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Mt High Jeep | 13.58 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| North Fork Sun River | 13.55 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Pole Creek | 13.19 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Southside | 13.18 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Canyon Creek-Phillips Creek | 13.03 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Helmville - Gould Trail | 12.54 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Ettien Ridge | 12.47 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Lost Fork Judith River | 12.39 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| South Fork Teton | 11.73 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Mortimer Pass | 11.71 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Alice Creek | 11.54 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Buffalo Canyon | 11.49 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Woodchopper Ridge | 11.49 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Cigarette Creek | 11.48 | Allowed | Restricted | Year-round |
| Fairview Creek | 10.76 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
Frequently asked questions
- Are e-bikes allowed in Helena-Lewis and Clark 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 Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 323 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 323 and 323 respectively.
- Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Helena-Lewis and Clark 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 Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest?
- Most bike-designated trails in Helena-Lewis and Clark 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: Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest trail data profile · E-bikes across Montana
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