Updated October 2026
E-Bikes on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Trails
Mountain bike
2,202mi
designated on 497 segments
61% of mapped trail
E-bike
1,178miClass 1
designated on 323 segments
33% of mapped trail
Mountain bike
2,202mi
designated on 497 segments
61% of mapped trail
- Season on record
- Year-round
E-bike
1,178miClass 1
designated on 323 segments
- Class 11,178 mi
- Class 21,178 mi
- Class 31,178 mi
Treated as a motor vehicle: ridden only where designated.
- Class 2 segments
- 323
- Class 3 segments
- 323
Both lanes share one scale: the 3,588 mi of National Forest System trail mapped in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana. From USFS National Forest System Trails records, updated October 2026.
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 | Trail segments with access | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1designatedPedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph, no throttle. | 323 | 1,178 mi |
| Class 2designatedThrottle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 323 | 1,178 mi |
| Class 3designatedPedal-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental DivideYear-round | 69.09 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Continental DivideYear-round | 51.76 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Two Med-Heart ButteYear-round | 29.79 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Poe ParkYear-round | 24.88 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Dry Pole CreekYear-round | 22.28 | Allowed | Restricted |
| North Fork TetonYear-round | 20.51 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Lewis And Clark PassYear-round | 20.44 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Tenderfoot | 20.28 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Landers Fork TrailYear-round | 19.27 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Lange CreekYear-round | 19.1 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Crow CreekYear-round | 18.16 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Mortimer GulchYear-round | 17.96 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Moose CreekYear-round | 17.16 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Edith LakeYear-round | 16.76 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Route Creek PassYear-round | 16.2 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Belt Mountain DivideYear-round | 16.12 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Deep Creek-Biggs CreekYear-round | 15.93 | Allowed | Restricted |
| South Birch CrYear-round | 15.49 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Pilgrim CreekYear-round | 15.14 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Dry Creek TrailYear-round | 14.85 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Rierdon GulchYear-round | 14.66 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Old BaldyYear-round | 14.49 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Mt Frazier-Chicken CouleeYear-round | 14.07 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Rock CreekYear-round | 13.99 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Bilk MountainYear-round | 13.85 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Mt High JeepYear-round | 13.58 | Allowed | Allowed |
| North Fork Sun RiverYear-round | 13.55 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Pole CreekYear-round | 13.19 | Allowed | Restricted |
| SouthsideYear-round | 13.18 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Canyon Creek-Phillips CreekYear-round | 13.03 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Helmville - Gould TrailYear-round | 12.54 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Ettien RidgeYear-round | 12.47 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Lost Fork Judith RiverYear-round | 12.39 | Allowed | Restricted |
| South Fork TetonYear-round | 11.73 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Mortimer PassYear-round | 11.71 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Alice CreekYear-round | 11.54 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Buffalo CanyonYear-round | 11.49 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Woodchopper RidgeYear-round | 11.49 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Cigarette CreekYear-round | 11.48 | Allowed | Restricted |
| Fairview CreekYear-round | 10.76 | Allowed | Allowed |
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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