USFS travel-management data · Updated June 2026
E-Bikes on Black Hills National Forest Trails
In Black Hills National Forest, USFS travel-management data records Class 1 e-bike access on 317 trail segments (545 mi), Class 2 on 317, and Class 3 on 317. Conventional (non-motorized) mountain bikes are designated on 92 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. | 317 | 545 mi |
| Class 2 designated | Throttle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 317 | 545 mi |
| Class 3 designated | Pedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle. | 317 | 545 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial On Northern Hills | 37.51 | Allowed | Allowed | Year-round |
| Centennial On Mystic | 31.02 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Deerfield | 22.56 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Hawkwright Loop | 13.57 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Newton 36 | 12.17 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Deerfield Lake Loop | 11.08 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Victoria 13 | 8.12 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Hershey 1042 | 7.76 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Dugout Gulch Botanical | 6.75 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Lightning Strike | 6.32 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Stots Ridge | 5.82 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Sundance Sheepnose | 5.61 | Allowed | Apr–Nov | |
| Devils Head 60 | 5.6 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Blacktail 1104 | 5.58 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Sundance Richardson Fire | 5.54 | Allowed | Apr–Nov | |
| Ditch Creek 58 | 5.49 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Ditch Creek 39 | 5.36 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Smith 1681 | 5.35 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Hell Canyon | 5.34 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Bluebird | 5.07 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Ditch Creek 30 | 4.98 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Piedmont Fire Trail 144 | 4.95 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Stageyard 150 | 4.89 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Rimrock | 4.84 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Rudenvale | 4.76 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Sundance Sand Pit | 4.72 | Allowed | Apr–Nov | |
| Sundance Ogden Creek | 4.68 | Allowed | Apr–Nov | |
| Bear Paw Loop | 4.65 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Blacktail 1101 | 4.63 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Ditch Creek 29 | 4.6 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Beaver Creek Dry Beaver | 4.59 | Allowed | Apr–Nov | |
| Ditch Creek 47 | 4.52 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Victoria 10 | 4.5 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Big Hill Loop D | 4.46 | Allowed | Apr–Nov | |
| Red Bird | 4.43 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Big Hill Loop C | 4.35 | Allowed | Apr–Nov | |
| Ditch Creek 19 | 4.23 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Pied 277 | 4.17 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed | — |
| Old Baldy | 4.1 | Allowed | Year-round | |
| Sundance Ogden Ridge | 4.09 | Allowed | Apr–Nov |
Frequently asked questions
- Are e-bikes allowed in Black Hills 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 Black Hills National Forest, Class 1 access is recorded on 317 trail segments; Class 2 and 3 on 317 and 317 respectively.
- Does an e-bike count as a mountain bike on Black Hills 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 Black Hills National Forest?
- Most bike-designated trails in Black Hills National Forest carry a Apr–Nov season window in the USFS data; higher-elevation trails open later as snow clears. Always confirm current conditions with the ranger district.
See also: Black Hills National Forest trail data profile · E-bikes across South Dakota
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