Updated October 2026
E-Bikes on Black Hills National Forest Trails
Mountain bike
255mi
designated on 92 segments
19% of mapped trail
E-bike
545miClass 1
designated on 317 segments
41% of mapped trail
Mountain bike
255mi
designated on 92 segments
19% of mapped trail
- Season on record
- Apr–Nov
E-bike
545miClass 1
designated on 317 segments
- Class 1545 mi
- Class 2545 mi
- Class 3545 mi
Treated as a motor vehicle: ridden only where designated.
- Class 2 segments
- 317
- Class 3 segments
- 317
Both lanes share one scale: the 1,334 mi of National Forest System trail mapped in Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. From USFS National Forest System Trails records, updated October 2026.
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 | Trail segments with access | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1designatedPedal-assist only, motor cuts out at 20 mph, no throttle. | 317 | 545 mi |
| Class 2designatedThrottle-assist up to 20 mph (can propel without pedaling). | 317 | 545 mi |
| Class 3designatedPedal-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial On Northern HillsYear-round | 37.51 | Allowed | Allowed |
| Centennial On MysticYear-round | 31.02 | Allowed | Not designated |
| DeerfieldYear-round | 22.56 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Hawkwright Loop | 13.57 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Newton 36 | 12.17 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Deerfield Lake LoopYear-round | 11.08 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Victoria 13 | 8.12 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Hershey 1042 | 7.76 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Dugout Gulch BotanicalYear-round | 6.75 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Lightning Strike | 6.32 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Stots Ridge | 5.82 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Sundance SheepnoseApr–Nov | 5.61 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Devils Head 60 | 5.6 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Blacktail 1104 | 5.58 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Sundance Richardson FireApr–Nov | 5.54 | Allowed | Not designated |
| 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 CanyonYear-round | 5.34 | Allowed | Not designated |
| 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 |
| RimrockYear-round | 4.84 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Rudenvale | 4.76 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Sundance Sand PitApr–Nov | 4.72 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Sundance Ogden CreekApr–Nov | 4.68 | Allowed | Not designated |
| 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 BeaverApr–Nov | 4.59 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Ditch Creek 47 | 4.52 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Victoria 10 | 4.5 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Big Hill Loop DApr–Nov | 4.46 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Red Bird | 4.43 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Big Hill Loop CApr–Nov | 4.35 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Ditch Creek 19 | 4.23 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Pied 277 | 4.17 | Accepted but discouraged | Allowed |
| Old BaldyYear-round | 4.1 | Allowed | Not designated |
| Sundance Ogden RidgeApr–Nov | 4.09 | Allowed | Not designated |
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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