USFS National Forest System Trails · Flathead National Forest · Montana · Updated June 2026
South Fork Hemler Creek (USFS trail 20) is a 5.6 mi trail in Flathead National Forest, Montana. Mountain-bike use here is accepted but discouraged in USFS data, with Class 1 e-bikes also designated.
Can I bike South Fork Hemler Creek?
| Use | Status | Season on record |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain bike | Accepted but discouraged | — |
| Class 1 e-bike (pedal-assist, 20 mph) | Allowed | year-round |
| Class 2 e-bike (throttle, 20 mph) | Allowed | year-round |
| Class 3 e-bike (pedal-assist, 28 mph) | Allowed | year-round |
Zooming out: across Flathead National Forest, 27% of rideable trail miles are open to mountain bikes — a Bike Access Grade of C.
Watch Flathead National Forest for access changes
Email me when USFS mountain-bike or e-bike designations change for trails in Flathead National Forest. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
About this trail
In Flathead National Forest, Montana, South Fork Hemler Creek (USFS trail 20) covers 5.6 mi of National Forest System trail. The figures here are pulled from the official US Forest Service trail data for Flathead National Forest, covering the trail's mileage, tread, grade band, and the bike and e-bike uses the agency lists as designated. The tread is mapped as native material. Based on slope, this is a Advanced trail (grade band 12-20%); that reflects steep gradient and is not the same as a technical MTB difficulty rating. For traditional mountain bikes, use is discouraged according to USFS data. The record additionally permits Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 e-bike use; recall that Class 1 is pedal-assist, while Class 2 adds a throttle and Class 3 a higher cutoff speed. The route is mapped as USFS Trail Class 3 on the agency's 1-to-5 development scale, where 1 is the most primitive, minimally maintained tread and 5 is the most developed. For day-of certainty on closures or seasonal orders, check directly with the ranger district, since this reflects the USFS data as of the latest refresh.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you mountain bike on South Fork Hemler Creek?
- Mountain-bike use on South Fork Hemler Creek is discouraged in USFS records, though Class 1 e-bike use is designated. Confirm current rules with the managing ranger district.
- Are e-bikes allowed on South Fork Hemler Creek?
- Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 e-bikes are designated on South Fork Hemler Creek in the USFS data.
- How long is South Fork Hemler Creek?
- South Fork Hemler Creek measures about 5.6 mi in total, summed across its mapped National Forest System segments.
- What is the surface of South Fork Hemler Creek?
- USFS data records the tread surface of South Fork Hemler Creek as native material.
- How difficult is South Fork Hemler Creek?
- Its grade-based difficulty is Advanced (grade band 12-20%), derived from USFS slope data. This reflects steepness, not technical mountain-bike difficulty.
How we read this data
Grade-based difficulty above is the USFS grade (route steepness), not a technical mountain-bike rating — a gentle-grade trail can still be rocky or technical, and vice versa. Bike and e-bike status come verbatim from the USFS managed-use fields for this trail; we never infer access we can't cite. See our methodology for how the dataset is built and what each field means.
Where it is
Approximate location of Flathead National Forest (USFS trail geometry isn't mapped).
Where to stay near Flathead National Forest
Find hotels, cabins, and vacation rentals near Flathead National Forest — plan your ride.
Top-rated places to stay near Flathead National Forest
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Riding Flathead National Forest?
Trail-access updates and trip ideas by email.