The Bureau of Land Management announced Monday that 211.2 miles of popular mountain bike trails around Moab will open to class 1 e-bikes beginning March 1, 2026, selecting the most expansive option from their environmental analysis. The decision caps nearly a year of public input and continues the sometimes-contentious local debate over e-bike use on trails.
“Opening trails to class 1 e-bike users will expand recreational opportunities and experiences, while allowing users to disperse across the landscape, minimizing impacts,” said Dave Pals, Moab Field Office Manager.
BLM chooses maximum access over phased approach
The BLM rejected their originally proposed two-phase approach in favor of Alternative C, which provides immediate access to all analyzed trails. The original proposal would have authorized e-bikes on 114 miles of trails rolled out over two years, starting with limited systems and expanding based on monitoring results.
Instead, the agency selected the most expansive option, citing research showing class 1 e-bikes are similar to traditional mountain bikes in safety and trail impact characteristics. Officials concluded that spreading e-bike use across 211 miles would reduce concentrated impacts compared to the phased approach. Some trails that connect to areas managed by other management agencies that do not allow e-bike use will remain closed.
Under the original proposal, several popular systems including Horsethief, Navajo Rocks, Gemini Bridges area trails (7-Up, Gold Bar Rim, Portal), Hunter Canyon Rim, and Raptor Route would have remained off-limits to e-bikes.
Decision follows heated local debate
The BLM decision follows a process that began with a 30-day public scoping period from October 1 to November 1, 2024. Local advisory committees including Trail Mix, the Motorized Trail Committee, and Sand Flats Recreation Stewardship Committee initially crafted measured recommendations that received unanimous support from the Grand County Commission in November 2024.
However, in May 2025, the Grand County Commission reversed course in a contentious 4-3 vote. Commissioners Brian Martinez and Bill Winfield push to recommend full expanded e-bike access despite opposition from some advisory committees and exasperation from other commissioners, who pointed out that the letter was addressing a scoping period that had ended a full six-months before the meeting.
The BLM reported receiving 1,550 submissions from the public during the public comment period, noting that 296 letters were unique, four letters were duplicates, and 1,250 letters were part of organized letter writing campaigns including one by the BlueRibbon Coalition.
Advocates for slowing e-bike introduction raised concerns about user conflicts and potential damage to trails. The BLM’s environmental assessment addresses some of those issues, citing multiple studies that reported no significant speed differences between the two bike types and a 2016 International Mountain Bicycling Association study in northwest Oregon found no significant difference in soil displacement between e-bikes and traditional mountain bikes (though researchers noted this study was conducted in different soil and climate conditions than Moab’s desert environment).
The decision also cites the BLM’s Grand Junction Field Office’s 2022 decision to authorize e-bikes with “no significant conflicts” since then.
Which trails are now open to e-bikes
All of the following trail systems and individual trails will be available to class 1 e-bike users beginning March 1, 2026:
- Athena Mountain Bike Trail
- Horsethief Mountain Bike Trail System
- Navajo Rocks Mountain Bike Trail System
- Gemini Bridges Area Mountain Bike Trail System
- 7-Up Mountain Bike Trail
- Gold Bar Rim Mountain Bike Trail
- Portal Mountain Bike Trail
- Klondike Bluffs Mountain Bike Trail System
- Baby Steps Mountain Bike Trail
- Klonzo Mountain Bike Trail System
- Moab Brands Mountain Bike Trail System
- Amasa Back Mountain Bike Trail System
- Jackson Mountain Bike Trail
- Hunter Canyon Rim Mountain Bike Trail
- Pipe Dream Mountain Bike Trail
- Raptor Route Mountain Bike Trails (Hawks Glide, Falcon Flow, Kestrel Run)
- Kokopelli Mountain Bike Trail
Some trails still restricted to traditional mountain bikes only
Only five BLM-managed trails will remain closed to all e-bikes: Lower Porcupine Singletrack (commonly called LPS), Eagle Eye, Porcupine Rim Singletrack, Fisher Mesa, and Hidden Valley. These restrictions are due to connectivity with U.S. Forest Service lands that prohibit e-bikes or location within Wilderness Study Areas.
What qualifies as a class 1 e-bike
Only class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the newly opened trails. According to federal regulations, class 1 e-bikes must only have added power when being pedaled. The electric assistance cuts off at 20 miles per hour.
Class 2 e-bikes with throttles and class 3 e-bikes that provide power up to 28 miles per hour remain prohibited on these non-motorized trails. Class 1 e-bikes are typically labeled by manufacturers, and riders should be prepared to demonstrate their bike’s pedal-assist-only operation if questioned by rangers.
How locals can provide feedback and stay informed
Residents can view an interactive map of all affected trails and provide feedback on the new policy at the BLM NEPA register. The environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact, and decision record are also available online.
The agency encourages locals to report any trail damage or user conflicts as they monitor the program’s success. For specific questions about trail access, contact the Moab Field Office.
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