E-Bike Access
Our Position
SWMMBA believes that electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) present opportunity and challenge to traditional mountain-bike access. If managed effectively, eMTBs may increase ridership and stewardship of trails. No management, poor management, and misinformation, however, have the potential to jeopardize current and future access that mountain bikers, SWMMBA, and national organizations have pursued for the past 30 years.
Our position on eMTBs is as follows: SWMMBA is supportive of e-MTB access to motorized trails. SWMMBA recognizes that changes in design, technology, and the numbers of eMTB users is evolving, and believes this use can be managed in a sustainable way for both the environment and other motorized trail users.
SWMMBA firmly believes in its Mission Statement: to enhance access to trails and advocate for mountain bicyclists in Southwest Montana by engaging and educating community, and building and maintaining trails. We wish to execute that mission to the best of our abilities and dedicate 100% of our efforts to Mountain Biking in Southwest Montana, and will continue to do so, regardless of eMTB technology, or changes in access locally or nationally.
Current Management
U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations categorize eMTBs as a “motorized” use, therefore eMTBs are only permitted where motorized vehicles are allowed. However, due to a recent Secretarial Order (SO), the BLM has been tasked with updating their management around eMTBs. While the SO encouraged BLM land managers to increase access for eMTBs to non-motorized trails, the agency recently clarified the current management status of non-motorized trail. Non-motorized trails will be open to eMTBs ONLY IF local managers issue a written decision authorizing use. For more information on BLM policy, visit their e-bike page or reach out to local land managers.
Locally, non-motorized trail systems such as Copper City remain CLOSED to eMTBs. All land managers in Southwestern Montana currently recognize E-Bikes as motorized, and therefore, they are limited to motorized trails within our region.
Some state and local authorities manage eMTBs similarly to federal agency regulations. However, other agencies have decided to open non-motorized trails to eMTB use.
Several state parks, county open space organizations, and municipalities treat electric bicycles identically to non-motorized bicycles, or have designated specific areas that are open to eBikes.
Many government entities have not yet considered the issue or have no policy regarding eMTB use at this time.
There are many excellent eMTB opportunities on southwest Montana’s numerous motorized trails. Below are examples:
eMTB Accessible Trails
Corbly Gulch, Grassy Mountain, Fairy Lake, Middle Cottonwood, Truman Gulch, Flathead Pass, Bear Canyon, Emerald Lake, Hyalite Creek, Storm Castle Creek, Buck Ridge, Pipestone, Revenue Flats
Popular Trails Currently Off-Limits
Copper City, Highland Glen, Gallagator, Peets Hill, Triple Tree, South Cottonwood, Sourdough, Leverich, Stone Creek, Sypes, Path to the M, the M, Blackmore, Storm Castle Mountain
These lists are not comprehensive. For more information, email SWMMBA’s Advocacy Director Adam Oliver at adam@southwestmontanamba.org.