BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office announces process to evaluate increased access for eMTB on Designated Mountain Bike Trails. The following information is provided from the BLM’s Press Release dated Feb. 23, 2026.
The Bureau of Land Management, Colorado River Valley Field Office (BLM CRVFO) is seeking public comments to allow Class 1 e-bikes on Designated Mountain Bike Trails within the field office. The BLM CRVFO is preparing an environmental assessment (EA) that will address singletrack mountain bike trail opportunities for e-bike users within the CRVFO by assessing on which, if any, existing designated non-motorized mountain bike trails Class 1 e-bikes would be allowed through 43 CFR 8342.1-2.
The purpose of this scoping period is to solicit comments to be incorporated into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. The public scoping period for this project will run for 30-days from February 23, 2026, through March 25, 2026. The project website can be accessed online at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=4CBC8245-E20C-F111-8406-001DD8029ED0
The scoping period provides an opportunity for the public to identify issues or concerns and alternatives that should be addressed in the EA. Comments received will be used to identify potential environmental issues related to the proposed action and to identify alternatives to the proposed action.
Project Description
The CRVFO offers popular mountain bike trail systems throughout the 567,000 acres of BLM land within its management boundaries. These mountain bike trail systems are cooperatively managed with the support of local government land managers including the City of Glenwood Springs, City of Rifle, Eagle County, Pitkin County Open Space, Town of Carbondale, Town of Eagle, Town of Gypsum and Town of New Castle. There are over 220 miles of single-track mountain bike trails within the field office, including approximately 18 miles of designated mountain bike trails open to Class 1 e-bikes at the Grand Hogback Trail System north of Rifle, Colorado.
To enhance the singletrack mountain bike trail opportunities for e-bike users within the BLM CRVFO, the BLM is proposing to add Class 1 e-bike use on all currently designated mechanized mountain bike trails within the field office. This includes mechanized mountain bike trails within the following areas:
– Special Recreation Management Areas: Hardscrabble – East Eagle SRMA, Red Hill SRMA, The Crown SRMA
– Extensive Recreation Management Areas: New Castle ERMA, Thompson Creek ERMA
– BLM land areas outside of Recreation Management Areas: Catamount, Dry Rifle, East Glenwood Canyon, Fisher Creek, Horse Mountain, Red Hill Gypsum, Sheep Creek, Windy Point.
Background
The BLM CRVFO received a proposal in January 2024 from area mountain bike interest groups to add Class 1 e-bikes to mountain bike trails within the field office. This proposal prompted the CRVFO to engage with local recreation interest groups, public land users and adjacent land managers through public surveys, meetings and visitor use monitoring. These efforts concluded a demand for Class 1 e-bikes on mountain bike trails within the field office. Furthermore, adjoining land managers to BLM trails expressed interest in only adding Class 1 e-bikes to traditional mountain bike trails vs adding all classes of e-bikes.
What is an electric bicycle, or e-bike?
The BLM’s off-road vehicle regulations 43 CFR 8340.0-5(j) defines an e-bike as a bicycle with a small electric motor of not more than 750 watts (one horsepower) which assists in the operation of the bicycle and reduces the physical exertion demands on the rider. E-bikes may have two or three wheels and must have fully operable pedals. They must also meet the requirements of one of the following three classes:
• Class 1 electric bicycle shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
• Class 2 electric bicycle shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
• Class 3 electric bicycle shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.
How does the BLM CRVFO currently manage e-bike use?
All classes of e-bikes are allowed on motorized trails within CRVFO. Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on mountain bike (mechanized) trails within the Grand Hogback Trails north of Rifle, CO. E-bikes are currently not allowed on any other mountain bike (mechanized) trails within the Colorado River Valley Field Office. No management issues have been identified at the Grand Hogback Trails regarding Class 1 e-bike use. This includes no user conflicts or trail maintenance issues.
What existing designated mountain bike (mechanized) trails would the BLM CRVFO consider for e-bike use?
To enhance the singletrack mountain bike trail opportunities for e-bike users within the BLM CRVFO, the BLM is proposing to add Class 1 e-bikes to currently designated mechanized (mountain bike) trails through 43 Code of Federal Regulations and route-by-route travel management decisions.
All mechanized trails within the BLM CRVFO would be considered with the exception of the following:
• Scout Trail / BLM Route 8281T
• Arbaney Kittle Trail / BLM Route 8342 – 8341
• Mansfield Ditch Trail (Lower BLM portion) / BLM Route 8131L
The trails listed above include portions within the U.S. Forest Service who are not considering e-bike use on these routes at this time.
Neighboring lands to BLM CRVFO where e-bikes are currently allowed on mountain bike trails:
– BLM North Fruita Desert SRMA (Class 1 e-bikes allowed on designated mountain bike trails)
– Town of New Castle Trails
– City of Rifle Trails
– City of Glenwood Springs
– West Avon Preserve (Class 1 e-bikes allowed)
– Vail and Beaver Creek Resort Trails (Class 1 e-bikes are allowed within resort boundaries.)
What steps must the BLM complete for e-bike use to be allowed on a designated mechanized trails?
An authorized officer must issue applicable site-specific land use plan or implementation level decisions before e-bikes will be allowed on any road or trail that is not currently open to motorized use. The BLM will issue those decisions in accordance with applicable law, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The current public scoping will initiate this process for the BLM CRVFO.
Are e-bikes allowed to be used to travel cross-country (e.g. not on a road or trail) on BLM CRVFO managed lands?
Within the BLM CRVFO, all bikes, including e-bikes, and motorized vehicles must remain on marked and designated trails and comply with all trail restrictions.
What are the “Rules of the Trail” when riding an e-bike?
Trail etiquette is the same for e-bikes as it is for traditional bikes. Trail etiquette practices are based on a general concept of consideration of other trail users, and protection of the trail and surrounding natural resources. Key concepts include:
• following any posted trail rules and best practices such as speed limits and directional travel
• protecting the trail tread by staying off of the trail during wet or muddy conditions
• openly communicating with other trail users with a calm voice and/or non-obtrusive bells
• using helmets and personal audio devices that allow you to hear other trail users and wildlife
• using passing techniques that are considerate of other trail users and that do not result in trail widening
• riding in small groups that do not negatively impact other trail users experience.
How can I participate in the public scoping?
Starting February 23, 2026, public scoping comments can be submitted through the project page on the BLM’s ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=4CBC8245-E20C-F111-8406-001DD8029ED0
Please provide substantive comments regarding the EA. All substantive and timely comments received during this period will be used to develop a Final EA and Decision.
Substantive versus Non-substantive Comments
Substantive comments do one or more of the following:
• question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of information in the EIS or EA.
• question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of, methodology for, or assumptions used for the environmental analysis.
• present new information relevant to the analysis.
• present reasonable alternatives other than those analyzed in the EIS or EA.
• cause changes or revisions in one or more of the alternatives.
Comments that are not considered substantive include the following:
• comments in favor of or against the proposed action or alternatives without reasoning that meet the criteria listed above (such as “we disagree with Alternative Two and believe the BLM should select Alternative Three”).
• comments that only agree or disagree with BLM policy or resource decisions without justification or supporting data that meet the criteria listed above (such as “more grazing should be permitted”).
• comments that don’t pertain to the project area or the project (such as “the government should eliminate all dams,” when the project is about a grazing permit).
• comments that take the form of vague, open-ended questions.
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