Moab to Open 200 Miles of Trails to E-Bikes in 2026

October 8, 2025

Moab is one of the most popular mountain bike destinations in the United States. Infamous ls like the Whole Enchilada bring visitors from all over the world to the tiny corner of southeastern Utah.

Beginning in March of 2026, Moab will become even more popular. Starting next year, the area will open over 200 miles of mountain biking trails to Class 1 e-bikes.

So, why can’t we just ride e-bikes on any trail? They’ve obviously become more popular in recent years, with every major mountain bike brand offering at least one e-bike in their lineup. Why can’t we just jump on a Moab trail on an e-bike and go for a rip?

Without delving too deeply into the debate over electric vs. analog politics, land management is often the reason e-bikes are not permitted on many trail systems. Especially out west, much of the public land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service (USFS). Much (if not all) of the trails in Moab are on BLM-managed land.

While there can be complex issues at hand, for the sake of this brief article, let’s try to simplify things. Traditionally, trail categories on BLM or USFS land are “motorized” or “non-motorized.” Until recently, all we knew of mountain bikes fell into the “non-motorized” category, and thus they landed on non-motorized trails where approved.

As e-bikes became more common, many of the issues surrounding e-bikes on trails were realized as, well, non-issues. Weight was an initial concern, as many believed the extra 15–20 pounds of an e-bike would damage the trails. However, while e-bikes are certainly heavier than their non-electrified counterparts, this argument didn’t factor in rider weight.

With weight not holding up, many turned to the motorized aspect of e-bikes. “They have motors like dirt bikes; they’ll damage our trails,” was the common thread. But, as we came to find, 750 watts is not enough to rut a trail like a dirt bike can, and so that argument also fell through.

As time passed, e-bikes gained more acceptance and became visible in more locations. However, they were still typically not allowed on many of the USFS and BLM trails. And while this may have been due to local politics (this is what I didn’t want to get into), the “No E-Bikes” decision was typically based on trail designations — whether motorized or non-motorized. And, again, the mountain bike trails e-bikers wanted to ride were almost always designated “non-motorized.” Bike Rumor