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Nothing beats the feeling of a day out exploring trails on your eBike. The speed and versatility of electric mountain bikes allow riders to safely navigate some of the most ruggedly beautiful natural areas in the United States.
The US has thousands of bike and backcountry trails that are open to eBikes. In addition, recent changes in legislation have opened up even more electric bike access to national parks and BLM land. Check out some of these EMTB riding tips for world-class eBike trails found across this beautiful nation.
Best Off-Road Trails for EBikes
There are countless trails and backcountry riding opportunities across the United States. Choose from desolate deserts, sandy beaches, lush forests, or open rocky mountains; the options are endless. QuietKat electric bikes can even handle snow. Here’s just a taste of the eBike trails that are worthy of a road trip.
Hell’s Revenge: Moab, Utah
Length: 6.8 miles
Type: Double Track
Difficulty: Intermediate
Moab has long been a mecca for mountain bikers, so it’s no surprise that the Hell’s Revenge Trail would also be top of our list for eBikers. Hell’s Revenge is a popular trail for bikes, ATVs and 4x4s, but it’s even more enjoyable on a class one electric bike. This Slickrock trail lies northeast of Moab between the Sand Flats Road and the river. Hell’s Revenge takes you through multiple rugged sandstone features with 1,081 ft of steep climbing and -1,230 ft of descent. Riders will enjoy spectacular views as they take in the beautiful vistas of the La Sal Mountains and Arches National Park.
Utah has some of the best national parks for eclectic bike riding. While you shouldn’t assume that all Moab trails allow electric bikes, several other highly recommended Moab trails are open to eBikers. These include Slickrock Trail, Poison Spider Mesa, Dead Horse State Park, White Rim Trail, Sovereign, and Fins & Things.
Hiawatha Trail: Shoshone County, Idaho
Length: 15 miles
Type: One-way bike path
Difficulty: Beginner
Idaho’s Hiawatha Tail is one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the US. However, this trail offers something different from the off-road adventures on this list. Instead of tackling demanding terrain, you will follow an old railroad and go through ten train tunnels and seven trestles.
Both traditional cycles and class 1 eBikes are currently allowed on the Hiawatha Trail, which is open between May and September. You can start your ride at the East Portal Trailhead. Most riders go downhill and take a shuttle back up, but an eBike rider could tackle the uphill return using pedal assistance. This trail is an excellent choice for families or groups with varying levels of skill or fitness.
South Mountain Park and Preserve: Phoenix, Arizona
Length: 70 miles
Type: Varies
Difficulty: Varies
South Mountain Preserve is one of America’s largest urban parks at more than 16,000 acres. Giant saguaro cacti punctuate the beautiful desert landscape, which is home to several popular mountain bike trails. Trails that allow eBikes include the steep, technically challenging Holbert Trail, the moderate National Trail, which features a waterfall, or the mellow Desert Classic Trail, which is excellent for all skill levels.
Both class 1 and class 2 eclectic bikes are allowed in the park. Ebikers can ride on all 70 miles of trails in the park. However, riders should be aware and mindful that they will share these trails with traditional bikes, horses, and hikers.
Arizona has several other parks which allow eclectic bike access, and you can find other eBike trails in the Phoenix area. Nearby trails include White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Estrella Mountain Regional Park, and McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
Ocala National Forest: Orlando, Florida
Length: 200 miles of ATV/motorcycle trails.
Type: OHV Trails
Difficulty: Varies
The Ocala is one of Florida’s biggest tourist attractions, and with good reason. The beautiful National Forest has 600 lakes and rivers for recreational use. Although electric bikes aren’t allowed on the Ocala mountain bike trails, they are allowed on over 200 miles of ATV trails. Electric bikes can go anywhere that an ATV or 4x4 vehicle can go within Ocala National Forest.
The Longleaf OHV Trail is one of the many scenic routes open to eBikes within the Ocala North OHV Trail System. This 25-mile loop connects you to many other OHV trails, including Tobacco Patch, Hog Valley, and Pipeline OHV Trails, plus the Motorcycle and Delancy Loops.
Mammoth Mountain Bike Park: Mammoth Lakes, California
Length: 80+ miles
Type: Varies
Difficulty: Varies
Mammoth is well known as a winter sports and ski destination, but there’s also plenty of fun to be had in the summer. The Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is excellent for experienced bikers and newbies alike. This is a great destination to hire an EMTB for a few hours if you’re just a beginner and want to try out electric mountain biking without buying an eBike.
Trails are well marked by skill level, with options for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is the premier bike park in the USA, with 80+ miles of singletrack and jumps, berms and drops for more advanced riders.
Many trails are freely accessible, including those that run between Mammoth Mountain and the Mammoth Lakes Village. However, if you want to head up the mountain, you’ll need to buy a pass if you need to access chairlifts, the Panorama Gondola, or the Bike Park Shuttle. Note that a bike park shuttle pass is often included with your electric cycle hire.
A dedicated bike park is a great way to learn about electric mountain biking. You can experience the thrill of eBikes in a beautiful setting - without worrying about sharing the trails with ATVs or hikers.
St Joe State Park: St. Francois County, Missouri
Length: 2,000 acres designated for off-road uses
Type: State Park
Difficulty: Varies
St Joe State Park in Missouri is a rare find for off-road enthusiasts. The park, known as the Old Lead Belt, is one of only two off-road vehicle designated areas in the state park system. This is a beautiful state park with great variety in terrain.
There are 2,000 acres set aside for off-road vehicle use, including mud, sandhills and flats, two lakes, and two swimming beaches. With a QuietKat eBike, you can easily tackle these changes in terrain and explore the best the park offers.
Poison Spider Mesa: Moab, Utah
Length: 17.49 miles
Type: Lollipop loop
Difficulty: Advanced
Poison Spider Mesa is another trail in Moab that offers striking views. This 4×4 double-track trail is challenging and not for the faint of heart. The terrain varies, with some sandy stretches of sandstone riding. Start the trail on Poison Spider Mesa Road and after 5.3 mi, make a right at the Golden Spike/Poison Spider Mesa intersections. Continue for 2.8 miles to reach the viewpoint, where striking vistas await.
Be careful not to detour onto the Portal Singletrack and Goldbar Rim Singletrack, as these are currently designated as non-motorized routes and not open to eBikes.
Rubicon Trail: Georgetown, California
Length: 22 miles
Type: Multi-use out and back
Difficulty: Advanced
The renowned Rubicon Trail can be found in the High Sierras near the beautiful Lake Tahoe in Placer County. The eastern end of this challenging 4-wheel drive trail starts in Tahoma and covers 22 miles to Georgetown. The trail is not maintained, but your full-suspension eBike can handle that. To reach the eastern trailhead, leave Tahoe City and follow 89 south about nine miles. Turn into a residential area when you see signs for the McKinney-Rubicon Trail. The signposted entrance is half a mile into the residential area.
The Rubicon Trail is a challenging trail that’s considered the premiere OHV route in the United States. However, if you’re looking for something more manageable, then the wider Lake Tahoe area has many other beautiful vistas to explore on an eBike.
Imogene Pass: Ouray, Colorado
Length: 11.6 miles
Type: Singletrack, multi-use
Difficulty: Advanced
If you’re not afraid of heights, then this is the trail for you. The high mountain Imogene Pass trail is found in the San Juan Mountains in the southwest of Colorado. It’s the second-highest vehicular mountain crossing in the state. The trail starts just past the lower Camp Bird and is immediately challenging with granite slabs and large step-downs.
Imogene Pass is a challenging trail but one we’ve proven you can tackle in the QuietKat Jeep eBike.The road reaches incredible heights 13,117 feet above sea level. While riding, take in the unforgettable views of Bridal Veil and Ingram Falls, as well as the historic mining town of Tomboy.
Final tips
This list offers just a taste of the adventures and trails available to you on an eBike. In addition, there are many lesser-known local gems you may be able to find in your local area.
It’s important to remember that not all bike paths and trails are open for electric bikes. Check out our guides to see regulations for eBike usage by state. Laws differ across states, cities, and counties. For national and state parks, be sure to do your research before heading out.
Access for eBikes on trails in national and state parks has been steadily expanding, so check regulations periodically to see if new trail options have opened up.
