Rules for Electric Bicycles
Here’s what you should know about using electrical-assisted bicycles or “e-bikes”on lands managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
What’s considered an e-bike?
An e-bike is a vehicle with:
- two or three wheels
- fully operable pedals
- an electric motor not exceeding 750 watts of power
All e-bikes must meet the conditions for 1 of the 3 designated e-bike classes:
Class 1 E-bike
Equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 2 E-bike
Equipped with a motor that provides assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedaling but ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 3 E-bike
Equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour.
Do I need to register my e-bike with CPW?
CPW does not consider e-bikes Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs) and e-bikes do not require an OHV registration or other permit for use on CPW managed public lands.
Where can I ride my e-bike?
E-bike use on CPW Lands
Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed the same access as road bikes and mountain bikes, while class 3 e-bikes are only to be allowed on roadways and in designated bike lanes.
E-bike use on State Park Lands
- Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on roadways and designated bike lanes and on multi-use trails and other areas (e.g.,campgrounds) that are open to non-motorized biking.
- Class 3 e-bikes are only allowed on designated roadways and designated bike lanes.
E-bike use on State Wildlife Areas
- In State Wildlife Areas, e-bikes are allowed on designated roads and within designated camping or parking areas where motorized vehicles are allowed.
- They are prohibited in all other areas.
- Visitors to State Wildlife Areas are required to possess a proper and valid hunting or fishing license.
- SWA/STL Access FAQ
E-bike use on State Trust Lands
Public access on State Trust Lands is restricted to hunting, fishing and watchable wildlife activity. E-bikes are only allowed for use on designated roads when being used for these activities. Visitors to State Trust Lands are required to possess a proper and valid hunting or fishing license.
E-bike use on other Public Lands
Regulations and classifications vary between different land management agencies. Users should contact individual land agencies - including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States Forest Service (USFS), counties, and local municipalities - to determine where they are permitted to ride e-bikes on public lands.
Who can I contact about more e-bike questions?
Please email the trails program any additional questions you might have at dnr_trails@state.co.us.
E-bikes may be further included or excluded in specific areas through CPW’s regulatory process if reasonable justification is demonstrated.
Individual parks will evaluate recreation use patterns in relation to trail connections to adjacent non-CPW owned lands and coordinate e-bike management with the land management agency. Every effort will be made to standardize e-bike use regulations on connecting trail systems.