Electric Bikes Allowed on Certain Open Space Trails

City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) recently completed a community engagement process that allows visitors to ride Class 1 and Class 2 electric bikes on certain open space trails. View a map that shows visitors where they can ride Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on specific Boulder OSMP trails. See where e-bikes are allowed on Boulder County Parks & Open Space trails.

Remember to recreate responsibly. Whether biking or e-biking on Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes, be considerate when passing others. Slow down and communicate before you pass. While e-bikes are now allowed on specific open space trails, other electric mobility devices – such as e-scooters and e-skateboards – remain prohibited.

E-Bike Public Process for City of Boulder Open Space Trails

Electric Bikes on Boulder Open Space Trails

Read our guide to learn more about the types of e-bikes allowed on Open Space and Mountain Parks trails beginning July 1, 2023, and where you can ride them.

Remember to recreate responsibly. Whether biking or e-biking, be considerate when passing others on a bike. Slow down and communicate before you pass.

Where Can I Ride My Electric Bike on Boulder Open Space Trails?
What Type of Electric Bikes Are Allowed?

Open Space E-Bike Public Process

From July 2022 to June 2023, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks conducted a community engagement process that allows visitors to ride Class 1 and Class 2 electric bikes on specific City of Boulder open space trails. OSMP started that process to:

  • Improve access for community members of more ages and abilities. Learn more about how OSMP works to connect visitors experiencing disabilities to the outdoors.
  • Provide consistent visitor experiences across interconnected trails, such as the Longmont-to-Boulder Regional Trail. View where you can ride e-bikes on Boulder County Parks & Open Space trails.
  • Support broader city climate goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Offer more adaptive management approaches by considering alternatives to selling or transferring city open space to other entities to allow e-bike access.

Community input showed support for allowing e-biking on some open space trails. The Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT) approved allowing e-biking on some trails in Feb. 2023, and Council approved in June 2023.

Below is a map of where electric bikes will be allowed on specific Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks trails. Other electric mobility devices – such as e-scooters and e-skateboards – remain prohibited.

Map of Where Class 1 and Class 2 E-Bikes Are Allowed on OSMP

What Type of Electric Bikes Will Be Allowed on Boulder Open Space Trails?

Class 1 Electric Bike

Low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 mph.

Class 2 Electric Bike

Low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a throttle-actuated motor that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 mph.

Consistent with state law, class 3 e-bikes are prohibited on all multi-use paths and open space trails managed by the City of Boulder.

What Specific Boulder Open Space Trails Can I Ride My Electric Bike On?

View an E-Bike Map

View a map that shows visitors where they can ride Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on certain Boulder OSMP trails.

East Boulder

North Boulder

Bikes, including electric bikes, are prohibited on these hiking trails in the Boulder Valley Ranch area north of Boulder: Degge, Mesa Reservoir and Hidden Valley E-bikes are not allowed on the Foothills North Trail.

West Boulder

South Boulder

Bikes, including electric bikes, are not allowed on sections of the South Boulder Creek Trail and the Marshall Mesa Trail.

Where are Electric Bikes Prohibited on Boulder Open Space Trails?

Hiking and Multi-Use Trails

Electric bikes will not be allowed on OSMP hiking trails where bicycles are already prohibited. They also are not allowed on the following multi-use trails:

While e-bikes are now allowed on specific open space trails, other electric mobility devices – such as e-scooters and e-bike skateboards – remain prohibited. Learn more about Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs), which help visitors' experiencing disabilities connect to Boulder's open space.

Recreate Responsibly When E-Biking

Follow All Rules and Regulations

Stay alert for all signs that communicate where e-bikes are allowed or prohibited. OSMP has begun installing signs where e-bikes and that work will take time.

Signs that show whether e-bikes are allowed or prohibited on open space

While e-bikes are now allowed on specific open space trails, other electric mobility devices – such as e-scooters and e-skateboards – remain prohibited.

Know Before You Go

Read information about where e-biking is allowed on city-managed open space trails.

Share the Trail and Be Considerate When Passing

Bikers yield to hikers and horses on open space trails. Whether biking or e-biking, be considerate when passing others on a bike. Slow down and communicate before you pass.

Be Courteous to Other Visitors

Visitors of all identities and abilities deserve respect and courtesy while recreating outdoors.

Enjoy and Protect the Land

Enjoy your time outdoors! But remember: You also have a responsibility to protect land, wildlife, water and plants.

Visitors Experiencing Disabilities

Individuals With Mobility Disabilities

Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) are currently allowed on all Open Space and Mountain Parks' trails under the U.S. Department of Justice's revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for Title II (State and local government services) and Title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities), effective since March 2011.

An OPDMD is defined as “any mobility device powered by batteries, fuel, or other engines that is used by individuals with mobility disabilities for the purpose of locomotion." (For example, an e-bike). When an OPDMD is being used by a person with a mobility disability, different rules apply under the ADA than when it is being used by a person without a disability. Wheelchairs and OPDMDs, of which there are a variety of shapes and sizes, are allowed wherever foot travel is allowed on City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks land.

Learn more about OSMP’s work to connect visitors experiencing disabilities to the outdoors.

Accessible Trails Guide

In 2015, OSMP published a guide booklet for people with disabilities, Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Accessible Trails and Sites PDF. The trails and natural sites in this guidebook should be accessible to the average wheelchair, walker or scooter user. Also, check out the Accessibility Trail Rankings webmap, which shows accessibility ratings for OSMP trails.