Moab E-Bike Rules: Where You Can Ride (Legally)

Planning a desert trip with your e-MTB or townie? If you want to stay on the right side of Moab e-bike rules, you need to know who manages the land under your tires and what they allow.

Moab is incredible on two wheels, but the rules are not simple. Different agencies manage different pieces of the landscape, and their policies don’t always match. This guide walks you through where e-bikes are legal around Moab, how rules differ from regular bikes, and what to double-check before you roll out.

Important: Regulations change. Treat this as a planning overview, not the final word. Always confirm current rules on official Arches and Canyonlands National Park pages, the BLM Moab Field Office, Grand County and City of Moab sites, Dead Horse Point State Park, and Sand Flats Recreation Area before you ride.

Quick Overview: Where E-Bikes Are Generally Allowed & Not Allowed

Here’s the high-level snapshot before we zoom in.

Where You Can Usually Ride an E-Bike Around Moab

• Paved city and county paths
  
• Most motorized roads and 4×4 routes on BLM, Forest Service, and Sand Flats land
  
• National park paved and unpaved roads
  
• Sand Flats Recreation Area Slickrock Bike Trail and all marked 4×4 routes
  
• Dead Horse Point State Park’s Intrepid Trail System for Class 1 e-bikes

Where E-Bikes Are Commonly Prohibited or Restricted

• Non-motorized singletrack on BLM land unless specifically opened to Class 1
  
• US Forest Service non-motorized trails, including parts of the Whole Enchilada
  
• National park hiking trails or backcountry singletrack
  
• Certain Sand Flats singletrack (Raptor Route, UPS, LPS, Porcupine Rim singletrack)
  
• County non-motorized dirt trails that prohibit motorized use

Keep that big picture in mind as we zoom into each land manager.

NPS vs BLM vs Sand Flats: Who Manages What?

Understanding Moab e-bike rules starts with understanding the map of land managers.

National Park Service (NPS)

Manages Arches and Canyonlands National Parks along with nearby monuments. The focus is preservation and visitor experience, so rules are more conservative. Visit their website.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Manages the biggest chunk of the Moab riding universe, including systems like Navajo Rocks, Klondike Bluffs, Horsethief, Mag 7, Amasa Back, and Moab Brands. Historically e-bikes were limited to motorized routes, but this is changing with new Class 1 authorizations. Visit their office.

Sand Flats Recreation Area (SFRA)

A jointly managed Grand County and BLM recreation zone above town, home to Slickrock, Fins and Things, Hell’s Revenge, and popular camping.

State & Local

Dead Horse Point State Park has its own rules. Grand County manages many paved paths, while the City of Moab manages routes like Mill Creek Parkway.

NPS vs BLM: How E-Bike Rules Differ From Regular Bikes

National Parks: Arches and Canyonlands

The National Park Service allows e-bikes everywhere traditional bicycles are allowed.

Classes allowed: All three classes are accepted as long as the motor is 750 watts or less and used as pedal-assist only when you’re on non-motorized routes.

Where you can ride:

• Paved park roads
  
• Dirt roads open to public vehicles, such as Salt Valley Road, Willow Springs Road, Shafer Trail, and White Rim Road

There are no bike-legal singletrack trails in either park.

Key restrictions

• No bikes or e-bikes on hiking trails
  
• Pedal-assist only unless you’re on a road open to cars
  
• Standard traffic rules apply

BLM Moab Field Office

Historically, e-bikes were treated as motorized vehicles on BLM land.

Classes allowed: All classes (1, 2, 3)

Where you can ride: Any designated motorized route. Popular examples:

• Gemini Bridges Road
  
• Kane Creek Road
  
• Hurrah Pass
  
• Onion Creek
  
• Motorized portions of the Kokopelli Trail

Always cross-check with current BLM maps.

New: Class 1 E-Bikes on Selected BLM Singletrack

The BLM Moab Field Office has approved Class 1 e-bikes on more than 200 miles of designated non-motorized mountain bike trails, with implementation scheduled to begin in 2026.

Key points:

• Only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on approved singletrack
  
• Class 2 and 3 remain prohibited on non-motorized singletrack
  
• Open trails include areas like Navajo Rocks, Horsethief, Athena, Amasa Back, Klondike Bluffs, and more

Always check the BLM Moab e-bike page before riding.

Sand Flats Recreation Area: Where E-Bikes Are Allowed

At Sand Flats, e-bikes are treated as motorized vehicles.

Where e-bikes are allowed

• Slickrock Bike Trail
  
• All designated 4×4 routes including Fins & Things, Hell’s Revenge, and Porcupine 4×4

Where e-bikes are NOT allowed

• Raptor Route
  
• Singletrack portions of the Whole Enchilada (UPS, LPS, Porcupine Rim singletrack)
  
• Any non-motorized singletrack

Etiquette and restrictions

• Stay on designated trails
  
• Yield to non-motorized users
  
• Ride within control; mixed-use traffic is common

City & County Paths: Using Your E-Bike to Get Around

Moab’s paved path network is ideal for low-stress cruising.

Grand County Paths

Grand County allows Class 1 e-bikes on designated paved pathways.

Allowed on:

• Moab Canyon Pathway
  
• Colorado River Pathway
  
• Lions Park Pathway
  
• Other paved NMRA paths

Class 2 and 3 are not allowed.

City of Moab Paths

The city allows Class 1 e-bikes on city paths including Mill Creek Parkway, which has a 15 mph speed limit.

These paths are great for connecting downtown lodging with trailheads or for family-friendly rides.

Popular Trail Zones & What’s Legal (Big Picture)

National Parks Scenic Road Riding

E-bikes are allowed on roads only in Arches and Canyonlands.

Dead Horse Point State Park

Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the Intrepid Trail System.

Classic BLM Mountain Bike Networks

Historically off-limits to e-bikes except on motorized routes. Beginning in 2026, many singletrack systems will open to Class 1 e-bikes only. Always confirm which trails are open during your visit.

Whole Enchilada / La Sal Mountains

Upper sections cross US Forest Service land where e-bikes are considered motorized and prohibited on non-motorized trails. Certain lower segments may be allowed, depending on land manager and designation. Ask a shuttle company or bike shop for up-to-date access info.

Fees, Passes & Permits for E-Bikers

• National Parks: Standard entrance fee or annual pass
  
• Sand Flats Recreation Area: Day-use or camping fee at the entrance
  
• Dead Horse Point State Park: Standard state park day-use fee
  
• BLM: Typically free unless part of a guided tour or special permit
  
• City and County paths: Free, but violations of local codes can result in fines

Bring ID and proof of Class 1 status if you plan to ride singletrack where only Class 1 is allowed.

Safety, Etiquette & Enforcement

Rangers and local officers do enforce regulations, especially on popular paths and at trailheads.

Trip-Planning Tips for E-Bike Riders in Moab

1. Pick your primary zones
   
2. Confirm your e-bike class
   
3. Check official sources before your trip
   
4. Talk to local shops and shuttle providers
   
5. Build your route based on confirmed legal access

Start with paved paths and mellow dirt roads, then expand to Sand Flats or Dead Horse Point. Save BLM singletrack for days when you’ve confirmed the rules.

Ride Legally, Ride Respectfully

Moab is finally embracing e-bikes in a more structured way, but the patchwork of rules demands attention. E-bikes are welcome on paved paths, motorized roads, and—soon—many Class-1-only BLM singletrack systems. They remain off-limits on most non-motorized singletrack, national park trails, and Forest Service trails.

Match your route to the right land manager, know your e-bike class, and always double-check official sources before your trip. Ride predictably, communicate with others, and help keep Moab’s growing e-bike access safe and sustainable.

Moab E-Bike Rules FAQs