E-Bike Access Varies Across West's Mountain Resorts
If you own an electric bike, a good number of resorts across the West have opened up a variety of trails -- and sometimes lifts -- to e-bikes this summer.
Access to bike trails, regardless of lift assist or not, is primarily regulated by individual National Forests because most ski and snowboard resorts sit on federal land. Local regulations also apply. Nevertheless, only Class I (less than 20 mph), pedal-assisted e-bikes are permitted on the trails of ski and snowboard mountains in the West.
Most mountains that spin their lifts in the summer are getting them retrofitted for e-bikes. Some resorts adding "bike trays" specifically for bulkier electric bikes, but require riders to load their two-wheelers themselves.
Most resorts restrict power-assisted bikes to certain trails -- especially designated non-motorized routes within a national forest -- and also give traditional bikes full right-of-ways.
Colorado. Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Telluride, Vail and Beaver Creek, and Winter Park all put e-bikes on their lifts. Purgatory does too, but not this season during lift construction. Steamboat Mountain permit e-bikes around the base, but riders must remove power packs to get a chairlift ride. Others, like Copper Mountain, limit e-bike travel to certain trails but not on lifts.
Utah. Located on private land, Deer Valley's lifts are fitted for e-bikes that can travel on all trails including single tracks and flows. At Snowbasin, riders can load their own onto Needles Gondola and hit all the trails within boundaries. Otherwise, the other dozen Utah mountains either don't permit e-bike travel at all, or allow it if you pedal up the hill yourself.
Southern California. Big Bear Mountain Resort locales Snow Valley and Summit Bike Park permit e-bikes on specified trails, with one lift at each mountain fitted for e-bikes. At Mountain High's developing bike park, pedal-assist electric bikes are OK.
Lake Tahoe. Northstar is reportedly the only resort around the lake to offer lift access for e-bikes. Otherwise, you can't get a ride up Heavenly Mountain lifts, but can ride around some trails. Palisades Tahoe is among the others who don't allow any mountain bikes on its lifts.
Idaho. In the Gem State, Schweitzer's lifts haul e-bikes on the mountain but cannot have front-mountain child seats and must yield to all other bikers. Others permit e-bikes include Tamarack, Bogus Basin, and Silver Mountain. Sun Valley does not allow e-bikes on Bald Mountain.
New Mexico. Big-boy Angel Fire Bike Park permits e-bikes on some routes, with lift hauls only for Class I, less than 20 mph bikes. Nearby Red River does put e-bikes on lifts, while Taos Ski Valley does but restricts downhill routes. Ski Santa Fe doesn't run lift in the summer, and is closed to e-bikers.
