Moab is finally considering opening its world-famous non-motorized MTB trails to e-bikes

For a destination that is so progressive when it comes to mountain bike access and outdoor recreation, including motorized recreation, it feels like this step has been a long time coming for Moab, Utah.
By Greg Heil
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Climbing Captain Ahab on a normal mountain bike. Photo: Marcel Slootheer.

The Bureau of Land Management Moab Field Office (BLM MFO) is finally considering opening its non-motorized mountain bike trails to e-bike use. The BLM MFO manages “over 197 miles of mountain bike trails and 12 mountain bike trail systems to the north, west, and east of the town of Moab.” Many riders consider these to be some of the best mountain bike trails in the world.

Moab is home to much more than 197 miles of trails, and many of the trails not mentioned here are already open to e-bikes. The famous Slickrock and Sovereign trails, for example, have always been moto-legal and are popular with e-bikers. Dead Horse Point State Park has allowed e-bikes for many years on their non-motorized singletrack trails. And of course, e-bikers currently utilize plenty of wide jeep trails, such as Bar M, Amasa Back, Porcupine Rim road, Poison Spider Mesa, and many others. The NEPA process outlined here applies to almost all of the other trails in the region, which are non-motorized mountain bike trails.

The Whole Enchilada will remain off-limits to e-bikes. Photo: Marcel Slootheer.

Trails being considered for e-bike access

The BLM is currently preparing an environmental assessment (EA) for a NEPA process and is “assessing on which existing designated non-motorized mountain bike trails Class 1 e-bikes would be allowed through 43 CFR.” They are currently seeking public comments on the proposal, so have your say here. The public comment period closes on November 1, 2024.

The trails that the BLM is assessing are:

Noteworthy exceptions that will not be considered for e-bike use are the Porcupine Rim Singletrack and the Hidden Valley Trail, which both run through Wilderness Study Areas.

In addition, “Fisher Mesa, Lower Porcupine Rim Singletrack and the Eagle Eye portion of the Raptor Route would not be included due to portions within U.S. Forest Service,” according to the BLM. Also, it’s worth noting that the nearby USFS district still bans e-bikes on its trails. Consequently, the Whole Enchilada — widely considered one of the best mountain bike trails in the world — will remain off-limits to e-bikes due to the many affected sections, such as USFS trails and the Porcupine Rim Singletrack. Similarly, only the lower portions of the Raptor Route have the potential to open to e-bikes.

Test bikes lined up at Outerbike. Photo: Michael Paul.

Pent-up e-bike demand in Moab

For a destination that is so progressive when it comes to mountain bike access and outdoor recreation, including motorized recreation, this step has been a long time coming. This NEPA process comes on the heels of similar processes that have taken place across BLM and USFS districts across the nation. However, longtime local Mark Sevenoff, Marketing Director for Western Spirit Cycling and Outerbike, says that the local BLM office has had to be very careful as it moved forward with this proposal.

“I think the BLM has been nervous of lawsuits, and they want to make sure that they do things kind of by the book,” said Sevenoff. “So if a lawsuit does pop up from either side, they can show that they have done all the necessary things out to the public.”

On the one hand, “environmentalists are very wary of opening the door to motorized because if you say ‘yes’ to Class 1, how will you prevent those motorized users from wanting more access, especially with the way different machines are evolving,” said Sevenoff. On the other hand, “the motorized users have had some of their routes shut down. So they’re very concerned with any type of trail development right now.”

Despite the challenges from two major groups that may be opposed, the BLM has “felt the pressure” to allow e-bikes on trails. “I think they want to say yes, and they want to open some of the area trails to Class 1,” said Sevenoff.

The demand is certainly there. Sevenoff runs the successful Outerbike festival series, and has “heard directly from both the exhibitors and the consumers that they want more opportunity [to ride e-bikes],” said Sevenoff. Outerbike faces a potential decline in attendance or may need to switch from their longtime venue at the Moab Brands Trail System “if we are not able to give them some better experiences, especially close by to [the] venue, so we don’t have to shuttle people.”

To showcase the e-bike access that already exists in Moab, Sevenoff and Dean Payne, the President of the MegaVolt 3-day e-bike festival in BC, will be leading daily guided e-bike rides on the best trails in Moab that are already open to e-bikes.

If this NEPA process doesn’t encounter too many roadblocks, e-bikers might soon be able to (legally) ride the popular Moab Brands singletrack, the iconic Captain Ahab tech trail, and many more mega classics in Moab.

Update December 1, 2024:

“The Grand County Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 19 to approve a letter to the Bureau of Land Management recommending a cautious, data-driven approach to allowing class 1 e-bikes on non-motorized trails,” according to an article published in The Times-Independent.

“We recognize the growing popularity of e-bikes and their potential to enhance accessibility and support our local economy,” the letter states. “But it’s important to proceed thoughtfully to protect existing trail users and our natural resources.”

The Grand County Commission and Moab Trail Mix Committee jointly recommended the Moab Brand Trails as an ideal test site for e-bike use. Some trails may be designated for one-way travel to accommodate e-bike traffic.

While the Grand County Commission did not think a blanket e-bike approval was appropriate, the Motorized Trails Committee voiced its support for the approval of e-bikes on all proposed trails. In contrast, the Sand Flats Stewardship Committee has voiced its opposition to e-bikes on the Raptor Route specifically.

The process is still in progress, with the BLM expected to take Grand County’s input onboard and develop more alternatives for public comment. According to The Times-Independent, a decision isn’t expected until late 2025.

 
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