E-biking in Bend is becoming increasingly popular, from speedy e-commuters on their way to work to e-mountain bikes rallying along motor-friendly dirt roads and e-bike specific trails. Many people have an absolute blast on them because they’re fast, efficient, and easy to ride. And they open up the world of biking to many people.

If you love to ride e-bikes or are looking to try one out on your next vacation to beautiful Bend, Oregon, then you definitely need to know the rules and laws around e-bikes in the area, especially on our trails. 

Rules for riding e-bikes in town

• You must be 16 to ride electric bikes (as well as Segways, electric, and gas scooters). Mopeds require a driver’s license and registration.
• Electric bikes can ride in the bike lane and the crosswalk. You cannot ride electric bikes on the sidewalk. Before you ride electric bikes on trails or paths, see below.
• Electric-assist bikes cannot be capable of going faster than 20 MPH on level ground.
• Passengers are only allowed if the bike is built and safely equipped for them.
• Lights are required on all e-bikes when visibility is limited.
• Helmets are required for bike riders under 16.

The facts about the legality of e-bikes and where you can and cannot ride them in the Bend area.

How does Oregon define an e-bike?

A pedal assist e-bike is a motorized vehicle when on dirt trails. This is the federal law definition. By Oregon state law definition, it is not a bicycle when it is not on the roadway. So in Oregon, a pedal assist e-bike is not a bicycle when you’re on trails (off the roadway). This is an important distinction and helps clarify why e-bike laws are a little different here. 

Where can I ride my e-bike around Bend?

E-bikes are a fantastic way to cruise around Bend and see the sights! But there are a few rules to note. Riding e-bikes on sidewalks is not allowed. You must stick to bike lanes or on the road with cars. And like any other cyclist, you must follow the rules of the road when riding an e-bike.

What about my mountain e-bike? Are there e-bike trails in Bend, Oregon?

As of December 2025, class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are now allowed on select singletrack trails in the Deschutes National Forest around Bend. This is the first time e-bikes have been allowed on specific mountain bike trails. Please note that class 1 e-bikes are still considered motorized by the Forest Service, and so they are not allowed on trails during the annual wildlife closure from December 1–March 31.

What exactly is a class 1 e-bike? It’s a pedal-assist bike that provides support only while you’re pedaling, stops assisting at 20 mph, and uses a motor with 750 watts or less. The goal is to stay within the range of typical human-powered riding, just with a bit of extra help when you need it.

Around 160 miles of trail are now available to class 1 riders, mostly in sections of Phil’s, Wanoga/Tyler’s, Sunriver, and the Peterson Ridge system in Sisters. Here are a few examples of trails now rideable to Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes:

• Ben’s Trail
• Phil’s Trail
• COD
• Voodoo
• Lower Whoops
• Funner & Tiddlywinks
• Catch and Release (Wanoga & Sunriver areas)
• Peterson Ridge Trails (Sisters)

For more information about these updates, including a complete list of trails and maps, visit the Central Oregon Trail Alliance.

Beyond Bend

Class 1 e-bikes are also allowed at the East Hills Trail Complex in Madras, about an hour north of Bend. Here you’ll find a fantastic flowy singletrack trail system with tons of options for beginner and intermediate riders. Plus, a few more challenging rides mixed in.

You can always ride your e-bike on gravel and dirt roads that allow motorized use. If a car or motorcycle is permitted, your e-bike is good to go. These routes offer quiet forest roads, beautiful scenery, and plenty of ways to explore the outskirts of Bend. Hutch’s Bicycles has a great list of e-bike–friendly gravel routes to get you started.

OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) areas are also open to e-bikes. Millican OHV, east of Bend, is a popular example. Because this area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), e-bikes must follow the same rules as other motorized vehicles, including carrying an ATV permit. The BLM still prohibits e-bikes on their non-motorized singletrack, so places like Horse Ridge, Cline Butte, and Maston remain off-limits.

When riding OHV trails, remember you’ll be sharing space with motorcycles and quads. They move fast, and you’ll often hear them before you see them. A quick wave and a step off to the side go a long way in keeping everyone safe and happy.

Where can’t I ride e-bikes in Bend?

Even with the new class 1 access on select trails, many non-motorized trails in the Bend area are still closed to e-bikes. This includes popular areas like Skyliners and Swampy Lakes. If a trail is designated non-motorized and hasn’t been included in the new class 1 approval, e-bikes are not allowed on it.

Examples of trails where e-bikes are not allowed:

• Mrazek
• Farewell
• North Fork
• Tumalo Ridge & Tumalo Creek
• Swampy Lakes area trails
• Flagline
• Metolius-Windigo

Oregon State Parks also prohibit e-bikes on non-motorized trails. For example, Smith Rock State Park and Tumalo State Park don’t allow motorized use on their trails, which means e-bikes aren’t permitted there either.

Where can’t I ride e-bikes in Bend?

The US Forest Service (USFS) has banned the use of e-bikes on all USFS non-motorized trails in Oregon, where motorized use is prohibited. This means that all of Bend’s singletrack is off-limits (illegal) for riding e-bikes. 

Trails at Phil’s, the Wanoga Complex, Skyliner, Horse Butte, Swamp Wells, etc., are non-motorized trails located on USFS land; therefore, e-bikes are prohibited. If a car or motorcycle can’t be on it, neither can an e-bike because of how they’re legally defined.

Oregon State Parks also do not allow e-bikes. Smith Rock and Tumalo State Park don’t allow motorized vehicles on trails, so you guessed it, that includes e-bikes.  

Our friends at Bend Trails provide not only valuable information on current conditions, routes, and juicy local intel but e-bike info. At the top of each trail description, you’ll see whether or not a trail is legal for e-bikes. 

Please note these regulations do not come from the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA). For 25 years, COTA has been maintaining and building trails in Central Oregon. They work with the USFS and the BLM under a Volunteer Agreement, but they are not the ones that decide where you can or cannot ride an e-bike. 

Where can I rent e-bikes in Bend?

There are a few local bike shops offering e-bike rentals. For commuters and around town bikes, check out Bend Electric Bikes, Wheel Fun Rentals, and Let it Ride Electric Bikes. Check in with Hutch’s, Sagebrush Cycles, and Project Bike for mountain bikes. 

E-biking laws in Bend, Oregon, can be a complicated and much-debated issue. Who knows what the future will bring, how our trails will change, and where you might be able to ride e-bikes in the next few years. But for today, there are laws. So, let’s be kind, respectful, educated and stay on designated trails.