E-Bikes
You can ride e-bikes on Ridge to Rivers trails and roads that already allow motorized vehicles. In total, about 52 miles of motorized trails and primitive roads are open to e-bikes. Please note that e-bikes and other motorized devices aren’t allowed on any non-motorized trails that cross Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land, as required by federal regulations.
Some exceptions apply for other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMDs – which include e-bikes) as noted below. Please reference the trail accessibility information and OPDMD policies for details.
Accessibility Pass Information
In alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals with mobility disabilities may use e-bikes and other certain other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMDs) on City of Boise-owned trails that are open to pedestrians. Please refer to the City of Boise policy for a list of CLOSED and OPEN trails which may be used with the accessibility pass.
OPDMDs are mobility devices powered by batteries, fuel, or other engines whether or not designed primarily for use by individuals with mobility disabilities for the purpose of locomotion that is not a wheelchair.
To help ensure a smooth and enjoyable trail experience, individuals are encouraged to obtain an Accessibility Pass for the use of an e-bike or any other OPDMD on City of Boise-owned trails.
While not required, having a pass can help prevent confusion and reduce the likelihood of being stopped by individuals who may have questions about your device. The pass serves as a helpful, visible assurance that your OPDMD is being used in accordance with the City of Boise's policy.
FAQ
Individuals with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may obtain a pass via the City of Boise. Please visit the section: How to Request an Accessibility Pass under Mobility Access section on the Accessibility Information page.
Yes, the City of Boise has invested in a series of all-weather trails with accessibility enhancements designed with users of all abilities in mind. These shared-use trails are not opened to motorized users, including e-bikes, in an effort to reduce speed and promote safety.
Shared-Use Trails (Non-Motorized)
- The Grove Loop
- Red-Winged Blackbird Trail
- Red-Winged Blackbird Trail (Middle)
- Red-Winged Blackbird Trail (Connector)
- Rim Trail
- Basalt Trail
No. With the accessibility pass, individuals are permitted on specific City of Boise-owned trails in Hillside to Hollow Reserve, Camel’s Back Reserve, Military Reserve and Oregon Trail Reserve. View the Ridge to Rivers interactive map for trail details: https://ridgetorivers.org/trails/interactive-map/
Trails CLOSED to OPDMD:
- Camel’s Back Trails
- Florence’s Trail
- Rim Trail
- Basalt Trail
- Red-Winged Blackbird Trail
- Red-Winged Blackbird Trail (Middle)
- Red-Winged Blackbird Trail (Connector)
- Freestone Creek
- Two-Point Trail
- The Grove Loop
Trails open to OPDMD:
- 15th Street
- Access (Central Ridge)
- Bucktail
- Buena Vista
- Central Ridge
- Central Ridge Spurs
- Chickadee Ridge
- Cottonwood Creek
- Gold Finch
- Hulls Pond Loop
- Eagle Ridge
- Eagle Ridge Loop
- Elephant Rock Loop
- Mountain Cove
- Oregon Trai
- Owls Roost
- Red Fox
- Ridge Crest
- Robert Smylie
- The Ponds Loop
- Toll Road
- West Climb
- Who Now Loop
It’s up to all of us to do our part to protect this precious outdoor resource and follow the rules under the Ridge to Rivers partnership. We ask that all users be kind, mindful and treat others with respect even when witnessing something that may cause frustration. Our volunteer rangers often ride and hike popular trails and work to educate users on the rules surrounding e-bikes and trail etiquette. And while we do not encourage anyone to confront another user, if you feel there is an opportunity to share some more information about the Ridge to Rivers system while on the trail, you can always say hello and point them to our website (ridgetorivers.org) for materials related to the issue you are seeing. We also encourage all trail users to take and live the Happy Trails pledge: https://www.ridgetorivers.org/etiquette/happy-trails-pledge/
The City of Boise and Ridge to Rivers partners are focused on education first – we want everyone to feel welcome in the foothills and to build a culture of community responsibility and respect. Afterall, we want our trail system to be available to our grandchildren so they can enjoy nature and wildlife in the same way we do. Our maintenance team for the 200 plus mile system is small but mighty and we operate on a limited budget each year. It’s why we promote kindness and mindfulness through our Happy Trails pledge and focus on the personal responsibility of each trail user to respect our trails and each other. We also rely on our volunteer ranger program to help make a positive impact in the foothills. Ridge to Rivers trail staff have no enforcement authority. Email us at ridgetorivers@cityofboise.org if you’d like to get involved and put your passion into action.
The BLM and the US Forest Service are currently working through addressing an administrative order which allows each agency to analyze public input and resource impacts at the local level, then set rules that may change the e-bike approach locally in the future. For now, however, the rules remain the same. E-bikes are still considered motorized devices by the Ridge to Rivers partnership and therefore are only allowed on motorized trails throughout the system.
There are a variety of opinions about e-bikes in the hiking and mountain biking communities. The Ridge to Rivers partnership is neither for nor against e-bikes. At this time, e-bikes remain designated by the partnership as motorized devices and therefore, fall under the motorized use guidelines. For more information, visit: https://www.ridgetorivers.org/trail-guide/trail-etiquette/
Trails and roads open to e-bikes: