Arizona E-Bike Laws
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The three e-bike classes
Arizona law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle or tricycle with fully working pedals and an electric motor under 750 watts. It then sorts them into three classes.
Class 1 helps only while you pedal and stops helping at 20 mph. Class 2 can move the bike on the motor alone (a throttle) and can't help past 20 mph. Class 3 helps only while you pedal and stops helping at 28 mph.
Source: A.R.S. 28-101
Where e-bikes can ride by default
An e-bike rider has the same rights and duties as a bicycle rider, unless state law or a local authority says otherwise.
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes may ride on bike and multi-use paths. The local authority or state agency that runs a path can ban them from it.
Class 3 e-bikes may not ride on bike or multi-use paths, unless the path is in or next to a road, or the agency that runs it allows them.
The law says nothing about natural-surface trails. Each trail manager's own rules decide those, which is why cities and counties differ.
Source: A.R.S. 28-819
Age, helmet and equipment rules
E-bikes don't need a title, registration, license plate tax, driver's license or insurance.
Since January 1, 2019, makers and sellers must put a permanent label on each e-bike showing its class, top assisted speed and motor wattage.
We found no statewide minimum age and no statewide helmet law for e-bikes. Cities set their own; Scottsdale, for example, bars riders under 16 from Class 3 e-bikes.
Source: A.R.S. 28-819 · Scottsdale Revised Code 17-77.1
State parks
Arizona State Parks & Trails counts electric mountain bikes as motorized. They're allowed only on state park roads and designated motorized trails. The FAQ doesn't break this down by class, so read it as covering all e-bikes. In practice, that keeps e-bikes off the non-motorized trails in state parks such as Catalina, Dead Horse Ranch, Lost Dutchman and Oracle.
Source: Arizona State Parks FAQ
National forests
The U.S. Forest Service treats e-bikes as motor vehicles. Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed on roads and trails open to motor vehicles. The Coconino National Forest (Sedona and Flagstaff) says the same on its 2025 travel map. Arizona's other national forests are Coronado, Prescott, Tonto, Kaibab and Apache-Sitgreaves.
On BLM land, the 2020 e-bike rule doesn't open any non-motorized trail by itself. A BLM field office has to make a decision opening a trail, so a non-motorized BLM trail such as the Black Canyon Trail is closed to e-bikes until that happens.
Source: USDA Forest Service · Coconino NF travel map · BLM
Trails we've checked
Flagstaff & Northern Arizona
- Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyCity of Flagstaff
- Flagstaff-area trails (Coconino NF: Fort Valley, Schultz Creek, Mount Elden) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Coconino NF
- Grand Canyon Greenway Trail (South Rim) 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyNational Park Service – Grand Canyon NP
Phoenix Metro
- Estrella Mountain Regional Park 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyMaricopa County Parks and Recreation
- Hawes Trail System (Tonto National Forest, Mesa) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Tonto NF (Mesa Ranger District)
- Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt (Scottsdale) 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyCity of Scottsdale
- Lost Dutchman State Park 🟡 Motorized routes onlyArizona State Parks & Trails
- McDowell Mountain Regional Park 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyMaricopa County Parks and Recreation
- McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Scottsdale) 🔴 NoCity of Scottsdale Preserve Department
- Phoenix Mountains Preserve (Piestewa Peak / Dreamy Draw) 🔴 NoCity of Phoenix Parks and Recreation
- Phoenix Sonoran Preserve 🔴 NoCity of Phoenix Parks and Recreation
- San Tan Mountain Regional Park 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyMaricopa County Parks and Recreation
- South Mountain Park/Preserve 🔴 NoCity of Phoenix Parks and Recreation
- Usery Mountain Regional Park 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyMaricopa County Parks and Recreation
- White Tank Mountain Regional Park 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyMaricopa County Parks and Recreation
Prescott & Central Arizona
- Black Canyon National Recreation Trail 🔴 NoBureau of Land Management – Hassayampa Field Office
- Prescott National Forest trails (incl. Prescott Circle Trail) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Prescott NF
Sedona & Verde Valley
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park 🟡 Motorized routes onlyArizona State Parks & Trails
- Sedona trails (Coconino NF, Red Rock Ranger District) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Coconino NF
Tucson & Southern Arizona
- Catalina State Park 🟡 Motorized routes onlyArizona State Parks & Trails
- Chuck Huckelberry Loop (The Loop) 🔴 NoPima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation / Regional Flood Control District
- Mount Lemmon / Santa Catalina trails (Coronado National Forest) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Coronado NF
- Oracle State Park 🟡 Motorized routes onlyArizona State Parks & Trails
- Saguaro National Park (Cactus Forest Loop and bike trails) 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyNational Park Service – Saguaro NP
- Tucson Mountain Park 🔴 NoPima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation
Common questions
What are the e-bike classes in Arizona?
Arizona has three e-bike classes: Class 1 (pedal-assist to 20 mph), Class 2 (throttle, cuts out at 20 mph) and Class 3 (pedal-assist to 28 mph). All three need working pedals and a motor under 750 watts.
Where can I ride an e-bike in Arizona?
An e-bike rider has the same rights and duties as a bicycle rider, unless state law or a local authority says otherwise. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes may ride on bike and multi-use paths. The local authority or state agency that runs a path can ban them from it.
Can I ride an e-bike in Arizona state parks?
Arizona State Parks & Trails counts electric mountain bikes as motorized. They're allowed only on state park roads and designated motorized trails. The FAQ doesn't break this down by class, so read it as covering all e-bikes. In practice, that keeps e-bikes off the non-motorized trails in state parks such as Catalina, Dead Horse Ranch, Lost Dutchman and Oracle.
Is there an age limit or helmet law for e-bikes in Arizona?
E-bikes don't need a title, registration, license plate tax, driver's license or insurance.
Are e-bikes allowed in national forests in Arizona?
The U.S. Forest Service treats e-bikes as motor vehicles. Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed on roads and trails open to motor vehicles. The Coconino National Forest (Sedona and Flagstaff) says the same on its 2025 travel map. Arizona's other national forests are Coronado, Prescott, Tonto, Kaibab and Apache-Sitgreaves.