Washington E-Bike Laws
Last checked:
The three e-bike classes
Washington law defines an electric-assisted bicycle as a two- or three-wheeled bike with a saddle, fully working pedals, and an electric motor of no more than 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, stops helping at 28 mph, and must have a speedometer.
Source: RCW 46.04.169
Where e-bikes can ride by default
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes may ride on shared-use paths and on road areas marked for bikes. Cities, counties and state agencies can restrict or regulate them on the paths and land they control.
Class 3 e-bikes may not ride on shared-use paths unless the local jurisdiction allows it.
Natural-surface trails (native soil, no added surfacing) that are designated non-motorized are closed to all e-bikes by default. The local authority or state agency that runs the trail can open it.
If a shared-use path runs through two or more jurisdictions, their rules for it must match along the whole path, unless the rules were already in place on January 1, 2018.
Source: RCW 46.61.710
Age, helmet and equipment rules
You don't need a driver's license to ride an e-bike. No one under 16 may ride a Class 3 e-bike.
Riding a Class 3 e-bike on a sidewalk is illegal, unless the sidewalk is the only way through as part of a bike or pedestrian path, or a local ordinance allows it.
We found no statewide helmet requirement for e-bike riders in these laws. Local rules may differ.
Source: RCW 46.20.500 · RCW 46.61.710
State parks
Washington State Parks allow Class 1 and Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes on its non-motorized long-distance trails, and on single-track natural-surface trails that allow regular bikes. The long-distance trails are the Columbia Plateau, Klickitat, Palouse to Cascades, Spokane River Centennial and Willapa Hills trails.
All classes may ride on park roads, so throttle (Class 2) bikes are limited to roads. No e-bikes are allowed on hiking-only trails or any trail closed to bikes. Questions go to the State Parks Information Center at 360-902-8844.
Source: WA State Parks e-bike sheet
State wildlife and forest lands
On Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land, Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed only on motorized trails and on forest roads open to motorized use. DNR runs a Class 1 pilot project in the Darrington/North Mountain trail system.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has no e-bike rule of its own; its page points to state law. So the state default applies on WDFW land: no e-bikes on non-motorized natural-surface trails unless the agency opens them, and we found no WDFW rule that does.
National forests
The U.S. Forest Service treats e-bikes as motor vehicles. Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed only on roads and trails open to motor vehicles. Gifford Pinchot National Forest says the same on its own page.
Washington's national forests are Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan-Wenatchee, Gifford Pinchot, Olympic, Colville and part of the Umatilla. Check each forest's Motor Vehicle Use Map for the routes open to e-bikes.
Source: USDA Forest Service · Gifford Pinchot NF
Trails we've checked
Cascades & Central Washington
- Apple Capital Loop Trail (Wenatchee) ❔ Call firstChelan County PUD
- Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest trails 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF
- Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (Iron Horse) 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyWashington State Parks
Puget Sound & Olympic Peninsula
- Foothills Trail (Pierce County) 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyPierce County Parks and Recreation
- Galbraith Mountain 🟠 Class 1 onlyCity of Bellingham Parks & Recreation (recreation easement), trails managed by Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition under city contract
- Olympic National Forest trails 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Olympic NF
Seattle & King County
- Burke-Gilman Trail 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlySeattle Parks and Recreation (Seattle section); King County Parks (Lake Forest Park to Bothell)
- Cedar River Trail 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyKing County Parks
- Discovery Park trails 🔴 NoSeattle Parks and Recreation
- Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park 🔴 NoKing County Parks
- East Lake Sammamish Trail 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyKing County Parks
- Elliott Bay Trail 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlySeattle Parks and Recreation
- Green Lake Park (Inner Loop) 🔴 NoSeattle Parks and Recreation
- Interurban Trail (South) 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyKing County Parks
- Sammamish River Trail 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyKing County Parks
- Snoqualmie Valley Trail 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyKing County Parks
- Tiger Mountain State Forest 🟡 Motorized routes onlyWashington Department of Natural Resources
Southwest Washington
- Capitol State Forest 🟡 Motorized routes onlyWashington Department of Natural Resources
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest trails 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service – Gifford Pinchot NF
- Klickitat State Park Trail 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyWashington State Parks
- Willapa Hills State Park Trail 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyWashington State Parks
Spokane & Eastern Washington
- Columbia Plateau State Park Trail 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyWashington State Parks
- Mount Spokane State Park (mountain bike trails) 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyWashington State Parks
- Riverfront Park (Spokane) 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyCity of Spokane Parks and Recreation
- Riverside State Park (mountain bike trails) 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyWashington State Parks
- Spokane River Centennial Trail (State Park Trail) 🟠 Pedal-assist onlyWashington State Parks
Common questions
What are the e-bike classes in Washington?
Washington 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, with a speedometer). All three need working pedals and a motor of no more than 750 watts.
Where can I ride an e-bike in Washington?
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes may ride on shared-use paths and on road areas marked for bikes. Cities, counties and state agencies can restrict or regulate them on the paths and land they control. Class 3 e-bikes may not ride on shared-use paths unless the local jurisdiction allows it.
Can I ride an e-bike in Washington state parks?
Washington State Parks allow Class 1 and Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes on its non-motorized long-distance trails, and on single-track natural-surface trails that allow regular bikes. The long-distance trails are the Columbia Plateau, Klickitat, Palouse to Cascades, Spokane River Centennial and Willapa Hills trails.
Is there an age limit or helmet law for e-bikes in Washington?
You don't need a driver's license to ride an e-bike. No one under 16 may ride a Class 3 e-bike.
Are e-bikes allowed in national forests in Washington?
The U.S. Forest Service treats e-bikes as motor vehicles. Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed only on roads and trails open to motor vehicles. Gifford Pinchot National Forest says the same on its own page.