Advocacy Alert: Help Shape the Future of Bike Access in National Parks
The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing an update to its bicycle access rules, and mountain bikers have an opportunity to weigh in. Public comments on the proposed changes are open through November 2, 2026.
Currently, opening an existing park trail to bicycles requires a separate set of bicycle-specific procedures, including dedicated planning documents, environmental assessments or impact statements, a written determination, a public comment period, and Regional Director approval. These additional requirements don't apply to other recreational uses, making bicycle access more complicated and time-consuming to establish.
The proposed changes, announced September 1, would allow the NPS to evaluate bicycle access through the same planning and environmental review processes used for other recreational activities. Additional review would remain in place for certain proposals, including bicycle access in previously undeveloped areas.
Evergreen supports thoughtful, well-managed opportunities for mountain biking where appropriate. We encourage riders to learn about the proposal and share their perspectives during this public comment period.
What would change?
The proposal would remove duplicative, bicycle-specific procedural requirements and give park superintendents more flexibility to evaluate bike access based on each park's landscape, purpose, and recreational context.
This could make it easier to consider connections between existing trail systems, improve access between trails and nearby communities, and expand opportunities for visitors to experience national parks by bike.
Importantly, this proposal would not automatically open trails to bicycles. Access decisions would still be made on a park-by-park basis, with applicable environmental review and public involvement. Implementation would also depend on park staff capacity. Many National Park Service trails will continue to be managed primarily or exclusively for hiking, backpacking, resource protection, or other uses. Bicycles and e-bikes would remain prohibited in designated Wilderness.
What improvements do Evergreen and IMBA recommend?
Evergreen and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) supports simplifying unnecessary procedural barriers while maintaining appropriate environmental review, public involvement, and sustainable trail management. After reviewing the proposal, IMBA has identified two key areas where the rule could be improved:
1. Keep traditional bike and e-bike access decisions separate on trails.
Opening a trail to traditional bicycles should not automatically authorize e-bike access. IMBA recommends that shared recreational trails be limited to Class 1 e-bikes, consistent with its eMTB position, and that park superintendents manage e-bike access by class.
2. Strengthen sustainable trail design standards.
The rule should more clearly reference existing NPS policies, standards, and technical guidance for sustainable trail design. Site-specific planning criteria can help ensure that bicycle access is appropriate for the landscape and that trails are designed and managed to protect park resources.
IMBA also emphasizes that this proposal is not about turning national parks into mountain biking destinations. Rather, it's about allowing bicycle access to be considered where appropriate, alongside other recreational uses and with the same careful planning and resource protections.
How to make your voice heard
The current public comment period closes November 2, 2026. A revised rule and Draft Environmental Impact Statement are expected to follow, with another opportunity for public comment.
When submitting a comment, specific, personal perspectives are more useful than generic statements of support or opposition. Share why access matters to you, describe national parks you've visited, and identify places where bicycle access could improve your experience, connect existing trails, or provide links to nearby communities.
You don't have to be a mountain biker to weigh in. If you also hike, climb, camp, or visit national parks for their natural or historic value, share that perspective, too.
The key is to support a thoughtful, site-specific process that considers bicycle access alongside other recreation opportunities while protecting the places that make our national parks special.
You can also read IMBA's full comments on the proposed rule for a more detailed look at its recommendations.