The Long View Trail is how you get from Loveland to Fort Collins on pavement: about four and a half miles up the west side of the US 287 corridor, with the ridgelines that give the trail its name off to the west.
The southern half is a Larimer County regional trail and the northern half belongs to Fort Collins, which matters only because two sets of e-bike rules apply. Both currently welcome Class 1 and Class 2 on paved trails, and the details with sources are below.
On an e-bike the ride to a Fort Collins lunch and back is a flat, unheroic afternoon, which is exactly the point.
Can you ride an e-bike here?
The corridor crosses from county management into Fort Collins, so both rule sets are below.
Larimer County Natural Resources
County open spaces (Devil's Backbone, Blue Sky) and county segments of the regional paved trails (Long View, Front Range Trail).
| Where | Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paved trails | Allowed | Allowed | Not addressed |
| Natural surface trails | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
This is the rule that surprises people: no e-bikes on the county's dirt trails, Devil's Backbone included. One exception since July 1, 2021: riders with a mobility disability may ride Class 1 and Class 2 on soft-surface trails that allow bicycles.
Source: Larimer County Natural Resources, e-bike policy · checked 2026-08-30
City of Fort Collins
Fort Collins paved trails, recreation areas, and Natural Areas, including the north half of the Long View corridor.
| Where | Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paved designated trails (parks and natural areas) | Allowed | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Unpaved trails in natural areas | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
“Class 1 and Class 2 electrical assisted bicycles hereby are allowed on paved designated trails only in a recreation area. Class 3 electrical assisted bicycles are not allowed on any trail in any recreation area.”
Natural Areas have the matching rule (Municipal Code 23-193): Class 1 and 2 on paved, designated trails only, unless prohibited by signs, so a posted sign always wins. The city has said an updated ordinance is coming to council in 2026; we re-check every season.
Source: Fort Collins Municipal Code 23-203 · checked 2026-08-31
Elevation
The route
Trail data: COTREX (Colorado Parks & Wildlife) (retrieved 2026-08-31). Elevation samples: USGS 3DEP (Elevation Point Query Service). Numbers are computed from that data, not measured by us.