People hoping to see the majestic peaks of Maroon Bells on two wheels this summer may need to pay a small fee first, federal officials announced Tuesday.
Visitors on e-bikes will be charged a $5 fee to enter the scenic area starting in May, which is the same fee motorcycle riders pay, the U.S. Forest Service said in a news release.
The number of people using e-bikes on Maroon Creek Road has “skyrocketed,” federal officials said, with more than 8,000 e-bikes entering the area last year, compared to 700 motorcycles.
People riding motorcycles, e-bikes and bicycles do not need a reservation to enter Maroon Bells, and most of the visitors using e-bikes rented them specifically to visit the scenic area, the forest service said.
E-bikes are already considered motorized vehicles under Forest Service policy. Nonmotorized bicycles can still access the scenic area for free.
More than 200,000 people visit Maroon Bells between mid-May and the end of October, most on a shuttle that costs $16 per person. The road to access Maroon Bells opens May 15, and reservations for parking and the shuttle can be made online.
