E-Bikes in Maryland Parks and Public Lands

1 National Seashore · 1 National Historical Park · 1 National Parkway · 1 National Wildlife Refuge · 1 State Park · 1 State Forest

Maryland Department of Natural Resources rules effective in 2026 open some natural-surface and multi-use trails on DNR land to Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes where posted; throttle and 28 mph e-bikes stay on roads and parking lots, with an exception for adaptive e-bikes. Class 1 e-bikes were already allowed on the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail and the Western Maryland Rail Trail.

Places checked

6

All bike routes

2

Some trails or sections

3

Roads or paved paths only

1

Not confirmed

0

State parks rule

Class 1 on designated trails

Places

Where E-Bikes May Ride in Maryland

Classes are the US e-bike classes the land manager allows. Each name links to the park or forest's own page.

Maryland parks and public lands
Place	Type	E-bike access	Classes	Surface	Rides	Notes
Assateague Island National Seashore NPS	National Seashore	Roads and paved paths only	-	Paved	Bayberry Drive bike path, Bayside Drive	Bikes barred on boardwalks, trails, and beaches.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park NPS	National Historical Park	All bike routes	-	Gravel	C&O Canal Towpath, Berma Road, Capital Crescent Trail	15 mph limit; pedaling required on the towpath.
George Washington Memorial Parkway NPS	National Parkway	Varies by section	Class 3-Jan	Paved	Mount Vernon Trail	Barred on the parkway roadway, Great Falls Park trails, and Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge USFWS	National Wildlife Refuge	All bike routes	-	Paved	Wildlife Drive, Blackwater 20-mile route, Blackwater 25-mile route	Allowed where bikes are allowed on a trial basis; 15 mph unless posted.
Patapsco Valley State Park Maryland DNR	State Park	Designated trails only	Class 1	Mixed	Grist Mill Trail, Avalon Area trails, Hilton Area trails	Class 1 only, on natural-surface trails posted as open to e-bikes.
Green Ridge State Forest Maryland DNR	State Forest	Designated trails only	Class 1	Mixed	Green Ridge Mountain Bike Trail, Green Ridge forest roads	Class 1 on posted trails; other classes on roads only.

Record

Sources

Places: Park, forest and agency pages, linked from each name
E-bike rules: Agency e-bike policy pages and regulations for each place
State parks rule: Maryland law page
Last verified: Q4 2026