Maryland Just Said Yes to E-Bikes on State Land -- Here's Where to Ride

By eBikeListings Editorial Team · Published July 17, 2026

Class 1 e-bikes are now welcome on Maryland's state public lands -- no more guessing at trailhead signage.

What the rule actually covers

The approved regulation applies to Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes on lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources -- state forests, parks and the trail systems inside them. It doesn't blanket-approve throttle bikes or higher-speed Class 3 machines; those still depend on the individual property's own signage, so check before you ride somewhere unfamiliar. But for the huge majority of riders on a standard pedal-assist bike, this closes a gap that's existed for years.

It matters most for the C&O Canal Towpath and the rail-trail network radiating out from the DC suburbs, where riders have long assumed access without a clear state-level answer. Now there is one.

Where to ride first

Montgomery County's Capital Crescent Trail is the obvious start -- a fully paved former rail corridor linking Georgetown to Bethesda and on to Silver Spring, flat enough for any fitness level and connected into the Rock Creek Park trail network. Fall foliage along this route is genuinely one of the best rides in the DC metro.

For something quieter, the WB&A Trail in Anne Arundel County threads a shaded, paved rail corridor through the Patuxent River corridor near Bowie -- less traffic than the Crescent Trail, same easy grade. Both are solid picks whether you're commuting distance or planning a weekend loop.

Also see: eBike Laws in All 50 States