Things To Do on an eBike in Butte County, CA
The routes on this page are a handful of short, separate paths in Chico, Durham and Paradise. Four of them are documented by TrailLink, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy route database: Little Chico Creek (2.6 miles), Midway (3.4 miles), the Steve G. Harrison Memorial Bikeway (0.9 miles) and the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail (5.2 miles). A fifth, the Chico State Bike Path, is listed by TrailLink at 2 miles.
This page takes the county-wide view: how the paths fit together, where riders from other towns can rent, what the county's rules look like, and how to plan around them. For shop-by-shop detail inside the city, use the Chico page linked below.
Where to ride in Butte County
The towns we can place in Butte County are Chico, Durham, Paradise, Magalia and Oroville. The paths we can source sit in and between three of them. Chico has the most. Durham is the far end of the Midway path. Paradise and Magalia share the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail, which runs between them. We have no sourced bike route for Oroville, and we are not going to guess at one.
Chico's own planning numbers show why most riding is concentrated there. The City of Chico 2019 Bicycle Plan reports that, as of early 2019, the city had 32 miles of Class I bike paths, 33 miles of Class II bike lanes and 21 miles of Class III bike routes. Class I is a separated path, Class II is a striped lane on a road, and Class III is a signed shared route. The same plan describes Bidwell Park as 3,670 acres, one of the largest city parks in the country, with roads and trails that are a key part of the bike network.
For a visitor, that means the county splits into two kinds of day. A Chico day is a ride from a shop or hotel on city paths and park roads. A Paradise or Magalia day is a drive, then a ride on one rail-trail. Nothing we have verified connects the two by bike, so plan them as separate outings and do not assume a link on the ground.
Bidwell Park needs its own warning. The City of Chico mountain biking page says there is no riding on the Yahi Trail, which is pedestrian only. It says bikes are not allowed on Middle and Upper Park trails when those are closed for wet conditions, and that helmets must be worn by people of all ages when riding off pavement in Middle and Upper Park. It also says to bring plenty of water. A 2026 proposal to limit e-bikes on Bidwell Park natural-surface trails has not been confirmed as adopted, so we do not treat it as law. Rules for e-bikes on the park's dirt trails are under review. Check current city rules and posted signs before you take a motor onto dirt.
eBike shop hubs
Shops in this county are concentrated in one city. Riders from Durham, Paradise, Magalia and Oroville who want a rental or a repair generally travel to Chico. Paradise has one directory listing of its own. Use these pages for addresses, phone numbers, detail pages and claim links. A directory page is a contact index, not proof of current rental stock or route access.
Rental and tour contacts
These 3 existing cards are categorized as rental, tour, or outfitter contacts, and all three are in Chico. Call before planning around inventory, guide availability, shuttles, or trail permission.
North Rim Adventure Sports🚲 Rentals
All Electric Motion🚲 Rentals
Performance Bicycle Chico Store🚲 Rentals
Named eBike routes and access checks
The five routes below each have a published length on TrailLink. Distances are the listed lengths of each path, not a measured loop. None of them is a loop unless the text says so, so budget for the ride back. For every route, we found no route-specific eBike rule, so check the posted signs at each path.
1. Little Chico Creek Bike Path (2.6 miles)
TrailLink lists the Little Chico Creek Bike Path in Butte County at 2.6 miles. Our verified sources do not give a trailhead or a surface for it, so we are not going to name one. Open the TrailLink listing, find a street access on a map, and look at the surface when you arrive before you commit a bike with narrow tires. The path is a Chico outing, which puts it within reach of the shops on the cards above. No route-specific eBike rule was found, so Class 1, 2 and 3 follow the state rules in the regulations section below, and any sign at the path wins. On the path itself, keep right, call out or ring before you pass, and drop your assist level near walkers, dogs and children. Treat a 2.6 mile listing as a short outing, and pair it with a second path if you want a longer day.
2. Midway Bike Path (3.4 miles, Chico to Durham)
This is the route that runs out of town. TrailLink lists the Midway Bike Path at 3.4 miles, from Park Ave and E. 20th St in Chico to Midway and Jones Ave in Durham. Park Ave and E. 20th St is the practical start for most riders, because the E 20th St shop on the cards above is on the same street. Our verified sources do not state the surface, so check the TrailLink listing and the first stretch of the path before you decide on tires. If 3.4 miles is the one-way length, an out-and-back ride is about 6.8 miles, which is easy for most batteries but still worth checking against your own range. No route-specific eBike rule was found, so the state default applies and posted signs decide the rest. Etiquette is the same as on any shared path: stay right, pass with a call, and slow for people on foot. If you finish in Durham, plan your return before you leave rather than hunting for options at the far end.
3. Steve G. Harrison Memorial Bikeway (0.9 miles)
The Harrison Bikeway is the shortest route here at 0.9 miles. TrailLink describes it as asphalt, with sprocket arches at both ends. It parallels Skyway Road to the Honey Run Road intersection, and the out-and-back ride is just over 2 miles. There is no tree cover, so it is fully exposed to sun and wind. That matters on a warm day: carry water and think twice about midday. Start at either arch; the arches mark the ends of the bikeway. No route-specific eBike rule was found, so the state default applies and posted signs decide anything narrower. Because it runs alongside a road, keep your speed down, keep right, and stay alert at the Honey Run Road end where the path meets traffic. Treat it as a short spin or as a warm-up for a longer ride, not as a destination on its own.
4. Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail (5.2 miles)
This is the longest of the five routes. TrailLink lists the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail, formerly the Paradise Memorial Trailway, at 5.2 miles. It is a paved rail-trail in Paradise running between Pentz Road near Magalia and Skyway at Neal Road. Either end works as a start, so choose by where you can park and where you want to finish. Because it is paved, it suits the widest range of eBikes of any path in the county. A rail-trail grade is usually gentle, but we have no verified grade figure, so read the profile on the TrailLink listing if climbing matters to you. No route-specific eBike rule was found, so the state default applies and posted signs decide anything narrower. Etiquette is the usual: keep right, announce yourself before passing, and give walkers room. If you ride out and back, 5.2 miles each way is over 10 miles total, so check the battery before you commit to the full length.
5. Chico State Bike Path (2 miles)
TrailLink lists the Chico State Bike Path, also known as the Railroad Bike Path, at 2 miles of asphalt. It runs between the Chico State University campus at Cherry Street and W. Lindo Avenue at the UP tracks, alongside an active rail line. Access it from the ball fields on West Sacramento Avenue and along Cedar Street, where parking is limited, or at W. 8th Avenue and W. Lindo Avenue. Street parking is the norm unless you hold a campus permit, so arrive early. No route-specific eBike rule was found, so the state default applies and posted signs decide anything narrower. Slow down near campus, keep right and call your passes. At 2 miles it works as a short link or a warm-up that pairs with another Chico path.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day, Chico to Durham: Start at Park Ave and E. 20th St in Chico and ride the Midway Bike Path toward Midway and Jones Ave in Durham, a listed length of 3.4 miles. Turn around when half your battery is gone. Out and back is about 6.8 miles, which makes it a good first outing on a rented bike.
Half day, Paradise rail-trail: Drive to Paradise and ride the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail, 5.2 miles between Pentz Road near Magalia and Skyway at Neal Road. Pick one end, ride the full length, and decide at the far end whether to turn back. This is the better half-day choice for anyone who wants pavement for the whole ride.
Full day, Chico paths: Ride the Midway Bike Path from Chico toward Durham, return, then add the Little Chico Creek Bike Path (2.6 miles) and the Chico State Bike Path (2 miles) as shorter afternoon legs. Keep a battery reserve for the last leg and carry water.
Full day, two ends of the county: Ride one Chico path in the morning, drive to Paradise, and ride the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail in the afternoon, with the 0.9 mile Harrison Bikeway as a short add-on if you still have battery and daylight. Plan the drive as part of the day and charge between rides if you have a safe way to do it. Do not rely on a public outlet at a trailhead.
For any route day, carry water, a charged phone, and only the tools you know how to use. Build the return around the battery already on the bike. If a plan looks tight on paper, shorten it.
What not to ride in Butte County
The Yahi Trail in Bidwell Park: it is pedestrian only. Do not ride it, motor or not.
Bidwell Park Middle and Upper Park trails when closed for wet conditions: the City of Chico says bikes are not allowed on them while closed. If you ride them when open, the helmet rule for off-pavement riding in those areas applies to people of all ages.
Bidwell Park dirt trails on a throttle bike without checking first: rules for e-bikes on natural-surface trails are under review, and a 2026 proposal has not been confirmed as adopted. Check current city rules and posted signs.
The Harrison Bikeway at midday in hot weather: it has no tree cover. Ride it early or late, or choose a different path.
A connection nobody has documented: this guide lists no bike route between Chico and Paradise, so drive between them and then ride.
Anything behind a barrier: if a path, bridge or access road is closed, turn around. Do not cross private property to make a loop.
When to ride Butte County
Plan long rides for the cooler part of the day. Start early on the exposed Harrison Bikeway, and bring plenty of water on any park ride, as the City of Chico advises for Bidwell Park. After rain, check whether Bidwell Park's Middle and Upper Park trails are closed for wet conditions before you load the bike. Paved paths such as the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail are the safer bet after wet weather, but look at the surface anyway. Parking near the Chico State Bike Path is limited, so arrive early. Check closure notices for any route the day you ride, and have a shorter backup plan ready.
California eBike rules in Butte County
California sorts eBikes into three classes: Class 1 (pedal-assist to 20 mph), Class 2 (throttle to 20 mph), and Class 3 (pedal-assist to 28 mph). No license, registration, or insurance is required for any class. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet, and Class 3 riders must wear one at any age. Class 3 riders must be at least 16. These are the state rules, and they are the baseline on every route above.
A path manager or city can still be stricter than the state on a given trail, which is why we keep saying to read the sign. In Bidwell Park, the City of Chico helmet rule for off-pavement riding in Middle and Upper Park applies to people of all ages, and the Yahi Trail is closed to bikes. Laws change, so read our full California eBike laws guide before you travel, and see the Butte County eBike shops hub for local contacts.
Frequently asked questions
Which Butte County paths does this guide cover?
Five: the Little Chico Creek Bike Path at 2.6 miles, the Midway Bike Path at 3.4 miles, the Steve G. Harrison Memorial Bikeway at 0.9 miles, the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail at 5.2 miles, and the Chico State Bike Path at 2 miles.
Is there one trail that crosses the whole county?
Not that we can source. The routes we list are separate short paths, and we have no verified bike connection between Chico and Paradise. Plan them as separate outings.
Which route is the longest?
The Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail, formerly the Paradise Memorial Trailway, at 5.2 miles. It is a paved rail-trail in Paradise between Pentz Road near Magalia and Skyway at Neal Road.
Can I ride an eBike on Bidwell Park dirt trails?
That is under review. A 2026 proposal to limit eBikes on natural-surface trails has not been confirmed as adopted, so check current city rules and posted signs. The Yahi Trail is pedestrian only, and helmets are required for all ages when riding off pavement in Middle and Upper Park.
What are the California eBike class and helmet rules?
Class 1 is pedal-assist to 20 mph, Class 2 is throttle to 20 mph, and Class 3 is pedal-assist to 28 mph. No license, registration, or insurance is required. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet, Class 3 riders must wear one at any age, and Class 3 riders must be at least 16.
Where can I rent an eBike in Butte County?
Our three rental and tour cards are all in Chico: North Rim Adventure Sports, All Electric Motion and Performance Bicycle Chico Store. Call ahead to confirm inventory.
What should I do if a path or access road is closed?
Turn around and follow the posted notice. Do not bypass barriers or cross private property.
All eBike shops in Butte County
The complete local directory is the Butte County eBike shops and repair contacts page. This guide covers route planning, and the county hub has the full shop list.