Things To Do on an eBike in San Mateo County, CA
San Mateo County has two clearly documented paved corridors for eBikes. The first is the Crystal Springs Regional Trail, with its Sawyer Camp Segment. The second is Devil's Slide Trail on the coast near Pacifica. County of San Mateo manages all of them, so one set of county policies applies to each.
The rules matter more than the mileage here. County Parks policy from 2020 allows Class 1 and 2 eBikes only where bikes are allowed, and bike use is limited. No county page grants Class 3 permission. This guide lists each route with its length, surface, trailhead and eBike rule, and says plainly when a detail is not published.
Where to ride in San Mateo County
The routes below fall in three areas. The Crystal Springs corridor runs from San Bruno to Woodside along the reservoirs. Devil's Slide Trail sits on the coast at Pacifica, on the former Highway 1 alignment. The San Francisco Bay Trail runs along the bay shore, including Menlo Park, where the city allows all eBike classes on paved trails. Managers differ, so check each manager map.
Devil's Slide Trail is the shortest documented route at 1.3 miles, paved, with separate lanes for hikers and bikes. The Crystal Springs Regional Trail is the longest, with 15.3 of 17.5 planned miles complete, and bicycles are limited to its paved portion. Sawyer Camp is paved and marked for two-way traffic. Menlo Park's Bay Trail is the only route here where a city says all classes are allowed on paved trails. Length and surface for the Bay Trail are not published.
eBike shop hubs
Shops are listed city by city. Pick the city nearest your trailhead to see shops that can handle repairs, fit and pre-ride checks before you head out.
- eBike shops in San Mateo
- eBike shops in Half Moon Bay
- eBike shops in Pacifica
- eBike shops in Burlingame
- eBike shops in Belmont
- eBike shops in Redwood City
- eBike shops in Menlo Park
Rental and tour contacts
Straight Wheel Cycling and Bike Works appear among the cards below. Rental availability, eBike models and prices are not published here, so call the shop before you plan a rental ride.
Straight Wheel Cycling🚲 Rentals
Straight Wheel Cycling🚲 Rentals
Bike Works🚲 Rentals
Summit Bicycles🚲 Rentals
Named eBike routes and access checks
1. Crystal Springs Regional Trail, the long county spine
The Crystal Springs Regional Trail is the county's main long-distance corridor. County of San Mateo describes it as planned for 17.5 miles, with 15.3 miles complete, running between San Bruno and Woodside. Bicycling is one of the listed uses. It also serves as an alternative recreational route to the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, a 1,210-mile trail whose managing agency is not published in the county material. The trail page does not state a single surface for the whole length, so plan for variation. The posted regulations say bicycles are permitted only on the paved trail and in established parking areas. The trail is open sunrise to sunset year-round. Dogs and pets are not allowed. Because it is a county trail, the County Parks eBike policy applies.
Distance: 15.3 miles complete of a planned 17.5, per County of San Mateo Parks; start: No single trailhead is published; check the manager map for access points; surface: Check the manager page for current surface; bicycles are allowed only on the paved trail.
eBike access: County Parks policy allows Class 1 and 2 only where bikes are allowed. No explicit Class 3 permission is published, so do not assume Class 3 is allowed, and obey posted speed limits. Etiquette and planning: Ride sunrise to sunset only. Leave dogs at home since pets are not allowed. Stay on pavement and in established parking areas. Slow down where the trail is shared. Managing source: County of San Mateo Parks, Crystal Springs Regional Trail.
2. Sawyer Camp Segment, paved, two-way, no fountains
The Sawyer Camp Segment is the best-documented piece of the Crystal Springs corridor. It extends from Hillcrest Blvd. in the north to Crystal Springs Road in the south. County of San Mateo manages it. The county page says it is paved and marked for two-way traffic, and that bicyclists use it. Two trailheads are named, one at Hillcrest Blvd. and one at Crystal Springs Road, so you can start from either end. There are no drinking fountains, which matters on a long eBike ride. The county does not post a numeric speed limit on this page, only that riders obey posted speed limits. The Crystal Springs trail regulations also apply: bicycles stay on the pavement, and the trail closes at sunset.
Distance: Hillcrest Blvd. to Crystal Springs Road; exact mileage is not published on the county page; start: Trailheads at Hillcrest Blvd. or Crystal Springs Road; surface: Paved and marked for two-way traffic, per the county.
eBike access: County Parks policy allows Class 1 and 2 where bikes are allowed. No explicit Class 3 permission is published; obey posted speed limits. Etiquette and planning: Bring all the water you need because there are no drinking fountains. Keep right on a two-way path, and slow for walkers. Be off the trail by sunset. Managing source: County of San Mateo Parks, Sawyer Camp Segment.
3. Crystal Springs Segment, check before you ride
The Crystal Springs Segment starts at Highway 92 on its northern end and runs along Cañada Road. County of San Mateo manages it. The county page describes it as available to hikers, joggers and equestrians, but the text on the page is cut off where it goes on to say who else may use it, and bicycle status is not clearly stated. For that reason this is a route to confirm before you ride, not one to assume. The page also mentions the Skyline Trail connecting on the other side of Huddart County Park, but gives no length, surface, trailhead or manager for the Skyline Trail. Use the county trail map and posted signs at the access point. If a sign shows no bicycles, an eBike is not allowed either.
Distance: Length is not published on the county page; start: Begins at Highway 92 and runs along Cañada Road; check the manager map for access points; surface: Check the manager page for current surface.
eBike access: No eBike rule is published for this segment, and bicycle use is not confirmed. County Parks policy allows Class 1 and 2 only where bikes are allowed. Class 3 has no published permission. Etiquette and planning: Expect hikers, joggers and equestrians. Yield to horses, slow down early and speak before passing. Do not ride the Skyline Trail connection unless signs and the manager map allow bikes. Managing source: County of San Mateo Parks, Crystal Springs Segment.
4. Devil's Slide Trail, former Highway 1 above the coast
Devil's Slide Trail is a 1.3-mile multi-use trail on the former Highway 1 alignment near Pacifica. County of San Mateo manages it. It is paved and has separate lanes for hikers and directional bike traffic, which makes it easier to share than a single narrow path. The trailhead address is listed as Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044. The trail is also a segment of the California Coastal Trail, which when finished will extend 1,200 miles from Oregon to Mexico. The county trail page does not publish an eBike rule. The County Parks policy from 2020 still applies, which means Class 1 and 2 where bikes are allowed. Class 3 has no published permission here.
Distance: 1.3-mile multi-use trail, per County of San Mateo Parks; start: Trailhead at Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044; surface: Paved, with separate lanes for hikers and directional bike traffic.
eBike access: No eBike rule is posted on the trail page. County Parks policy allows Class 1 and 2 where bikes are allowed. No Class 3 permission is published, so do not ride one here. Etiquette and planning: Stay in the bike lane and ride the posted direction, and pass hikers slowly. Check posted signs at the trailhead for closures and hours before you ride. Managing source: County of San Mateo Parks, Devil's Slide Trail.
5. San Francisco Bay Trail in Menlo Park, all classes on pavement
The Bay Trail through Menlo Park is the one route here where the city's rule is clear and open. The City of Menlo Park allows all classes of eBikes on paved trails, including the Bay Trail. That includes Class 3, which is not the case on the county trails above. The managing agency for the San Mateo County segment is not stated in the available material. Length, surface and trailhead are also not published. That means you should confirm the exact stretch on the manager map before riding, and look for posted signs at each access point. The Menlo Park rule covers paved trails, so unpaved sections should be treated as off limits unless signs say otherwise. Under 16 riders may not operate a Class 3 under state law.
Distance: Length is not published for the San Mateo County segment; start: Several access points; check the manager map; surface: Paved trails are covered by the Menlo Park rule; check the manager page for current surface.
eBike access: The City of Menlo Park allows all classes of eBikes on paved trails, including the Bay Trail. Follow any posted signs, which override general policy. Etiquette and planning: Class 3 riders need a helmet and must be 16 or older. Keep speed reasonable on shared paved trails. Pass walkers slowly and announce yourself. Managing source: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, E-Bikes Pilot Project report R-20-89.
6. California Coastal Trail at Devil's Slide, a long trail, one local piece
The California Coastal Trail is planned to run 1,200 miles from Oregon to Mexico once finished. In San Mateo County, the only segment named in the available county material is Devil's Slide Trail. That is the piece to ride on an eBike near Pacifica. Do not plan a long coastal ride from the trail name alone. The managing agency for the full trail, its surface and its trailhead are not published, and no eBike rule is given for the Coastal Trail as a whole. Treat each section as a separate trail with its own manager. On the Devil's Slide segment, the county manages the trail and County Parks policy applies. Elsewhere, check the manager map and posted signs.
Distance: A planned 1,200-mile trail when finished; only the 1.3-mile Devil's Slide segment is documented locally, per County of San Mateo Parks; start: Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044, for the documented segment; surface: Check the manager page for current surface outside Devil's Slide Trail.
eBike access: No eBike rule is published for the Coastal Trail as a whole. On the Devil's Slide segment, County Parks policy allows Class 1 and 2 where bikes are allowed. Etiquette and planning: Treat every section as its own trail. Read the sign at each access point. Do not assume a neighboring section allows bikes just because this one does. Managing source: County of San Mateo Parks, Devil's Slide Trail.
Planning a San Mateo County ride
Charging locations along these routes are not published. Charge fully at home or at your shop before you leave. The Sawyer Camp Segment has no drinking fountains, and the county does not list charging there either. Plan battery use for the full out-and-back distance with a margin, since the exact mileage of several routes is not published.
Crowd levels, closures and transit connections are not published for these routes. The Crystal Springs trail is open sunrise to sunset year-round, so plan to finish by dusk. Check the manager page and posted signs for closures before each ride. Call a listed shop before the trip if you need a tune-up or a battery check.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day: Ride the Sawyer Camp Segment from Hillcrest Blvd. to Crystal Springs Road and back. It is paved and marked for two-way traffic. Bring water because there are no fountains. Finish before sunset, since the Crystal Springs trail closes then.
Full day: Start with Devil's Slide Trail in Pacifica, 1.3 paved miles with separate hiker and bike lanes. Then drive inland to the Sawyer Camp Segment for a longer ride. Confirm your eBike is Class 1 or 2 and check battery range before the second leg.
Rainy-season backup: Use the paved Bay Trail in Menlo Park, where the city allows all eBike classes on paved trails. Surface and length are not published, so check the manager map and signs. Skip unpaved sections, and call a local shop about wet-weather tires.
What not to ride in San Mateo County
Unpaved Crystal Springs trail: Bicycles are permitted only on the paved trail and in established parking areas on the Crystal Springs trail. Do not take an eBike onto dirt or unpaved sections. The county's current policy allows Class 1 and 2 only where bikes are allowed.
Crystal Springs Segment near Cañada Road: The county describes this segment as available to hikers, joggers and equestrians, and bicycle status is not clearly confirmed. Do not ride it unless the manager map and posted signs show bikes are allowed.
Class 3 on county trails: No explicit Class 3 permission is published for the Crystal Springs trails or Devil's Slide Trail. County Parks policy covers Class 1 and 2 only. Keep Class 3 bikes on roads and on Menlo Park paved trails, where the city allows all classes.
Skyline Trail connection: The Skyline Trail is mentioned as connecting to the Crystal Springs Segment on the other side of Huddart County Park. Its manager, length, surface and bike rules are not published. Do not ride it on an eBike without a posted sign allowing bikes.
When to ride San Mateo County
The Crystal Springs trail is open sunrise to sunset year-round, so daylight sets your ride window. Winter days are shorter, which cuts the time available. Coastal areas such as Pacifica often run cooler and foggier than the inland reservoirs, and inland stretches can be warm in summer, so carry water, especially on the Sawyer Camp Segment, which has no drinking fountains. Weekends are likely busier on shared paved trails, though crowd data is not published. Check the manager page for closures before you go.
California eBike laws and route permission
California defines an eBike in Vehicle Code 312.5. It has working pedals and a motor of 750 watts or less. Class 1 is pedal-assist only, and assist stops at 20 mph. Class 2 has a throttle, and the motor gives no help at 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal-assist that stops at 28 mph, and it must have a speedometer. Class 1 and 3 bikes can have a walk mode up to 3.7 mph. Bikes built or modified to go past 20 mph on motor alone, or past 750 watts, or with the pedals removed, are not eBikes under this law.
eBike riders follow the same rules as bicycle riders. Vehicle Code 21207.5 sets who can close paths and trails to eBikes. Local authorities can ban eBikes, or any class, on equestrian, hiking or recreational trails by ordinance. State Parks can do the same on any path or trail it manages. Since AB 1909 took effect on January 1, 2023, there is no statewide Class 3 path ban. Under Vehicle Code 21213, riders under 16 may not operate a Class 3.
Class 3 riders and passengers must wear a helmet on the street, a bikeway or a public path. Since January 1, 2026, Vehicle Code 21212 (AB 544) requires a helmet for anyone under 18, including eBike riders. The first charge is dismissed, and the fine is $25 or less. The citation is waived if the rider has a helmet and finishes a bicycle safety course or an eBike safety course within 120 days. We found no license or registration rule for eBikes that meet the class definitions. The City of Newport Beach notes that Sur-Ron and Segway-type bikes are treated as motorcycles. Read the full rundown at California eBike laws.
Trail access in California is set by whoever manages the trail. A city or county can ban eBikes, or specific classes, on equestrian, hiking or recreational trails by ordinance. State Parks can restrict eBikes, or any class, on any path or trail in its jurisdiction. So a trail that allows eBikes in one town may not allow them in the next. Check the posted rules or the managing agency before you go. Do not assume a Class 1 or Class 3 is welcome because it is legal on the road.
Managers can set limits by class, so your bike's class label matters. The label has been required since January 1, 2017. Vehicle Code 24016(d), as summarized on the City of Newport Beach eBike page, bars changing an eBike's speed or power without relabeling it. Bikes modified to go past 20 mph on motor alone or past 750 watts are not eBikes under state law. The same city page says Sur-Ron and Segway-type bikes are motorcycles, which need registration, insurance and an M endorsement. Do not take one onto an eBike trail.
County of San Mateo Parks policy from 2020 allows Class 1 and 2 eBikes only where bikes are allowed, and bicycle use is limited. Crystal Springs regulations say bicycles are permitted only on the paved trail, riders obey posted speed limits, and the trail is open sunrise to sunset. Dogs and pets are not allowed. No county page gives explicit Class 3 permission.
The sources do not agree on Class 3. The Open Space District fact sheet says California Vehicle Code 21207.5(b) prohibits Class 3 on recreational trails unless the local agency permits. The current code text on the Legislature site lets a local authority prohibit classes by ordinance and does not set a statewide Class 3 path ban. Until a county page says otherwise, keep Class 3 off county trails. The City of Menlo Park allows all classes on paved trails.
San Mateo County's Ayden's Ordinance amends Chapter 7.80 for e-micromobility devices. It was adopted August 25, 2026 and takes effect January 1, 2027. Where sidewalk riding is not otherwise prohibited, riders must yield to pedestrians, give an audible signal before passing, stay at or under 5 mph, and not block the sidewalk when parked. Riders under 18 need a helmet. A separate policy revision would allow Class 1 and 2 on paved bicycle and multi-use pathways and Class 3 only on roadways and parking lots. The agency and date are not published.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Devil's Slide Trail?
County of San Mateo Parks lists Devil's Slide Trail at 1.3 miles. It is a multi-use trail on the former Highway 1 alignment near Pacifica. It is paved, with separate lanes for hikers and directional bike traffic. The trailhead is listed as Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044.
Where does the Crystal Springs Regional Trail start and end?
The county describes it as running from San Bruno to Woodside. About 15.3 of a planned 17.5 miles are complete. A single trailhead is not published for the whole trail, so use the manager map to pick an access point. The Sawyer Camp Segment has trailheads at Hillcrest Blvd. and Crystal Springs Road.
Is there drinking water on the Sawyer Camp Segment?
No. The county page says the segment has no drinking fountains. Fill bottles before you arrive. Charging stations are also not published, so charge your battery fully before leaving and plan for the round trip.
Can I ride an eBike with a throttle on county trails?
County Parks policy allows Class 1 and 2 eBikes where bikes are allowed. Class 2 is the throttle type, with assist stopping at 20 mph. The trail must allow bikes, and on Crystal Springs trails, riding is limited to the paved trail.
What are the rules for riding on a sidewalk starting in 2027?
Starting January 1, 2027, where sidewalk riding is not otherwise prohibited, the county ordinance requires riders to yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing. Speed may not exceed 5 mph. Slow to walking speed or dismount if overtaking creates a hazard. Do not park across the sidewalk.
Does Menlo Park allow Class 3 eBikes on the Bay Trail?
The City of Menlo Park allows all classes of eBikes on paved trails, including the Bay Trail, and that includes Class 3. Riders under 16 may not operate a Class 3, and Class 3 riders and passengers need helmets. Check posted signs, which override general policy.
Are dogs allowed on the Crystal Springs trail?
No. County regulations say dogs and pets are not allowed on the Crystal Springs trail. That also applies if you ride with a dog in a trailer or on a leash. The trail is open sunrise to sunset year-round.
What if a trail has no posted eBike rule?
Many pages do not state one, including Devil's Slide Trail's page. In that case the County Parks policy for Class 1 and 2 where bikes are allowed is the working rule, and Class 3 has no published permission. Check posted signs at the trailhead and the manager map.
All eBike shops in San Mateo County
Need a tune-up, battery check or a new ride before you go? See all San Mateo County eBike shops.