Things To Do on an eBike in St. Tammany Parish, LA
St. Tammany Parish is the easiest eBike parish in Louisiana to plan, because one paved rail-trail runs through the middle of it. The Tammany Trace links Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell, and the parish publishes the distance between every pair of trailheads.
Shops are on the eBike shops in Mandeville, eBike shops in Slidell, and eBike shops in Covington pages. This guide has five sourced rides, and each one names its managing source.
Where to ride in St. Tammany Parish
The Trace is flat, paved, and shaded in long stretches, so it suits any class of eBike and any fitness level. Plan around the trailheads, because each has parking and a reason to stop, and plan around the 2026 bridge closures, which can cut the trail in two.
St. Tammany riding country: the paved Tammany Trace crossing piney woods and bayous on the Northshore.
Distances between trailheads come from the St. Tammany Parish Government points of interest page. The 31-mile total and the rails-to-trails claim come from the Northshore tourism bureau.
1. Covington to Abita Springs on the Tammany Trace (3.55 miles)
The western end of the Trace is the Covington Trailhead at 419 N. New Hampshire Street, built to look like an old railroad station with a clock tower, bandstand, and visitor center. From there the Trace crosses the Bogue Falaya River and reaches the Abita Springs Trailhead, with its tourist park and the old Longbranch Hotel quarters that now hold a history museum beside Abita Springs Tourist Park.
Distance: 3.55 miles one way, per the parish; start: Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire Street; surface: Paved rail-trail.
eBike access: The posted Trace rules allow e-bikes and electric wheelchairs, with a 15 mph limit. Etiquette and planning: Stay right, pass on the left, and call out or ring a bell. The Abita River bridge section near Abita Springs is on the parish closure list for 2026. Managing source: St. Tammany Parish Government, Tammany Trace.
2. Abita Springs to the Koop Drive trailhead (4.39 miles)
This leg runs from the Abita Springs Trailhead to the Trace headquarters on Koop Drive, marked by a green caboose that serves as information center and ranger station. The headquarters has restrooms, water fountains, picnic tables, parking, and the Kids Konnection playground, which the parish describes as inclusive for children with and without special needs.
Distance: 4.39 miles one way, per the parish; start: Abita Springs Trailhead, in the town center; surface: Paved rail-trail.
eBike access: The same Trace rules apply, and the parish says e-bikes are allowed. Etiquette and planning: The Kids Konnection playground draws families, so slow down near the headquarters on weekends. The playground opens at 11 AM on Mondays. Managing source: St. Tammany Parish Government, points of interest.
3. Koop Drive to the Mandeville Trailhead (4.38 miles)
South of the headquarters the Trace reaches the Mandeville Trailhead, where the city bought a full block for a cultural interpretive center beside the trail. It has public restrooms, pavilions, an amphitheater, a tower, and picnic facilities, and a renovated train station now holds a splash fountain.
Distance: 4.38 miles one way, per the parish; start: Trace headquarters, Koop Drive off Highway 59; surface: Paved rail-trail.
eBike access: Posted Trace rules allow e-bikes at up to 15 mph. Etiquette and planning: Bridge 14, between Molitor Street and Dupre Street, is closed from August 17, 2026 into early 2027, with a detour along Montgomery Street. Managing source: St. Tammany Parish Government, points of interest.
4. Lacombe to Slidell on the Tammany Trace (7.17 miles)
The eastern leg starts at the Lacombe Trailhead beside Bayou Lacombe, where a drawbridge opened in 2008 and a trailhead overlooking the bayou followed in 2011. Parking is at the John Davis Park and Ride, and the Trace continues to the Slidell-Carollo Trailhead, with the parish working toward a downtown finish at Heritage Park.
Distance: 7.17 miles one way, per the parish; start: Lacombe Trailhead, Lacombe, LA 70445; surface: Paved rail-trail.
eBike access: The posted rules allow e-bikes, and the same 15 mph limit applies. Etiquette and planning: This is the longest published leg, so carry water and check your battery before you leave the Lacombe end. Managing source: St. Tammany Parish Government, points of interest.
5. Fontainebleau State Park
The 2,800-acre park on Lake Pontchartrain has a sandy beach, a nature trail with interpretive signs, and an old railroad track that has become part of the Tammany Trace. Louisiana State Parks lists the park among its biking destinations.
Distance: Not published by the managing source; start: Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville; surface: Paved Trace through the park; nature trail surface not stated.
eBike access: State park rules treat low-speed electric bicycles under 750 watts like bicycles, and they send bicycles to roads and designated routes unless the site manager says otherwise. Etiquette and planning: Stay on the Trace and park roads, and ask at the entrance before you ride the nature trail. The Lake Pontchartrain shore and its beach are for walking. Managing source: Louisiana State Parks, Fontainebleau.
Planning a St. Tammany Parish ride
Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell are the three shop towns, and the Trace connects them, so a rider can rent in one town and finish in another. Ask the rental shop about one-way returns before you plan that.
The Koop Drive headquarters is the midpoint and the best place to meet a group, since it has parking, restrooms, and water. The first two weekends of December bring the Holiday of Lights there.
Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell shares the Trace's 7 AM to 6:30 PM hours on the parish schedule. Lacombe's John Davis Park and Ride is the parking spot for the Lacombe Trailhead on the Tammany Trace.
Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville sits on 99 acres beside the Tchefuncte River, about ten miles from Fontainebleau by the state parks' own description. It has a quarter-mile ADA nature trail, which is a walk rather than a bike ride.
North of the lake, the Bogue Falaya River runs under the Trace at Covington, and the Abita River crosses it near Abita Springs. Those two crossings are the bridge sections to check for closures. Lake Pontchartrain is on the southern edge of the parish, and the Trace stays inland of it.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Two-hour start from Covington: Ride from the Covington Trailhead to Abita Springs, stop at the museum, and come back. That is about seven miles round trip.
Half day from Mandeville: Start at the Mandeville Trailhead, ride north to the Trace headquarters, and return after a stop at the playground. The round trip is just under nine miles.
Full day, east to west: Begin at Lacombe, ride to Slidell, and return, then finish with a lakeside break at Fontainebleau State Park. Confirm the open sections first.
Rental day: Call a Mandeville or Covington rental service before you arrive and ask which classes of bike it offers. A listing does not show today's stock.
What not to ride
Closed bridge sections: The parish closes the Abita River bridge section and Bridges 14 and 24 during their replacements.
The Trace after 6:30 PM: The Trace is open from 7 AM to 6:30 PM, so finish before closing.
Pets on the Trace: The posted rules do not allow pets on the trail or its facilities.
Speeds above 15 mph: The limit is 15 mph for every user, including e-bikes.
When to ride St. Tammany Parish
Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, and Gulf Coast summers bring heat, humidity, and afternoon storms, so ride early from June into September.
Shop hubs
The directory lists three St. Tammany towns. Pick a town to see contact details and claim links for its shops.
Rental and tour operators
Three listings here are rental services: two in Mandeville and one in Covington. Call each one for classes, sizes, and helmet policies before you plan a rental ride.
Palmarès Cycling🚲 Rentals
Brooks' Bike Shop of Covington🚲 Rentals
Louisiana eBike rules snapshot
Louisiana defines an electric-assisted bicycle in R.S. 32:1(25) as a bicycle with a saddle or seat, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, on two wheels (either one at least 16 inches across) or three wheels (one at least 20 inches across). It sorts them into three classes. Class one assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 mph. Class two may move the bike on its own and cannot assist at 20 mph. Class three assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 28 mph.
R.S. 32:204 gives an electric-assisted bicycle the rights and duties of a bicycle, and R.S. 32:1 leaves it out of the definitions of motor vehicle and motorcycle. It may be ridden wherever bicycles are allowed, including streets, highways, bicycle lanes, shared-use trails, and bicycle paths. After notice and a public hearing, a local municipal authority, a parish authority, or a state agency in charge of a shared-use trail or path may prohibit Class one or Class two bikes there for safety reasons or to comply with other laws, and it may also prohibit Class three bikes. On a trail designated nonmotorized with a natural tread of cleared native soil, that authority may regulate eBikes on its own.
Nobody under 12 may operate a Class three eBike, though a child under 12 may ride as a passenger on a Class three built to carry one. Every Class three operator and passenger must wear an approved bicycle helmet, the fine is $50, and the fine is waived on proof of buying a helmet. A Class three must also have a speedometer that shows miles per hour. The section sets a helmet duty for Class three only, so read our Louisiana eBike laws guide, then the sign at the trailhead, because parish and park rules can go further.
Three more duties matter when you buy or rent. Since August 1, 2020, manufacturers and distributors must fix a permanent label to each eBike showing its class number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage, and nobody may tamper with the bike to change its class unless the label is replaced to match. The bike must meet the federal bicycle standard at 16 CFR Part 1512, and the motor must cut out when the rider stops pedaling or the brakes are applied.
On the Tammany Trace, the parish's posted rules allow e-bikes and electric wheelchairs, ban other motorized vehicles, and set 15 mph for everyone. Louisiana State Parks, which manages Fontainebleau, treats low-speed electric bicycles under 750 watts like bicycles.
The Northshore tourism bureau also says e-bikes are welcome on the Trace, which matches the parish signs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eBike ride in St. Tammany Parish?
The Tammany Trace, a paved 31-mile rail-trail from Covington to Slidell with a trailhead about every four to seven miles.
Are eBikes allowed on the Tammany Trace?
Yes. The parish's posted rules say e-bikes and electric wheelchairs are allowed, with a 15 mph speed limit.
What parts of the Trace are closed in 2026?
The parish lists the Abita River bridge section near Abita Springs, Bridge 14 in Mandeville, and Bridge 24 in Abita Springs. Check its closures notice before you ride.
Where does the Tammany Trace start and end?
It starts at the Covington Trailhead on North New Hampshire Street and ends in Slidell.
Can pets ride along on the Trace?
No. The posted rules keep pets off the Trace and its facilities.
Do Louisiana eBikes need helmets?
The state sets a helmet duty for Class three eBikes only, in R.S. 32:204(H). Local and park rules may add more. See the Louisiana eBike laws guide.
All shops in St. Tammany Parish
Browse the whole directory, 10 listings across 3 cities, on the St. Tammany Parish eBike shops page.