Things To Do on an eBike in York County, ME

Where to ride in York County

The Eastern Trail is the backbone of eBike riding in York County. Class 1 and 2 are welcome on it, and the county's other trails vary from open to closed.

Riding in York County, Maine.

The Eastern Trail is mostly stone dust or gravel, the Sanford rail trail is gravel and shared with ATVs, and Mount Agamenticus is hilly forest.

1. Eastern Trail, Kittery to Saco

The Eastern Trail Alliance describes the trail as a primarily 10 foot wide path of compacted stone dust and gravel, with some sections paved in asphalt, and says the trail has no lighting. The alliance's maps page gives 65 miles for the full route and Maine Trail Finder gives 62, so the full length is uncertain.

Distance: About 62 to 65 miles from Kittery to South Portland, depending on the source; start: Many trailheads; the alliance's trail maps list them by town; surface: Mostly compacted stone dust and gravel, with some asphalt.

eBike access: The alliance prohibits motorized vehicles but allows Class 1 and Class 2 electric bikes and mobility devices for disabled people. Its rules ask cyclists to keep to 15 miles an hour and to yield to all users, and they do not mention Class 3. Etiquette and planning: Bicyclists yield to everyone, and horses are not allowed on every segment, so read the local sign. Managing source: Eastern Trail Alliance, rules and guidelines.

2. Eastern Trail, Kennebunk to Biddeford

Maine Trail Finder lists this stretch as 6.1 miles of gravel path, and the Biddeford eastern trail booklet gives 6.2 miles, so the two numbers differ slightly. The booklet comes from the Biddeford recreation department.

Distance: About 6.1 to 6.2 miles one way, depending on the source; start: Kennebunk Elementary School off Alewive Road or Limerick Road in Arundel, per the Kennebunk visitor guide; surface: Gravel.

eBike access: This stretch is part of the Eastern Trail, so the alliance's Class 1 and 2 rule applies. The older Biddeford booklet lists only public safety, maintenance and wheelchair vehicles as allowed motorized use, which conflicts with the alliance's current rules, so follow the current rules. Etiquette and planning: The section is quiet midweek and busier on summer weekends. Managing source: Maine Trail Finder, Eastern Trail Kennebunk to Biddeford.

3. Eastern Trail, Saco to Scarborough

This stretch links York County to Cumberland County. Maine Trail Finder lists 8.4 miles for the off-road trail, while a Maine Natural Areas Program guide gives 5.25 miles for the off-road portion, a conflict we could not resolve.

Distance: 5.25 to 8.4 miles, depending on the source; start: Saco, with the Scarborough end across the county line; surface: Mostly gravel and stone dust, per the alliance.

eBike access: The alliance rule applies: Class 1 and 2 are allowed and Class 3 is not named. The trail enters Scarborough and South Portland, where those towns also set rules. Etiquette and planning: Bicyclists yield to all users and everyone yields to horses, per the alliance. Managing source: Maine Trail Finder, Eastern Trail Saco to Scarborough.

4. Mount Agamenticus, York

The Mount Agamenticus program says the conservation region covers more than 10,000 acres and that the trails are designated for specific uses, so read the trail sign like a street sign. Select trails are open to equestrians and ATV riders.

Distance: More than 10,000 acres of conservation region; trail mileage is on the program's map; start: The base and summit trailheads described on the Mount Agamenticus program's trail page; surface: Forest trail; permitted uses are posted on each trail sign.

eBike access: The York park regulations approved May 6, 2024 say Class 1 and 2 eBikes are permitted on hike and bike trails and Class 3 and higher are permitted only on trails designated multiple use. Check the trail sign for the designation. Etiquette and planning: Stay on marked trails, because the program prohibits creating or altering trails. Managing source: Town of York, Mt. Agamenticus Park Regulations.

5. Sanford-Springvale Rail Trail

Maine Trail Finder describes a six mile trail on the old rail bed running east from the Lebanon town line, used year round by hikers, bicyclists, walkers, joggers, skiers, horses, ATV riders and snowmobilers.

Distance: 5.9 miles one way, per Maine Trail Finder; start: Sanford, near the Lebanon town line end; surface: Gravel and dirt rail bed.

eBike access: We found no eBike statement on the listing. It is a multi-use trail that allows motorized ATVs and snowmobiles, and state law lets a Class 1 or 2 ride where bicycles may go unless the managing authority prohibits it, so confirm with Sanford Trails before you ride. Etiquette and planning: Expect ATV and snowmobile traffic on this multi-use trail, and keep right. Managing source: Maine Trail Finder, Sanford-Springvale Rail Trail.

Planning a York County ride

Rent in Kennebunk or Saco, ride a short Eastern Trail section out and back, and plan a beach or lunch stop in town.

If you have a Class 3 bike, plan roads or Mount Agamenticus's multiple use trails, because the Eastern Trail rules do not name Class 3.

Half-day and full-day eBike plans

What not to ride

Wells Reserve trails: The reserve's trail page lists seven miles of trails and says plainly: no bikes on trails.

Kennebunk monastery grounds: The Kennebunk visitor guide says bike riding is not allowed on the Franciscan Monastery grounds.

When to ride York County

Evenings in York suit a short summer ride, and a morning start suits a long one.

Shop hubs

We list shops in 12 towns across York County. A town page gives the address and phone for every shop in that town.

• eBike shops in Cornish (1)
• eBike shops in Kennebunk (4)
• eBike shops in Arundel (1)
• eBike shops in Biddeford (1)
• eBike shops in Old Orchard Beach (2)
• eBike shops in York (1)
• eBike shops in Saco (2)
• eBike shops in Wells (2)
• eBike shops in Sanford (2)
• eBike shops in Shapleigh (1)
• eBike shops in Berwick (1)
• eBike shops in Kittery (1)

Rental and tour operators

The rental listings are below. Call each one about electric models, helmets, and return times, because a listing does not show today's fleet.

Maine eBike rules snapshot

Maine sorts eBikes into three classes in 29-A M.R.S. section 101. An electric bicycle has two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. A Class 1 motor assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 miles an hour. A Class 2 motor is capable of propelling the bike by itself but is not capable of propelling it at 20 miles an hour. A Class 3 motor assists only while you pedal and stops at 28. A bike that meets the definition is left out of the moped, motorized bicycle, and motorized scooter definitions. We found no 2026 amendment to either section.

The operating rules are in section 2063, subsection 14, added by Public Law 2019, chapter 349. An electric bicycle operator is exempt from the Title 29-A rules on financial responsibility, licenses, registration, and plates. Since October 1, 2019, a permanent label must show the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage, and the motor must disengage when the brakes are applied. A Class 1 or 2 may go wherever a bicycle may go, including bicycle paths, unless the municipality or agency prohibits it. A Class 3 stays off bicycle paths unless the path is inside a highway or roadway or the authority allows it. On a path designated non-motorized with a significant natural surface such as gravel, stones, or wooden bridging, an eBike needs the authority's permission.

Nobody under 16 may operate a Class 2 or Class 3, and a child under 16 may ride as a passenger on one only if the bike is designed for passengers. Any operator or passenger under 16 on any eBike wears a properly fitted bicycle helmet. A Class 3 needs a speedometer that shows miles per hour, and an operator is subject to the open container rule in section 2112-A. Private owners may restrict eBikes on their own ways and property. Read our Maine eBike laws guide, then check the sign at the trailhead.

Land managers add their own rules on top of the statute. The Bureau of Parks and Lands park rules say bicycles and other wheeled vehicles stay on roads and trails specifically designated for their use, and we found no statewide Bureau policy that names eBikes. Acadia National Park allows only Class 1 eBikes on its carriage roads and Schoodic bike paths.

Where a trail sign, a town ordinance, or a land trust says no eBikes, that rule controls. We name the managing source for each route below and mark what we could not confirm.

We found no York County ordinance for eBikes, and each town sets rules for its own trails. The lengths of the Eastern Trail and its segments differ by source, so use the alliance's map for navigation and the alliance's rules for access.

Frequently asked questions

All shops in York County

The York County eBike shops page lists all 19 listings in 12 cities.