Things To Do on an eBike in Ingham County, MI
Ingham County riding centers on Lansing, East Lansing and the county parks around them. The Lansing River Trail ties much of it together, a paved Hawk Island loop gives an easy start, and Burchfield Park offers natural-surface trail for Class 1 riders. Rules change from one manager to the next, so the park or trail owner matters more than the county line.
Ingham County Parks says Class 1 or 2 eBikes are permitted on county trails unless posted. Burchfield is Class 1 only, Dirt School bans all eBikes, and the trails at Lake Lansing Park North are closed to bikes. Below are five routes with length, surface, trailhead and the rule that applies. Where a detail is not published, the entry says so.
Where to ride in Ingham County
These routes sit in and around Lansing and East Lansing. Hawk Island Park joins the Lansing River Trail at Potter Park. The Bear Lake Trail runs between Jolly Road and Mount Hope Avenue through Fenner Nature Center and connects at Aurelius Road. The MSU to Lake Lansing Trail, managed by Meridian Township, is meant to run from the Lansing River Trail through MSU campus toward Lake Lansing. Burchfield Park is a county park with its own rules.
Hawk Island is the shortest at 1.5 miles, paved and 12 feet wide. The Lansing River Trail is much longer, 16 miles or 25.3 depending on the source, and asphalt per TrailLink. Bear Lake Trail adds a 3-mile section completed in 2024. Burchfield is natural surface with six miles of trail and the tightest rule, Class 1 only. County trails otherwise permit Class 1 or 2 unless posted. Length and surface for the South Lansing Pathway and Sycamore Trail are not published.
eBike shop hubs
Looking for a shop near your route? Browse eBike shops by city. Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Stockbridge and Holt each have their own page.
- eBike shops in Stockbridge
- eBike shops in Lansing
- eBike shops in Okemos
- eBike shops in East Lansing
- eBike shops in Holt
Other local service contacts
No rental listings show up for Ingham County right now, so these shops are the local contacts for service, parts and test rides. Call Redbear Bikes or Heet's Custom Cycle's LLC first to ask whether they work on your motor system and battery.
Named eBike routes and access checks
1. Lansing River Trail, the main paved spine
The Lansing River Trail is the backbone of the area network. Ingham County Parks lists City of Lansing Parks & Recreation as the managing contact. Length is a real conflict: an Ingham County PDF says 16-mile, mitrails.org says more than 16 miles, and TrailLink says 25.3 miles. Treat any single number with caution and use the manager map for your actual route. TrailLink lists trailheads at Dietrich Park and Moores Park and describes the surface as asphalt. Other trails connect to it, including the Hawk Island pathway at Potter Park and the MSU to Lake Lansing Trail. Because several managers meet along the corridor, watch for posted signs where one jurisdiction hands off to another.
Distance: 16 miles per an Ingham County PDF, more than 16 per mitrails.org, and 25.3 per TrailLink, so the sources conflict; start: Dietrich Park and Moores Park, per TrailLink; surface: Asphalt, per TrailLink.
eBike access: Ingham County Parks permits Class 1 or 2 eBikes on Ingham County Trails unless otherwise posted. No City of Lansing eBike ordinance is published in the county pages. Class 3 needs local authorization on trails. Etiquette and planning: Slow down near trailheads and park entrances, call out before passing, and read signs where the trail crosses between managers. Charging stops along the route are not published, so start with a full battery. Managing source: Ingham County Parks, Bike Hike Walk.
2. Hawk Island Park pathway, an easy paved loop
Hawk Island Park gives Lansing-area riders a short, flat paved loop. Ingham County Parks manages a 1.5-mile pathway around Hawk Island Lake. It is 12 feet wide and listed as non-motorized. A 2,550-foot connector reaches the Scott Woods Park parking lot, and a 1,261-foot side path runs to Williard Street. The pathway joins the Lansing River Trail at Potter Park by the River Trail South spur, so a longer ride is easy to build. At the beach, you must walk your bike on the sidewalk in front of it. This is a good first ride on a new eBike or with a mixed-ability group.
Distance: 1.5-mile paved loop, per Ingham County Parks, plus a 2,550-foot connector and a 1,261-foot side path; start: Hawk Island Park; surface: Paved, 12 feet wide.
eBike access: Class 1 or 2 eBikes are permitted on Ingham County Trails unless otherwise posted. Walk your bike on the sidewalk in front of the beach. Etiquette and planning: Dismount at the beach sidewalk and keep speed low around families. Check posted signs at the park entrance, since the pathway is labeled non-motorized. Managing source: Ingham County Parks, Bike Hike Walk.
3. Burchfield Park Mountain Bike Trails: Class 1 only
Burchfield Park Mountain Bike Trails are the county's natural-surface option. Ingham County Parks manages them with the Mid-Michigan Mountain Biking Association, which helps develop and maintain trails through Burchfield Park and Riverbend Natural Area. The Burchfield complex covers 540 acres with six miles of trails. Trailheads are at Burchfield Park, Riverbend Natural Area and McNamara Landing. The eBike rule is strict. Only Class 1 eBikes may use the natural-surface pathways. Class 2, Class 3 and e-moto bikes are prohibited, and every eBike, Class 1 included, is banned at Dirt School. If your bike is not a Class 1, ride a paved route instead.
Distance: Six miles of trails across a 540-acre complex, per Ingham County Parks; start: Burchfield Park, Riverbend Natural Area or McNamara Landing; surface: Natural surface pathways.
eBike access: Only Class 1 eBikes are allowed on natural-surface pathways. Class 2, Class 3 and e-moto bikes are prohibited, and all eBikes are prohibited at Dirt School. Etiquette and planning: Check your bike's label for its class before you load the car. Keep to marked trails, stay out of Dirt School on any eBike, and yield to other trail users. Managing source: Ingham County Parks, Burchfield Park.
4. Bear Lake Trail, newest link through Fenner Nature Center
Bear Lake Trail is the newest section of the Lansing trail network. A 3-mile section was completed in 2024 between Jolly Road and Mount Hope Avenue. It travels through Fenner Nature Center and connects at Aurelius Road, where the South Lansing Pathway and the Sycamore Trail also link in. The Sycamore Trail runs south toward Delhi Township. mitrails.org describes the network as paved, but the surface of this section is not explicitly stated, and the managing agency is not published. Length for the connecting pathways is also not published. Use the manager map to confirm who runs each stretch before a long ride.
Distance: 3-mile section completed in 2024, per mitrails.org; start: Between Jolly Road and Mount Hope Avenue; surface: Described as part of the paved trail network by mitrails.org; this section's surface is not explicitly stated.
eBike access: No eBike rule is published for this trail. Michigan's default applies, so Class 1 may ride unless a local agency prohibits it, and Class 2 or 3 need authorization; follow posted signs. Etiquette and planning: Slow down through Fenner Nature Center and expect walkers. Because the manager is not published, look for signs at each access point and at the Aurelius Road connections. Managing source: mitrails.org, Lansing River Trail page.
5. MSU to Lake Lansing Trail, a connector still being built
The MSU to Lake Lansing Trail is managed by Meridian Township. It is meant to form a continuous system from the Lansing River Trail, through MSU campus and out to Ingham County Parks around Lake Lansing. Phase I opened in December 2023. The Phase II date conflicts on the township's own project page: one part says September 2024, and another says June or July 2024 was anticipated. Phase III planning and design is underway, so the full route is not finished. Published length, surface and trailhead are not stated. Check the township page for what is open before you ride.
Distance: Length is not published; Phase I is open and Phase III is in planning, per Meridian Township; start: No trailhead is published; check the Meridian Township project page; surface: Check the manager page for current surface.
eBike access: No eBike rule is published for this trail. Michigan's default applies, and Meridian Township or posted signs may regulate it. Class 2 and 3 need authorization on trails. Etiquette and planning: Confirm which phases are open before you go, and expect pedestrians near campus. Follow posted signs where the trail meets county parkland around Lake Lansing. Managing source: Meridian Township, MSU to Lake Lansing Trail Project.
Planning a Ingham County ride
Charging locations along these routes are not published. Start with a full battery and plan for the longest leg you intend to ride. Local shops can answer battery and service questions, but call ahead because the listing categories do not say who works on eBikes. Hawk Island has a beach, so expect families near the water in warm weather.
Lake Lansing Park North's main trail system has been closed for construction since July 6, 2026, with work continuing into Fall 2026. The MSU to Lake Lansing Trail is still in planning and design for Phase III, so sections may change. No transit or ferry options are given in the published facts for these routes.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day: Ride the 1.5-mile Hawk Island loop, walking your bike on the sidewalk in front of the beach. Then take the connection to the Lansing River Trail at Potter Park and ride as far as your battery and time allow. Turn back the same way.
Full day: Spend the morning on the Burchfield Park natural-surface trails if you have a Class 1 eBike, staying out of Dirt School. Finish the afternoon on the paved Hawk Island loop or the Lansing River Trail, where Class 1 or 2 is permitted unless posted.
With kids: Stick to the Hawk Island pathway. It is paved, 12 feet wide and 1.5 miles around, with no natural-surface sections. Keep speed low, walk bikes at the beach sidewalk, and extend toward Potter Park only if everyone is comfortable.
What not to ride in Ingham County
Lake Lansing Park North trails: Ingham County Parks says bikes are not allowed on the trails at Lake Lansing North, so eBikes are prohibited. The main trail system is also closed for construction that started July 6, 2026 and continues into Fall 2026.
Dirt School at Burchfield Park: All eBikes, including Class 1, 2 and 3, are prohibited at Dirt School. Ingham County Parks makes no exception for Class 1 here, even though Class 1 is allowed on other Burchfield natural-surface pathways.
Burchfield trails on Class 2, Class 3 or e-moto bikes: Natural-surface pathways at Burchfield Park, Riverbend Natural Area and McNamara Landing allow only Class 1 eBikes. Class 2, Class 3 and any motorized bike not rated Class 1 are prohibited. Choose a paved route instead.
The beach sidewalk at Hawk Island: Riders must walk their bikes on the sidewalk in front of the beach at Hawk Island Park. Riding there is not permitted, even at low speed, so dismount and walk until you are past the beach area.
When to ride Ingham County
Paved routes such as Hawk Island and the Lansing River Trail suit late spring through early fall, when Michigan weather is mild. Winter snow and cold make trails harder to ride, and cold weather can shorten battery range, so keep the battery warm before you start. Summer weekends likely bring more people to Hawk Island's beach area. Park and trail hours are not published. Check the manager's map or posted signs. Lake Lansing Park North construction runs into Fall 2026.
Michigan eBike laws and route permission
Michigan defines an eBike in MCL 257.13e. It must have a seat or saddle, fully operable pedals, and a motor of no more than 750 watts. There are three classes. Class 1 is pedal-assist only, and the motor stops helping at 20 mph. Class 2 can move the bike without pedaling, and the motor stops at 20 mph or when the brakes are applied. Class 3 is pedal-assist and stops helping at 28 mph. Michigan's eBike rules took effect January 28, 2018, under 2017 PA 139. The statute text we checked was current through PA 103 of 2026, fetched October 9, 2026.
Under MCL 257.662a, an eBike may be ridden on any part of a highway open to bicycles, including bike lanes and shoulders. state law here does not spell out a sidewalk rule, so check local rules. A Class 3 operator must be at least 14, though a younger passenger is allowed. Cities that prohibit nonemergency motor vehicles, and Mackinac Island State Park, require authorization first. Local or state agencies can regulate or prohibit eBikes on trails, and they must hold a public hearing before they do. Bills in 2026 (HIB 6340 and SIB 1156) would amend section 662a. They had not been enacted when we checked on October 9, 2026.
Anyone under 18 who operates or rides as a passenger on a Class 3 eBike must wear a helmet that meets CPSC or ASTM standards. The statute does not require helmets for other riders in the sourced notes we reviewed. Michigan has no statewide license or registration requirement for eBikes that comply with the law. Each eBike must carry a label showing its class, top assisted speed, and wattage. Changing a bike so it goes over 750 watts, or outside the definitions, means it is no longer legally an eBike. For a plain-language summary, read Michigan eBike laws.
On trails, the land manager decides. Class 1 eBikes may use linear asphalt, crushed-limestone, and rail trails unless the local or state agency regulates or prohibits them. Class 2 and Class 3 eBikes may use those same trails only if the local government or agency authorizes it. Before you ride, check the trail's own posted rules or contact the managing agency. Rules can differ from one trail to the next, even within a single county.
Designated nonmotorized natural-surface trails are closed to eBikes unless the local government or agency allows them. Do not assume a dirt path is open because bicycles are. Agencies must hold a public hearing before they prohibit, authorize, or regulate eBikes, so signs reflect a formal decision. These trail rules do not apply to congressionally authorized public trail systems. Keep your class label intact and unaltered. Tampering that changes the speed or power rating requires a new label, and a bike over 750 watts is not an eBike, so trail permissions would not cover it.
Ingham County Parks sets the main rule: Class 1 or 2 eBikes are permitted on Ingham County Trails unless otherwise posted. Burchfield Park, Riverbend Natural Area and McNamara Landing allow only Class 1 on natural-surface pathways, and all eBikes are prohibited at Dirt School. Lake Lansing Park North trails do not allow bikes. No county or major-city eBike ordinance is published beyond these park rules.
Some published details conflict, and the Lansing River Trail is 16 miles per an Ingham County PDF, more than 16 per mitrails.org and 25.3 per TrailLink. The Meridian Township project page gives September 2024 for MSU to Lake Lansing Trail Phase II in one place and June or July 2024 as anticipated in another. Where a rule or manager is not published, state law applies and posted signs rule.
Several changes are pending, and construction on the Lake Lansing Park North main trail system began July 6, 2026 and continues into Fall 2026. MSU to Lake Lansing Trail Phase III is in planning and design. At the state level, bills 2026 HIB 6340 and SIB 1156 would amend the eBike law but had not been enacted as of early October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best first eBike ride in Ingham County?
The Hawk Island Park pathway is the easiest start. It is a 1.5-mile paved loop, 12 feet wide, managed by Ingham County Parks. Class 1 or 2 eBikes are permitted unless posted, and you walk your bike on the sidewalk in front of the beach.
Can I connect Hawk Island to the Lansing River Trail?
Yes, the Hawk Island pathway joins the Lansing River Trail at Potter Park by the River Trail South spur. That lets you build a longer ride from the park without leaving the paved network.
Is a Class 2 eBike allowed at Burchfield Park?
No. Only Class 1 eBikes are allowed on the natural-surface pathways at Burchfield Park, Riverbend Natural Area and McNamara Landing. Class 2, Class 3 and e-moto bikes are prohibited, and all eBikes are prohibited at Dirt School.
Who manages the Lansing River Trail?
Ingham County Parks lists City of Lansing Parks & Recreation as the managing agency contact. The county rule applies to Ingham County Trails: Class 1 or 2 permitted unless posted. No separate City of Lansing eBike ordinance is published.
Is the MSU to Lake Lansing Trail finished?
Not yet, and Meridian Township manages it. Phase I opened in December 2023, and Phase III planning and design is underway. The township page gives conflicting dates for Phase II, so check what is open before you ride.
Do I have to walk my eBike anywhere?
Yes, at Hawk Island Park, riders must walk their bikes on the sidewalk in front of the beach. Elsewhere, follow posted signs, since county trails permit Class 1 or 2 only unless otherwise posted.
Are eBikes allowed on the Bear Lake Trail?
No specific eBike rule is published for it, and the managing agency is not stated. Michigan's default applies: Class 1 may ride unless a local agency prohibits it, and Class 2 or 3 need authorization, so follow posted signs.
Do riders need helmets?
Michigan requires a CPSC or ASTM helmet for anyone under 18 riding a Class 3 eBike, as operator or passenger. A Class 3 operator must be at least 14. Local park rules may add limits, so read signs at each trailhead.
All eBike shops in Ingham County
Need a shop before you ride? See all 15 Ingham County eBike shops in one list.