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Things To Do on an eBike in Washington County, MN

Washington County has three main long-distance eBike routes: the 18-mile Gateway State Trail, the 5.9-mile Brown's Creek State Trail and the 9.5-mile Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. All three have paved surfaces for bikes. The Minnesota DNR manages the first two and Washington County Parks manages Hardwood Creek, so the manager is the place to confirm any eBike restriction.

Parks add shorter options, and William O'Brien State Park near Marine on St. Croix has a 2-mile paved trail for bicycles. Washington County Parks also runs Lake Elmo Park Reserve, Big Marine Park Reserve, Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park and Pine Point Regional Park. Published trail details for the county parks are thin, so use the park maps and ask at the contact station.

Orientation map, not a verified riding route.Open county map

Where to ride in Washington County

Start Gateway State Trail at the North Saint Paul Trailhead, between First Street and Second Street just north of Seventh Avenue, next to the wind turbine. Hardwood Creek has trailheads at the Washington County Headwaters Transit Center, 19987 Fitzgerald Trail North, and north of Forest Lake City Hall at Lake Street and Broadway Avenue. Brown's Creek trailhead descriptions differ, naming Laurel Street East in downtown Stillwater or the Duluth Junction connection. William O'Brien State Park is at 16821 O'Brien Trail North in Marine on St. Croix.

Gateway is longest at 18 paved miles, then Hardwood Creek at 9.5 miles and Brown's Creek at 5.9 paved miles. Hardwood Creek pairs its paved lane with a turf lane for horses and snowmobiles. Gateway has an unpaved companion trail east of I-694 for horseback riding and carriage driving that requires a horse pass. None of the manager pages lists an eBike rule, so the state default applies, but a trail association adds a motorized vehicle restriction on Gateway and Brown's Creek.

eBike shop hubs

Shops are listed by city. Woodbury has the most with four, followed by Stillwater and St Paul Park with two each, then Oakdale, Scandia and Forest Lake with one each.

Rental and tour contacts

Herman Electric Bike Rental is the rental business listed for Washington County. Confirm hours, prices, helmet policy and age limits with the business first, since Minnesota law bars anyone under 15 from operating an eBike.

Herman Electric Bike Rental🚲 Rentals

Bicycle rental service · Stillwater, MN

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📍 209 S Main St Stillwater, MN 55082 📞 (651) 551-3154

Website → 📞 Call 📍 Directions Details → 🔑 Claim

Named eBike routes and access checks

1. Gateway State Trail: 18 paved miles to Pine Point

Gateway State Trail is the county's long paved spine. It begins in St. Paul at Cayuga Street, runs northeast through Maplewood, North St. Paul and Oakdale, crosses Washington County and ends at Pine Point Regional Park. The Minnesota DNR manages it as an 18-mile multiple use trail. East of I-694 an unpaved trail about 10 miles long runs alongside for horseback riding and carriage driving, and that side requires a horse pass. The DNR page lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies. A trail association page goes further and says unauthorized motorized vehicles, including fully electric non-assist bicycles, are not permitted. Settle any throttle-only question with the DNR before you ride.

Distance: 18 miles, per the Minnesota DNR Gateway State Trail page; start: North Saint Paul Trailhead, between First Street and Second Street just north of Seventh Avenue, next to the wind turbine; surface: Paved, with a separate unpaved horse trail east of I-694.

eBike access: The DNR lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies and Class 1, 2 and 3 are allowed unless posted otherwise. A trail association page says fully electric non-assist bikes are not permitted. Etiquette and planning: Stay on the paved trail and leave the unpaved side to horses and carriages. Slow down for walkers and skaters, call out when passing, and watch for posted signs at each access point. Managing source: Minnesota DNR, Gateway State Trail.

2. Brown's Creek State Trail, the paved link into Stillwater

Brown's Creek State Trail is the short link between Gateway State Trail and the St. Croix. The Minnesota DNR manages the 5.9 paved miles, which connect Gateway at Grant to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Stillwater. A parallel natural surface trail for horseback riding runs 2 miles east from Gateway in Grant to Lofton Avenue, so pick the paved path. Trailhead descriptions differ, and one names Laurel Street East in downtown Stillwater and another names the Duluth Junction connection, so check the DNR map before you drive. The DNR page lists no eBike rule, and the same trail association page that covers Gateway applies its motorized vehicle restriction here.

Distance: 5.9 miles, per the Minnesota DNR Brown's Creek State Trail page; start: Laurel Street East in downtown Stillwater or the Duluth Junction connection, since trailhead descriptions differ; check the DNR map; surface: Paved, with a parallel natural surface trail for horseback riding from Grant to Lofton Avenue.

eBike access: The DNR page lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies. A trail association page says unauthorized motorized vehicles, including fully electric non-assist bicycles, are not permitted. Etiquette and planning: Keep your eBike off the parallel natural surface horse trail. Slow down and call out when passing walkers, and read posted signs where the trail meets the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Stillwater. Managing source: Minnesota DNR, Brown's Creek State Trail.

3. Hardwood Creek Regional Trail: Highway 61 from Hugo to Forest Lake

Hardwood Creek Regional Trail follows Highway 61 through the north end of the county. Washington County Parks manages the 9.5 miles, which run from County Road 8 (Frenchman Road) in Hugo to the Washington and Chisago county line in Forest Lake. At the line it provides access to the Sunrise Prairie Trail in Chisago County. Two parallel trails share the corridor. The paved one is for bikers, hikers and in-line skaters. The turf one is for horses in summer and snowmobiles in winter, and snowmobiles with metal studs are not allowed anywhere in the corridor. The county page lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies.

Distance: 9.5 miles, per Washington County Parks; start: Washington County Headwaters Transit Center, 19987 Fitzgerald Trail North; other trailheads are north of Highway 61 and County Road 8, and north of Forest Lake City Hall at Lake Street and Broadway Avenue; surface: Paved lane for bikers, hikers and in-line skaters, plus a parallel turf lane for horses and snowmobiles.

eBike access: No eBike rule is listed on the county page, so the state default applies. Ride the paved lane and leave the turf lane to horses. Etiquette and planning: Stay on pavement in summer and leave the turf for horses. In winter the corridor carries snowmobiles, so check conditions and posted signs before riding. Managing source: Washington County Parks, Hardwood Creek Regional Trail.

4. William O'Brien State Park, paved trail and mowed grass

William O'Brien State Park near Marine on St. Croix offers a short paved ride plus mowed grass trails. A park summer map shows the Minnesota DNR manages 16 miles of trails, including a 2-mile paved trail for bicycles. Other trails include Prairie Overlook Trail at 3.8 miles one-way and hilly, Beaver Lodge Trail at 1 mile one-way and mostly flat, and Wedge Hill Savanna Trail, a hilly 1.5-mile loop, and all three trails are mowed grass. The map lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies, but managers of natural surface trails can regulate eBikes. Ask at the park before using the grass trails, and vehicle permits are required.

Distance: 2 miles of paved bicycle trail within 16 miles of park trails, per a park summer map; start: 16821 O'Brien Trail North, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047; surface: A 2-mile paved bicycle trail, plus mowed grass on the Prairie Overlook, Beaver Lodge and Wedge Hill Savanna trails.

eBike access: The park map lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies. Managers of natural surface trails may regulate eBikes, so confirm with park staff before riding the mowed grass trails. Etiquette and planning: Buy the required vehicle permit before you ride. Stay on the paved bicycle trail unless staff or signs say otherwise, and slow down on hilly mowed grass where footing changes. Managing source: Minnesota DNR, William O'Brien State Park summer map.

5. Lake Elmo Park Reserve, single track under study

Lake Elmo Park Reserve is a Washington County Parks property with a single track trail system under study. A county trail planning page describes a design study for a 6 to 12 mile trail system. No length or surface for the existing bike trails is published, so treat any mileage you hear as unconfirmed. The trailhead is at the park contact station, where a park permit is available. The county parks page lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies. Natural surface single track can be regulated by its manager, so read posted signs and ask at the contact station before riding off pavement.

Distance: No bike trail length is published; a Washington County planning page describes a 6 to 12 mile single track system under design study; start: Lake Elmo Park Reserve: the park contact station; surface: Lake Elmo Park Reserve: check the manager page for current surface.

eBike access: No eBike rule is listed for the park, so the state default applies. Natural surface single track may be regulated by the county, so confirm at the contact station. Etiquette and planning: Get the park permit at the contact station and carry the county trail map. Rules may change as the single track plans move forward, and posted signs override any older map. Managing source: Washington County Parks, Parks.

6. Pine Point Regional Park, the end of Gateway

Pine Point Regional Park sits five miles north of Stillwater and marks the end of Gateway State Trail. Washington County Parks manages it, charges a fee, and offers summer and winter trail maps. No bike trail length or surface is published, and no eBike rule is listed, so the state default applies. That makes it a clear turnaround point for a long Gateway ride. Big Marine Park Reserve and Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park are in the same position. Maps exist, but lengths and surfaces are not published, so check the county Parks page before you plan a ride there.

Distance: No bike trail length is published for the park by Washington County Parks; start: Pine Point Regional Park: the park contact station; surface: Pine Point Regional Park: check the manager page for current surface.

eBike access: No eBike rule is listed, so the state default applies. Check the county trail maps and posted signs for any park-specific restriction. Etiquette and planning: Pay the park fee and review the summer or winter trail map before choosing a path. Posted signs override older maps, and Gateway riders should slow down where the trail enters the park. Managing source: Washington County Parks, Parks.

Planning a Washington County ride

Charging points along Gateway State Trail, Brown's Creek State Trail and Hardwood Creek Regional Trail are not published. Charge fully before you start and size the ride to your battery. Gateway alone is 18 miles one way, so an end-to-end round trip is 36 miles. The Washington County Headwaters Transit Center is a Hardwood Creek trailhead, but transit service details are not published, so check with Washington County.

Crowd, closure and condition information is not published for these routes, so check the Minnesota DNR trail pages and the Washington County Parks page before you go. Winter changes the picture, and Hardwood Creek's turf lane carries snowmobiles, and the county publishes winter trail maps for its parks. William O'Brien State Park requires a vehicle permit, and Pine Point Regional Park charges a fee.

Half-day and full-day eBike plans

Half day: Ride Brown's Creek State Trail, 5.9 paved miles between Grant and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Stillwater. An out and back is under 12 miles, which suits most batteries. Confirm the trailhead first, since descriptions name either Laurel Street East or the Duluth Junction connection. Stay off the parallel horse trail.

Full day: Ride Gateway State Trail from the North Saint Paul Trailhead toward Pine Point Regional Park. The whole trail is 18 miles from Cayuga Street in St. Paul, so a round trip from Cayuga is 36 miles. Starting at North Saint Paul shortens that by an amount the DNR does not publish. Pay the park fee at Pine Point and keep battery in reserve for the return.

North county day: Ride Hardwood Creek Regional Trail, 9.5 miles beside Highway 61 from Hugo to the Chisago County line in Forest Lake. Start at the Washington County Headwaters Transit Center, 19987 Fitzgerald Trail North, and stay on the paved lane. At the line you can reach the Sunrise Prairie Trail in Chisago County; check its manager for rules.

What not to ride in Washington County

Hardwood Creek turf lane: The turf lane beside the paved Hardwood Creek Regional Trail is for horses in summer and snowmobiles in winter, according to Washington County Parks, so ride the paved lane. Snowmobiles with metal studs are not allowed anywhere in the corridor, and posted signs control any other use.

Horse trails beside Gateway and Brown's Creek: The unpaved trail east of I-694 along Gateway State Trail is for horseback riding and carriage driving and requires a horse pass. Brown's Creek has a parallel natural surface trail from Grant to Lofton Avenue described as suitable for horseback riding. Keep your eBike on the paved trails.

Throttle-only bikes on Gateway and Brown's Creek: A trail association page says unauthorized motorized vehicles, including fully electric non-assist bicycles, are not permitted on Gateway or Brown's Creek. The DNR pages list no such rule. Until the DNR confirms, a throttle-only bike is a bad bet on those two trails.

Mowed grass trails at William O'Brien: Prairie Overlook, Beaver Lodge and Wedge Hill Savanna trails at William O'Brien State Park are mowed grass, and two are hilly, according to a park summer map. Natural surface trail managers can regulate eBikes, so skip these unless park staff or signs allow them.

When to ride Washington County

Operating hours and seasonal closures are not published on the Minnesota DNR and Washington County pages for these routes, so check each manager page. Winter use is part of the picture, since Hardwood Creek's turf lane carries snowmobiles and the county publishes winter trail maps for its parks. Minnesota summers can be hot and humid, so morning rides are easier on rider and battery. Cooler fall days suit the longer Gateway ride. Weekends near Stillwater are likely busier than weekdays.

Minnesota eBike laws and route permission

Minnesota treats an electric-assisted bicycle as a bicycle. Under Minn. Stat. 169.011, it has two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operable pedals, and a motor of no more than 750 watts. It must meet federal rule 16 CFR 1512 and fit Class 1, 2, 3, or multiple mode. Class 1 is pedal-assist that stops at 20 mph. Class 2 can move without pedaling and stops at 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal-assist that stops at 28 mph. Multiple mode switches between classes. Since the 2025 amendment, the battery or drive system must also be tested to a safety standard by a third-party lab. A bike built or sold to be modified out of its class does not qualify.

Under Minn. Stat. 169.222, you ride an eBike like any bicycle, including on the shoulder, in a bike lane, and on a bike route. Class 1 and 2 may use the motor on bicycle paths, trails, and shared use paths unless a state or local rule prohibits it. Class 3 and multiple mode bikes may use them unless the local authority or state agency in charge prohibits it. On sidewalks, yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal. Do not ride on sidewalks in a business district unless local authorities allow it. No one under 15 may operate an eBike, in any class. Local governments may restrict eBikes on trails only if they find use inconsistent with safety, general welfare, or a property conveyance. The BikeMN 2026 session summary says no new eBike laws passed this session.

As of October 8, 2026, Minnesota statutes set no helmet requirement for eBike riders. BikeMN also reports there is no helmet mandate for youth eBike riders. An eBike is a bicycle under Minnesota law, so it needs no license or registration. Some riders will still choose a helmet, especially on faster Class 3 bikes. Check local rules before you ride, since cities and agencies can set their own trail limits. For a plain-language overview, read our guide to Minnesota eBike laws.

Trail access depends on who manages the trail. The DNR says eBikes that meet the state definition are allowed on state trails wherever normal bicycles are allowed. Local governments can restrict eBikes on local trails and bikeways under Minn. Stat. 85.018 and Minn. Stat. 160.263, but only after finding eBike use inconsistent with safety, general welfare, or the terms of a property conveyance. Look for posted signs at the trailhead.

Managers of nonmotorized natural-surface trails and bike parks may regulate eBikes, so a dirt trail can be closed to them even when a paved path nearby is open. Know your bike's class before you go. Your label must show the class, top assisted speed, and wattage. Changing the bike requires a new label, and a bike modified out of its class is no longer an eBike under the definition. A throttle may not push the bike past 20 mph in any mode.

No Washington County or major-city eBike ordinance is published. The Minnesota DNR pages for Gateway and Brown's Creek, the Washington County page for Hardwood Creek, and the county parks page list no eBike rule, so the state default applies. Under state law a trail manager can restrict eBikes only after finding use inconsistent with safety or general welfare, so watch for posted signs at trailheads.

One source conflict affects Gateway and Brown's Creek. The Minnesota DNR trail pages list no eBike rule, and the DNR says eBikes meeting the state definition are allowed on state trails wherever bicycles are. The Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association page says unauthorized motorized vehicles, including fully electric non-assist bicycles, are not permitted. Class 1 and 3 pedal-assist riders are on firmer ground than throttle-only riders.

No sidewalk eBike rule is published for Washington County cities. State law says sidewalk riders yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal, and cities may bar sidewalk riding in business districts. No pending eBike changes with dates are published for the county. The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota reports no new state eBike laws passed in 2026. See its 2026 session summary.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ride a Class 2 eBike on Hardwood Creek Regional Trail?

Yes, under the state default. The Washington County page lists no eBike rule for the 9.5-mile trail, and Class 2 riders may use paths with the motor engaged unless the manager prohibits it. Ride the paved lane, not the turf lane used by horses and snowmobiles, and follow any posted signs.

How long is Gateway State Trail and where does it end?

Gateway State Trail is 18 miles long, according to the Minnesota DNR. It begins in St. Paul at Cayuga Street, travels northeast through Maplewood, North St. Paul and Oakdale, crosses Washington County and ends at Pine Point Regional Park, which is five miles north of Stillwater.

Where do I start a ride on Gateway State Trail?

Start at the North Saint Paul Trailhead, between First Street and Second Street just north of Seventh Avenue, next to the wind turbine. The Minnesota DNR lists it as the trailhead. The trail itself begins at Cayuga Street in St. Paul, so you can also start farther south.

Can I ride my eBike on the horse trail next to Gateway State Trail?

No, treat it as horse only. The Minnesota DNR describes the unpaved trail east of I-694, about 10 miles long, as for horseback riding and carriage driving, and a horse pass is required for those uses. Stay on the paved Gateway State Trail with your eBike.

Do I need a permit to ride at William O'Brien State Park?

Yes, vehicle permits are required at William O'Brien State Park, according to a park summer map. The park is at 16821 O'Brien Trail North in Marine on St. Croix. The map lists no eBike rule, so the state default applies, and staff can tell you about the mowed grass trails.

Can I ride an eBike in Lake Elmo Park Reserve?

The state default applies, and Washington County Parks lists no eBike rule for Lake Elmo Park Reserve. A park permit is available at the contact station, which is also the trailhead. Natural surface single track may be regulated by the manager, so ask staff and read posted signs before riding.

Is there a fee to enter Pine Point Regional Park?

Yes, according to Washington County Parks, Pine Point Regional Park charges a fee. The park is five miles north of Stillwater and is where Gateway State Trail ends. The county publishes summer and winter trail maps, but no bike trail length or surface is listed.

Does Hardwood Creek Regional Trail connect to other trails?

Yes, at the Washington and Chisago county line in Forest Lake, Hardwood Creek Regional Trail provides access to the Sunrise Prairie Trail in Chisago County, according to Washington County Parks, so check that trail's manager for eBike rules, since Washington County does not publish them.

All eBike shops in Washington County

Need to buy, rent or repair before you ride? See all Washington County eBike shops.