Things To Do on an eBike in Santa Fe County, NM
Santa Fe County rides range from a rail corridor on county land to foothill trails and a state park, so check the eBike rules for each one.
Shops and rentals are on the eBike shops in Santa Fe page. The routes below come from Santa Fe County and New Mexico State Parks, with other sources named on each route.
Where to ride in Santa Fe County
Santa Fe County has five documented rides: the Rail Trail, the Dale Ball Trails, El Camino Real Trail, the Santa Fe River Greenway and Cerrillos Hills State Park.
Riding in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.
The Rail Trail is a point-to-point corridor with mostly dirt south of town, while the Dale Ball Trails are loops of hilly singletrack inside the city.
1. Santa Fe Rail Trail
A multi-use trail that follows the Santa Fe Southern Railway route from Railyard Park in Santa Fe to Lamy. The City manages the stretch from the Railyard to the I-25 overpass near Rabbit Road, and the County manages about 12.5 miles from there south to Lamy. The Santa Fe Conservation Trust says it is about 15 miles, with 3.5 paved and 11.5 dirt, while the County says 15.7 miles.
Distance: 15 to 15.7 miles by source; start: Railyard Park in Santa Fe, or the Cerro Alto Trailhead at 28531 US Highway 285, Lamy; surface: Part paved, mostly dirt south of town.
eBike access: County code lets eBikes use County trails where conventional bikes are allowed, and the trail bars motorized vehicles such as ATVs and motorcycles. Etiquette and planning: Expect one major segment still unfinished before the Lamy Train Station, and yield to walkers and horses. Managing source: Santa Fe County, new Rail Trail segment.
2. Dale Ball Trails
A network of natural-surface trails in the foothills above Santa Fe that the Conservation Trust lists at 24.4 miles for hikers and bicyclists. Dogs must be leashed.
Distance: 24.4 miles; start: Trailheads are not listed in the source we read; surface: Natural-surface singletrack.
eBike access: The page says motorized vehicles are not allowed and does not name eBikes, and state law section 66-3-709(D) lets the agency in charge regulate eBikes on non-motorized natural-surface trails. Etiquette and planning: Ask the City of Santa Fe whether your class of eBike is welcome before you ride, and keep speed low around walkers. Managing source: Santa Fe Conservation Trust, Dale Ball Trails.
3. El Camino Real Trail
A nonmotorized trail in Santa Fe that retraces the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and extends north for 14 miles from the Constellation Drive trailhead to Diablo Canyon. The County lists the first 4.5 miles from the Constellation Drive trailhead to County Road 62 as paved, and the rest as dirt. The trailhead has paved parking for 20 cars, interpretive exhibits and two pedestrian bridges over the Santa Fe River.
Distance: 14 miles to Diablo Canyon (the County's 2017 groundbreaking notice gives 14.7 miles); start: Constellation Drive trailhead; surface: First 4.5 miles paved, the rest dirt.
eBike access: The County names bicyclists, pedestrians and equestrians as users, and the pages we read do not mention eBikes, so check posted signs before you ride. Etiquette and planning: Interpretive exhibits line the trail, and the Constellation Drive trailhead has paved parking for 20 cars. Managing source: Santa Fe County Open Space, Trails, and Parks, Properties & Trails.
4. Santa Fe River Greenway
A multi-use trail along the Santa Fe River that the County describes as a route for recreation and alternative transportation, on foot or by bicycle. The County's portion runs about 8 miles from the city limits at Frenchy's Field to the wastewater treatment plant west of NM 599, and the full joint City and County greenway is about 15 miles. The San Isidro Crossing trailhead has parking, and a trail runs 0.7 mile along the river to Agua Fria Park.
Distance: About 8 miles in the County's portion, from Frenchy's Field to the wastewater treatment plant west of NM599; about 15 miles for the full greenway; start: San Isidro Crossing trailhead, with parking.
eBike access: The County says motorized vehicles like ATVs and motorcycles are not allowed on the trail and does not name eBikes, so check posted signs before you ride. Etiquette and planning: A river restoration project has been completed along the 0.7 mile stretch between the San Isidro Crossing parking area and Agua Fria Park. Managing source: Santa Fe County Open Space, Trails, and Parks, Properties & Trails.
5. Cerrillos Hills State Park
A 1,098-acre park owned by Santa Fe County and managed by New Mexico State Parks, about 25 miles south of Santa Fe on Highway 14. It has five miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The trailhead has restrooms, an informational kiosk and horse trailer parking.
Distance: 5 miles of trails; start: the trailhead, which has restrooms, an informational kiosk and horse trailer parking; the visitor center is at 37 Main Street, Cerrillos, NM 87010.
eBike access: The State Parks page lists mountain biking but does not address eBikes, so call the park at 505-474-0196 or check posted signs before you ride. Etiquette and planning: The visitor center is open 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, and a day-use pass is linked from the State Parks page. Managing source: New Mexico State Parks (EMNRD), Cerrillos Hills State Park.
Planning a Santa Fe County ride
Start at the Railyard for a paved first stretch, and turn around when your battery shows half used, since the dirt south of town is slower.
Call the City about the Dale Ball Trails before loading singletrack, and carry a map.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day: Ride the Rail Trail from Railyard Park toward the I-25 overpass and back.
Full day: Drive to the Cerro Alto Trailhead in Lamy and ride a County section with a charged spare battery.
What not to ride
Unconfirmed trails: Do not assume an eBike is welcome on any foothill trail that does not name eBikes, because the City or the Forest Service can restrict it.
Rail Trail past the last built segment: One major segment toward the Lamy Train Station was still open work in April 2026.
When to ride Santa Fe County
Fall is a good window around Santa Fe, with cooler air than midsummer, but check land-manager closures first.
Shop hubs
The directory lists one town, Santa Fe. Everything you need to call or visit is on the town page.
Rental and tour operators
Rental listings follow. Ask each one whether it has electric bikes and what its return times are.
Sirius Cycles🚲 Rentals
New Mexico eBike rules snapshot
New Mexico sorts eBikes into three classes in NMSA § 66-1-4.5. An electric-assisted bicycle has two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts. A Class 1 motor assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 miles an hour. A Class 2 motor can assist whether or not you pedal and also stops at 20 miles an hour. A Class 3 motor assists only while you pedal and stops at 28 miles an hour. A two- or three-wheel electric vehicle that does not fit the definition and can exceed 20 miles an hour on motor power alone is an "electric mobility device" and counts as a motor vehicle. Electric-assisted bicycles are left out of the motor vehicle definition in § 66-1-4.11 and exempt from registration and title under § 66-3-1.
The path rule is § 66-3-709, in force since July 1, 2023. You may ride a Class 1 on a bicycle or pedestrian path where bicycles are allowed, unless the city or county prohibits it. You may not ride a Class 2 or Class 3 on a bicycle or pedestrian path unless the path is within a street or highway or the local government permits it. Nobody under 16 may operate a Class 3 on a street, highway, or path, though a younger rider may be a passenger on a Class 3 built for one. The section does not apply to a trail designated non-motorized with a natural dirt surface, and the city, county, or state agency in charge may regulate eBikes there. The bill as first introduced would have let Class 2 onto paths too, and some guides still say so; the enrolled law we cite does not. Under § 66-3-708 a new eBike must carry a permanent label showing its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage, a Class 2 motor must cut out when the brakes are applied, Class 1 and 3 motors must cut out when you stop pedaling, and a Class 3 needs a speedometer.
On the road, riders keep as near the right side as practicable and ride no more than two abreast (§ 66-3-705), and at night need a white front light visible 500 feet, a red rear reflector, a bell or other signal audible 100 feet, and a brake that can skid the wheel (§ 66-3-707). Under the Child Helmet Safety Act (§ 32A-24-3), a parent or guardian may not knowingly let a minor under 18 ride or be a passenger on a bicycle, which the act defines to include an electric-assisted bicycle, without a well-fitted helmet; the civil penalty is up to $10. We found no adult helmet rule, no eBike driver's license, and no insurance requirement. A 2025 law, Laws 2025, chapter 22, lets a person riding a bicycle roll through a stop or yield sign when no pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle has the right of way. The Motor Vehicle Code defines a bicycle as human-powered, and the act does not say whether an eBike qualifies, so stop at signs. Cities, counties, parks, and land managers add their own rules. Read our New Mexico eBike laws guide, then check the sign at the trailhead.
New Mexico State Parks publishes its rules at 19.5.2 NMAC. The text we read does not mention bicycles or eBikes, so ask the park before riding a state park trail.
Federal land follows different rules. The Forest Service manages eBikes as motor vehicles under its travel rules: all three classes are allowed on motorized trails and roads, and a non-motorized trail opens to eBikes only if the local forest designates it. The Bureau of Land Management allows eBikes on roads and trails open to motorized use and lets a field office open non-motorized trails to them. National parks decide for themselves. Look up the specific unit before you load the bike.
The City's Ordinance 2023-4 treats Class 1, 2 and 3 eBikes with motors up to 750 watts as bicycles and not motor vehicles, bars anyone under 16 from operating a Class 3, sets a 10 mph speed limit on sidewalks where bikes are allowed there, makes it an offense to modify an eBike's speed, and allows a fine of up to $100.
The County's code section 92.04(H) lets eBikes use County open space, trails and parks where conventional bikes are allowed, caps speed at 15 mph unless posted, requires UL 2849 or UL 2271 certification, and asks riders to yield to pedestrians. Regional trails, including the Santa Fe River, Arroyo Hondo and Rail Trails, are open 24 hours, and other County areas are open dawn to dusk.
The Bureau of Land Management's eBike page says offices can allow eBikes on non-motorized trails, so BLM land near Santa Fe can differ from city and county land.
Frequently asked questions
What speed limit applies to eBikes on Santa Fe County trails?
15 mph unless a different limit is posted.
Can under-16 riders use a Class 3 eBike in Santa Fe?
No. The City ordinance and state law both bar operating a Class 3 under age 16.
Does the Rail Trail connect to Lamy?
Most of it does, but one major segment toward the Lamy Train Station was still unfinished in April 2026.
Why do two sources give different Rail Trail lengths?
The County says 15.7 miles and the Conservation Trust says about 15, and neither explains the difference.
Which Santa Fe rental says it offers electric bikes?
Routes Santa Fe states that it rents electric bikes in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Are the trails open at night?
County regional trails, including the Rail Trail, are open 24 hours, while other County areas are open dawn to dusk.
Does New Mexico have an eBike helmet law?
Yes for minors, no for adults in the sections we read. Section 32A-24-3 bars a parent or guardian from knowingly letting a minor ride or be carried on an eBike without a well-fitted helmet. A first offense can end in a warning or proof that a helmet was bought. See the New Mexico eBike laws guide.
Does a New Mexico eBike have to carry a label?
Yes, a new bike must. Under § 66-3-708 the maker or distributor must permanently label each new eBike with its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage, and nobody may knowingly change the speed or motor engagement without replacing the label.
All shops in Santa Fe County
For the whole set of 13 listings in 1 city, go to the Santa Fe County eBike shops page.