Things To Do on an eBike in Fall River County
Fall River County gives an eBike rider three kinds of riding: a short town trail, a paved reservoir trail, and the south end of a famous rail trail.
Contact details for the shop are on the eBike shops in Hot Springs page. Ride rules differ by land manager, and the Mickelson Trail rule is stricter than the state path rule.
Where to ride in Fall River County
The documented riding in Fall River County is the Freedom Trail in Hot Springs, Angostura Recreation Area, Wind Cave National Park roads, and the southern end of the Mickelson Trail.
Riding in Fall River County, South Dakota.
Fall River County rides are short or one-way, so plan the return leg before you leave.
1. Freedom Trail, Hot Springs
A multi-use paved trail along the Fall River that connects four park areas, passing Brookside and Centennial Park near the historic downtown shops.
Distance: About 1 mile; start: Centennial Park or Brookside, Hot Springs; surface: Paved.
eBike access: We found no Hot Springs ordinance on eBikes, so the state path rule applies. Etiquette and planning: Visit Hot Springs says the trail is mile-long, and no other source gives its length. Managing source: Visit Hot Springs.
2. Reservoir View Bike Trail, Angostura
A paved trail at Angostura Recreation Area on the reservoir, rated moderate with hilly terrain. Trailheads are the north entrance at the ski beach and the south entrance at Hat Creek campground.
Distance: 3.2 miles one way; start: North entrance at the ski beach, or south entrance at Hat Creek campground; surface: Asphalt.
eBike access: A park entrance license is required, and the guide does not discuss eBikes. Etiquette and planning: The state guide is dated November 2013, so check conditions with the park. Managing source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Angostura trail guide.
3. Wind Cave National Park roads
The park allows eBikes where traditional bicycles are allowed, which means established roads. US 385 has wide shoulders, Highway 87 is winding and narrow, and NPS 5 and 6 are gravel.
Distance: Not published by the managing source; start: Wind Cave National Park, off US 385 and Highway 87; surface: Paved highways and gravel backcountry roads.
eBike access: The park bars using the motor alone for an extended period without pedaling, except where motor vehicles are allowed. Etiquette and planning: Highway 87 has no shoulder, so ride early or in the shoulder season. Managing source: National Park Service, Bike Wind Cave.
4. Mickelson Trail, Edgemont end
The southern end of the 109-mile rail trail to Deadwood. South Dakota law allows only Class I eBikes on this trail, and a trail pass is required for riders 12 and older.
Distance: 109 miles end to end; start: Edgemont trailhead, mile 0; surface: Crushed limestone.
eBike access: Only Class I eBikes are allowed, under SDCL 41-17-27 as amended in 2025. Etiquette and planning: The pass is $5 per day or $20 per year. Managing source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Mickelson Trail.
Planning a Fall River County ride
Ride the Freedom Trail for an easy town outing, and save Angostura or the Mickelson Trail for a longer day.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day: Ride the Freedom Trail in Hot Springs and visit Centennial Park.
Full day: Ride Angostura's Reservoir View trail out and back, which totals about 6.4 miles.
What not to ride
Class II and III on the Mickelson Trail: Only Class I eBikes may ride the Mickelson Trail, so a throttle or Class III bike is not permitted there.
Wind Cave trails: The park allows eBikes only where traditional bicycles are allowed, which means established roads.
When to ride Fall River County
Summer afternoons can run hot, so a morning start in Fall River is the comfortable choice, and spring and fall open longer windows.
Shop hubs
The directory lists one town, Hot Springs. Click through to the town page for addresses and phone numbers.
Rental and tour operators
No rental or tour operator appears in this county's directory. Renting is not listed, so ask the business at the Fall River County eBike shops page what is possible.
South Dakota eBike rules snapshot
South Dakota sorts eBikes into three classes in SDCL § 32-20B-9. An electric bicycle is a bicycle or tricycle with a seat or saddle, operable pedals for propulsion, and an electric motor of 750 watts or less. A Class I motor assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 miles an hour. A Class II motor can propel the bike without pedaling and also stops at 20. A Class III motor assists only while you pedal and stops at 28. Since 2020, § 32-20B-10 has required a permanent label showing class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Section 32-20B-11 says the motor must disengage when you stop pedaling or apply the brakes, wording that sits awkwardly beside the Class II definition. An electric bicycle is left out of the moped, motorcycle, and off-road vehicle definitions in § 32-20-1.
The path rule is § 32-20B-12. Unless the governmental entity in charge says otherwise, you may ride a Class I or Class II on any bicycle path or multi-use path. A Class III is barred from those paths unless the path is within or next to a roadway or the entity expressly permits it, though a Class III may use a natural-surface trail designated non-motorized if the entity has not restricted it. The George S. Mickelson Trail is stricter. A 2025 law, Chapter 178, amended § 41-17-27 so that only a Class I eBike may use the trail; Class II and Class III are not exempted, and a violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Under § 32-20B-13, a Class III operator must be at least 16, though a younger child may ride as a passenger on a Class III built for one. A Class III also needs a working speedometer.
A helmet is required only on a Class III, for operators under 18 and for every passenger of any age (§ 32-20B-14). We found no statewide helmet rule for Class I or II, no eBike driver license, no registration, and no insurance requirement. On the road, a rider going slower than traffic keeps as close as practicable to the right edge (§ 32-20B-5), and a rider on a sidewalk has a pedestrian's duties and must yield and signal before passing. Cities, state parks, and federal land add their own rules. Read our South Dakota eBike laws guide, then check the sign at the trailhead.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks manages the Mickelson Trail and Custer State Park trails, and its Mickelson Trail policy page lists electric wheelchairs and Class 1 eBikes as the motorized exceptions. State park pages we read for other areas do not mention 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. National parks decide for themselves. Look up the specific unit before you load the bike.
Sources differ on the Mickelson Trail's length. Visit Hot Springs gives 108.8 miles of main route plus about nine miles of branch trails, and Game, Fish and Parks gives 109 miles.
Frequently asked questions
Are eBikes allowed in Wind Cave National Park?
Yes, where traditional bicycles are allowed. The park says bikes and eBikes are permitted only on established roads.
Is Angostura's bike trail paved?
Yes, the state guide lists the Reservoir View trail as asphalt.
Do I need a fee for Angostura?
The guide says a park entrance license is required.
Where does the Mickelson Trail begin?
At the Edgemont trailhead, mile 0 at 3,454 feet.
Is there an eBike rental in Hot Springs?
The directory lists Hot Springs eWheels as an electric bicycle store, not a rental.
What does South Dakota law say about eBike helmets?
It covers Class III eBikes only. Section 32-20B-14 requires a properly fitted and fastened helmet for operators under 18 and all passengers, and the sections we read are silent on Class I and II. See the South Dakota eBike laws guide.
Is registration required for an eBike in South Dakota?
We found no registration requirement. A bike that meets § 32-20B-9, with pedals and a motor of 750 watts or less in one of the three classes, is excluded from the moped and motorcycle definitions in § 32-20-1.
All shops in Fall River County
All 1 listing across 1 city are laid out on the Fall River County eBike shops page.