Things To Do on an eBike in Minnehaha County

Where to ride in Minnehaha County

Minnehaha County has one big documented ride, the Sioux Falls Recreation Trail, and a state park nearby for road riding.

Riding in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.

The Recreation Trail is paved and flat, follows the Big Sioux River, and is shared with roughly 550 daily users, so speed discipline matters more than power.

1. Greenway Recreation Main Trail Loop

A paved loop along the Big Sioux River that passes Falls Park, open fields and forested stretches, with 11 main park access points. The city counts it as part of a larger Recreation Trail system.

Distance: 19.13 miles for the loop; the system is over 45 miles by one city page and over 36 by another; start: Any of the 11 main park access points, including Falls Park; surface: Paved trail, usable in all four seasons.

eBike access: Class I and Class II eBikes are allowed at up to 15 mph, and Class III, electric scooters, one-wheels and pedal-less electric bikes are not. Etiquette and planning: The city reports about 550 daily users, so stay right, pass left with an audible signal and slow for walkers. Managing source: City of Sioux Falls, Recreation Trail Safety.

2. Falls Park and the Downtown River Greenway

Falls Park is one of the park access points on the loop and the city lists it, with the Downtown River Greenway, as staying open until midnight.

Distance: Not published as a separate distance; start: Falls Park, on the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls; surface: Paved trail.

eBike access: The same Class I and II rule applies, since the park is part of the city trail system. Etiquette and planning: Park hours differ from the rest of the trail, which closes at 10 p.m., so check the sign if you ride at night. Managing source: City of Sioux Falls, Recreation Trail.

3. Palisades State Park road riding

Palisades State Park has four hiking trails through Sioux quartzite cliffs, and the state lists biking only on park roads. It sits 10 miles north of Interstate 90 at the Brandon exit, number 406.

Distance: Not published by the managing source; start: Palisades State Park, 10 miles north of Brandon exit 406; surface: Park roads.

eBike access: The state page lists biking on park roads and hiking trails separately, and does not mention eBikes. Etiquette and planning: Stay on park roads and ask the park about eBikes before riding any trail. Managing source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Palisades State Park.

Planning a Minnehaha County ride

Start at Falls Park, ride the loop north or south, and turn back when your battery is half used. Dakota News Now noted in 2024 that the city's Parks and Recreation department emphasizes courtesy because the trail is a shared amenity.

Half-day and full-day eBike plans

What not to ride

Class III on the Recreation Trail: The city does not allow it.

Throttle-only or pedal-less electric bikes: The city lists electric pedal-less bikes as not allowed.

The trail after dark: The city says it is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

When to ride Minnehaha County

Check conditions with the land manager before a Minnehaha ride in the shoulder seasons, since snow and mud can linger on trails.

Shop hubs

The directory lists 2 towns in Minnehaha County. Pick a town to see contact details and claim links for its shops.

• eBike shops in Brandon (1)
• eBike shops in Sioux Falls (6)

Rental and tour operators

Rental listings follow. Check fleet, helmets, and return times by phone, since the card does not list them.

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.

Sioux Falls follows the state default on Class III and is more specific than most cities. SDCL 32-20B-12 already bars a Class III from multi-use paths unless the local government permits it, and the city's rule is its explicit no for the Recreation Trail. Class II came to the trail only on June 1, 2024, so older guides may still say it is banned.

Frequently asked questions

All shops in Minnehaha County

See every business, 7 listings in 2 cities, at the Minnehaha County eBike shops page.