In Motion: TAKE THE LONG WAY

August 15, 2022

BIKE THESE<br>3 NATIONAL PARKS

BIKE THESE
3 NATIONAL PARKS

CHECK OUT THESE CERTIFIED E-BIKE-FRIENDLY TRAILS WITHIN AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS.


The beauty of e-bikes is that you aren’t contained to just commuting. While you can zip around city streets on your SWFT, there’s a lot more freedom that comes with those motorized two wheels. And though in 2021, legislation was pushed to make all trails e-bike permitted, it still comes down to restrictions on a park by park basis. Since it’s about to be the season of road trips, day trips and camping trips, get out there and take the scenic route!

FOR THE OFF-ROADER: GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WY

FOR THE OFF-ROADER: GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WY

Grand Teton National Park is one of the national parks to classify e-bikes as regular bicycles rather than a motorized vehicle, allowing e-bikes on just about all trails, including multi-use pathways. It also provides some breathtaking views thanks to its gorgeous mountains. Thanks to its lax regulations on e-bikes, it also boasts the most e-bike-accessible trails in the nation! Avoid backcountry areas; those are closed off to bikes of all kinds to preserve wildlife.

One of the most popular multi-use paved paths in the park starts at Moose Junction and leads to Jenny Lake, about an 8-mile ride. It is a relatively easy ride, except for one major hill with a bit of an incline. However, riders can use the Windy River pullout to hop off the main route and bike a flatter route to Jenny Lake. The full trek, though, is filled with gorgeous mountain views and plenty of off-main trails for more in-woods biking.

Moose Junction is one of the best areas to begin your Grand Teton bike journey, as it is itself a small town with a bike rental shop, so you are assured of easy access by e-bike. Look for the trail access that heads to Jenny Lake right by Dornan’s Adventure Sports Bike Shop - it’s impossible to miss.

“IT IS BY RIDING A BICYCLE THAT YOU LEARN THE CONTOURS OF A COUNTRY BEST”

Ernest Hemingway

FOR THE COASTAL CRUISER: PEBBLE BEACH, CA & PCH’S 17-MILE DRIVE

FOR THE COASTAL CRUISER: PEBBLE BEACH, CA & PCH’S 17-MILE DRIVE

California is notably welcoming to e-bikes, having little to no trails that off-limits to e-bikes. With so many lovely coastal views to explore, one of the longest and best treks is the famed 17-mile drive, taking riders from Pacific Grove to Carmel by the Sea. While cars need to pay a fee, bikes and e-bikes are free to enter the trail at any of the gates!

Open between sunrise and sunset, this bike trail provides beautiful scenery and clear views of the ocean and beaches. Notable sights include Lovers Point, a beach outcropping with some impressive rock formations and photogenic picnic spots. Stop by the Point Pinos Lighthouse, the west coast’s oldest operating lighthouse, Spanish Bay, a long and calm stretch of beach, and the famed Cypress Point Lookout, that is home to Pebble Beach’s 250-year-old tree.

The 17-Mile Drive combines the best in outdoor sightseeing with the best in elevated experiences, featuring a number of restaurants along the route. Whenever hunger strikes, you can make a quick detour to any of the surrounding restaurants and then hop back on your journey in no time.

FOR THE CITY-ADJACENT ENTHUSIAST: EVERGLADES, FL

FOR THE CITY-ADJACENT ENTHUSIAST: EVERGLADES, FL

An hour outside of Miami, Everglades National Park is one of the closest national parks to a major city, making it a super accessible day trip. Inside the park, there are five biking trails, all of which are fully accessible to Class 1 e-bikes: Shark Valley Tram Road, Snake Bight Trail, Rowdy Bend Trail, Long Pine Key Nature Trail, and the L-67 Canal Road. Speeds must be kept at no more than 10 mph, there is so much to see and experience, you won’t want to race through it all!

Because the trails are pretty much all flat, they are a great option for riders of any level. Unlike most other national parks and bike trails, the Everglades stays sunny and warm, so you can even take winter treks when other bike trails across the country are snowed in.

If you want a trail that’s a little off the main road, take the Long Pine Key Nature Trail, as it is one of the few off-road trails in the park. With a total length of around six miles one-way, you can see some car-free sights and have the freedom to turn back at any point.

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