Hop On E-bikes To Explore Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater And Scenic Thurston County With Ease
If you have been thinking about bicycling around Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and scenic Thurston County but aren’t sure if you have the stamina, consider hopping on an e-bike.
*Article by Nancy Krier, originally published on ThurstonTalk.com July 7, 2024
Electric-assisted bikes give riders a battery-powered boost to keep them going if needed. And that option is particularly exciting for mature riders or those with physical challenges who want to continue bicycling outdoors.
“If the one obstacle they are facing is that hill, or it’s too far to get to the trail, that’s where e-bikes overcome that,” says Alan Paxton, manager of Trek Bicycle Olympia West. He notes that mature riders who want to keep bicycling as they age are his most frequent customers. Cam Sloan, owner of Big Stump Bikes that is opening in July 2024 in West Olympia, agrees that older riders are a target customer of today’s bike shops. “If you want to do a longer ride, but the effort isn’t fun anymore, e-bikes offer the opportunity to do that,” Cam says.
![A man stands in front of a large collection of e-bikes at Trek Bicycle in Olympia.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/02-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Alan-Paxton-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=bf77c9f3aa0a13ef4ce84803eade3a10 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/02-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Alan-Paxton-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9b0d9928c9a674724c9bd12409597f5b 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/02-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Alan-Paxton-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=482fd3daaeeb88bc69cc9bbe3f7e8f78 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/02-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Alan-Paxton-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=329067a75a8ed9cf2cff9050b199a154 1024w)
An Overview of E-Bike Basics Before You Head Out
While much about riding e-bikes is the same as for regular bikes, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Select Your E-Bike. E-bikes are designated as class 1, 2 or 3 depending upon their battery assistance and speed levels. In selecting an e-bike, Alan says it’s important to know how you will use it and where you will ride. Are you planning to ride on flat streets, go up and down mountain trails, commute daily to work, or a hybrid of these activities? He says shop around to get the right e-bike. “You get what you pay for,” Alan adds. Want to try one out? Ask a bicycle dealer if you can take a test ride. Or, rent an e-bike at the Swantown Inn in Olympia.
- Be Safe. Alan says helmets are important safety tools for e-bikers, just like with regular bicyclists. E-bike riders must obey all traffic laws, signals and signs. Other safety rules for biking in Thurston County are listed here.
- Check Routes. Generally, all e-bike classes are allowed on paved public roads and streets where bicycles are permitted, although jurisdictions can adopt restrictions. The Thurston Regional Planning Council provides bicyclists an online route planning map and a GPS/location mobile map. Not all e-bikes are allowed on all trails. Watch for restrictions especially if routes are designated as non-motorized trails and have a natural surface. For example, only specific e-bike trails are approved by the Department of Natural Resources in the Capitol State Forest North Slope.
![A picture taken at Percival Landing at the Port of Olympia with sailboat masts and the Capitol Building in the background.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/03-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-Percival-Landing-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d0de2f0b227b42c0e23df7c417c4aaf3 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/03-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-Percival-Landing-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5238ae8c02dc38691420075a634617fe 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/03-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-Percival-Landing-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e7b98253116baeaaf829dff54a8232c7 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/03-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-Percival-Landing-1024x768.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=bce6a4a873989a0d292124e4430f17ed 1024w)
Points of Interest in Planning Your E-Bike Rides in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County
Now that you are on your way, here are several points of interest to consider in planning your local e-bike routes.
- Urban Areas. The urban areas in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and throughout Thurston County are rich in popular destinations that can be accessed by e-biking on paved streets and roads. The Thurston Regional Planning Council’s Urban Area Map lays out streets leading to the Washington State Capitol Campus, Capitol Lake, downtown Olympia and its National Historic District, the Olympia Farmers Market, Percival Landing, Hands On Children’s Museum, Squaxin Park (formerly Priest Point Park), Wonderwood Park, Rainier Vista Community Park, Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls (formerly Tumwater Falls Park), to name just a few. The map includes colored route indicators that show bike lanes and bicycle streets, one-way streets, bicycle and repair shops, restrooms and other helpful information for riders.
- Outside Urban Areas. If you want to get just outside of urban areas, the map also points to trails like the 20.8 mile asphalt Chehalis Western Trail, a popular route with class 1 e-bike riders. TrailLink describes that, “From the Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) on Puget Sound, the trail passes through forests, farms, and pastures, as well as the suburban community of Lacey, as it heads south into the hills overlooking the scenic Deschutes River valley to its intersection with the Yelm-Tenino Trail.” Near this trail’s Yelm-Tenino Trail juncture, travelers pass through the Monarch Sculpture Park.
Tumwater retirees Jay and Lori Barney own class 1 e-bikes and say the Chehalis Western Trail is their favorite route. They opt to use the trail rather than busier roads near their home, although they are planning future local excursions on city streets.
![A person on an e-bike rides through the forested trails along Capitol State Forest's northern slope.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/04-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-State-Forest-1024x683.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=289d2088bbc48405cfffb0b5051e40cd 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/04-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-State-Forest-1024x683.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9af43068ec76d79a7d1da3c87911a2c1 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/04-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-State-Forest-1024x683.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=c5198adb31998f8066cff33d12dd69b2 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/04-Olympia-E-Bikes-Overview-Points-of-Interest-Capitol-State-Forest-1024x683.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=1883ca2d39e2037645b46bdfcca2c262 1024w)
You Will Love E-Biking in Thurston County
Jay and Lori love riding their e-bikes, and they say you will, too. “Anybody that wants to can do it,” says Jay. They add that these bikes keep them healthy and active. “It makes getting out and doing things easier,” says Lori.
More Biking and Outdoor Adventures Await
Related Content:
Swantown Inn eBike Rentals
1431 11th Ave. SE Olympia, Washington 8501
Capitol State Forest
PO Box 7338 Olympia, Washington 98507
State Capitol
416 Sid Snyder Ave SW Olympia, Washington 98501
Marathon Park at Capitol Lake
1011 Deschutes Pkwy SW Olympia, Washington 98501 (360) 407-2200
Olympia Farmers Market
700 Capitol Way N Olympia, Washington 98501 (360) 352-9096
Percival Landing
405 Columbia St NW Olympia, Washington 98501 (360) 753-8380
Hands On Children’s Museum
414 Jefferson Street NE Olympia, Washington 98501 (360) 956-0818
Squaxin Park
2600 East Bay Drive NE Olympia, Washington 98501
Wonderwood Park
5304 32nd Avenue SE Lacey, Washington 98503
Rainier Vista Community Park
5475 45th Ave SE Lacey, Washington 98503
Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls
110 Deschutes Pkwy SW Tumwater, Washington 98501 (360) 943-2550
Monarch Sculpture Park
8431 Waldrick Rd SE Tenino, Washington 98589 (360) 264-2408