Top 5 biking destinations to celebrate summer

Views such as these welcome cyclists in Ludington State Park in Mason County. (File photo)

ROBERT MYERS VENTURE STAFF WRITER

For those looking to enjoy summer on a bicycle, there are many exciting opportunities to be found in Benzie, Manistee and Mason counties. The following are some of the most popular cycling destinations:

Betsie Valley Trail

First created in 1999 along the old Ann Arbor Railroad track, the Betsie Valley trail stretches 22 miles across Benzie County. It begins at Lake Michigan in Frankfort and then passes through Elberta and Beulah before ending in Thompsonville. This trail, managed by the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail and the Betsie Valley Trail Management Council, is a flat multi-use trail, making it perfect for all levels of riders. The six-mile section of the trail from Frankfort to Mollineaux Road, which provides scenic views of Betsie Bay and the Betsie River, is all paved. The next three miles from Mollineaux Road until Beulah is made of a fine limestone, most suited for mountain bikes, as the trail travels along the shores of Crystal Lake. From Beulah to Thompsonville, the remaining 13 miles of trail has an aggregate trail surface, which is hard enough for road bikes.

Dry Hills Trail Loop

Those looking for a fun mountain bike adventure might want to check out the Dry Hills Trail Loop. The roller-coaster type trail follows the wooded glacial moraine for an 11-mile loop through the Arcadia Dunes: C.S Mott Nature preserve in southern Benzie County, just north of Arcadia in Manistee County. Mountain bikers will have to keep an eye out for runners and hikers who also use the narrow trail on occasion, but the trail is sure to challenge and excite.

Big M Trail

Located in southern Manistee County as part of the Big M Recreation Area, the Big M Trail offers another great opportunity for mountain biking. This trail covers 16.9 miles and sees an elevation change of more than 1,000 feet over the course of the loop, but spread of the course of the well-groomed trail, this elevation change rates only moderate for most cyclists. Outside of the main loop, there are also many other trails to try. This area is popular with bicyclists and hikers.

Ludington State Park

For a biking adventure that takes you to Lake Michigan, consider Ludington State Park. The state park is home to four miles of biking trails, but for those willing to ride along the side of the road, State Highway 116 provides a scenic ride through rolling sand dunes with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. A ride from downtown Ludington to the state park’s headquarters is about seven miles one-way.

M-22

This is a road not a trail, but each year, countless cycles enjoy riding along the scenic M-22 highway from Onekama on north through Benzie County and into Leelanau County as they take in the views and small towns along the way.

The Elberta portion of the Betsie Valley Trail is especially scenic as it passes Betsie Bay in Benzie County. (File photo)

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