HIGH NOTES

Experience the Beauty

“Experience the Beauty” is the slogan of the Betsie Valley Trail.

The trail is built on the former Ann Arbor Railroad bed. From 1892 until 1982, freight cars were carried across Lake Michigan on car ferries to Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Passenger service was discontinued in 1951 and freight service in 1985, allowing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to buy the rail corridor in the ’90s.

The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail (FBVT) is a nonprofit organization that advocates, promotes, and encourages the development and operation of the trail. Benzie County and the FBVT have been working with the DNR since 1993 to build the trail, celebrating its 30th year in 2023 of collaborating to create a better, healthier, and more connected community.

The 22-mile trek, which extends from Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah to Thompsonville in Benzie County, is one of the most inviting trails in northern Michigan for cyclists and pedestrians. Bicycles may be rented in Frankfort, Elberta, Beulah, and Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville.

The start of the trail allows for beautiful views over Betsie Lake and its marshland. As you travel six miles to Crystal Lake, catch periodic views of the Betsie River. On the three miles through Crystal Lake to Beulah, you’ll be pedaling next to the lake water the entire way.

Don’t worry about getting a rest break in: Frankfort, Elberta, Beulah, and Thompsonville have accommodations, restaurants, and camping. (Check out Dunegrass.co to help you find some of these hot spots in our location guide.) Visit the Beulah Trailhead and Visitor Center, for information on local restaurants and delis. Beulah also has a beautiful public beach on Crystal Lake.

Head to the trail website betsievalleytrail.org where you can learn more and help us fund the paving for the last twelve miles of the trail. The trail tour will help you understand more complex trail segments, like the remote portions that travel through Pere Marquette State Forest. You’ll also learn which parts of the trail are paved and where you can expect inclines and bridges.

Pro tip: Bring your binoculars along for the ride. Thanks to the marshlands and untouched natural areas near the trail, you’ll be in a prime spot for springtime birding!