Betsie Valley Trail

The Betsie Valley Trail is an easy ride or walk for families and casual cyclists: a rail trail that starts on the Frankfort waterfront and heads inland along Betsie Bay, the Betsie River and the shore of Crystal Lake. It is 22 miles long and follows the old Ann Arbor Railroad bed, with restrooms at the Frankfort, River Road and Beulah trailheads.

For a relaxed ride, stay on the paved west end. The asphalt runs from Frankfort past Elberta and the river to Crystal Lake, with bird-watching along the marshes. The Crystal Lake stretch also gives you beach access, but about 2 miles of it crosses private land on a narrow easement, so keep to the trail. That stretch, between Mollineaux Road and Beulah, has its own rules: bikes under 10 mph, no bikes after sunset, and no pets, so leave the dog for the leash-friendly sections elsewhere on the trail.

Past Beulah the trail changes character. After the first mile the surface is aggregate, and it runs through the Pere Marquette State Forest toward Thompsonville. A wider tire helps here.

In winter people ski and snowshoe the trail, but it is not groomed. From Dec. 1 to March 31 the section from Beulah east is open to snowmobiles, so stay alert there.

The trail is listed at 22 miles, though maps differ on whether it ends at Thompsonville or at Mesick. Check for closures before a long ride.