Map to Frankfort

The Betsie Valley Trail is built on the bed of the former Ann Arbor Railroad, which carried freight and passengers from Toledo through Ann Arbor, Owosso, Cadillac, Thompsonville and Beulah to Frankfort and Elberta. From 1892 until 1982 the freight cars were carried across Lake Michigan on car ferries to Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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Betsie Valley Trail

Trail sceneVery scenic, the Betsie Valley Trail is 22 miles long and extends from Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah to Thompsonville in Benzie County Michigan. From Frankfort to Beulah it is non-motorized. All of it is excellent for bicycles and pedestrian use. The 6 miles from Frankfort to Mollineaux Rd. is asphalt and is good for roller-blading. From Beulah to Thompsonville (13 miles) the compacted aggregate trail is open to snowmobiles from December through March.

The Trail starts in Cannon Park at the end of Main St. near the City of Frankfort's Lake Michigan beach. It shares 3 blocks of Waterfront St. along Betsie Bay, the only part of the trail to share a road, then passes through the City's waterfront parks to 10th St., where is officially becomes the DNR owned Betsie Valley Trail. From Cannon Park to Mollineaux Rd. (6.7 miles) the trail is asphalt and excellent for road bicycles, roller blades and wheel chairs. It crosses the Betsie River twice near Elberta with beautiful views over Betsie Lake and its marshland, then travels to Crystal Lake with periodic views of the Betsie River.