Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail

10/04/2026

Trail foliage update! Get out and enjoy! Thank you 📷 Julie Brewer! Send your pics to [email protected]

09/26/2026

Thanks for the reminders Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance!

09/24/2026

The repair work to the trail is now complete! The friends invested $40,572 in this project. We want to thank Elite Asphalt Repair for their awesome work. We are also most grateful to our many volunteers who spent hours at trail closure points keeping people safe away from the worksites. Thank you also to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for their support.

09/22/2026

Today, crews finished repair work up and around all the bridges. Tomorrow (Wednesday) they we will be working on sections between mile marker 3 & 2 from a little east of the campground to just west of it. A BIG THANK YOU to our volunteers who are taking shifts at the closure points, helping to keep everyone safe. Please observe the trail closures and we apologize for any inconvenience.

09/21/2026

Tomorrow (Tuesday) trail repairs will start where the trail is adjacent to M22 near Carlson Rd and crews will work towards the River Road crossing. The trail near the Elberta bridges will most definitely be out of use Tuesday. Please observe the trail closures and we apologize for any inconvenience.

09/21/2026

Elite Asphalt Repair are making repairs to the trail over the next couple days. Please observe the trail closures and sorry for any inconvenience.

09/20/2026

We are honored to be one of the finalists for a transformative grant from Impact 100 TC. Our vision is to create a world-class trail in Benzie County that connects healthy and active communities—and is accessible to all. And that last part—accessible to all—is what this project is about.

🌿 2026 GRANT FINALIST | ENVIRONMENT, PRESERVATION + RECREATION

The Betsie Valley Trail stretches 22 miles through some of Benzie County’s most beautiful landscapes but enjoying the trail should be possible for people of all abilities. Friends Of Betsie Valley Trail Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail is a 2026 Impact100 Traverse City Grant Finalist for its Trail Access Accessibility Project, designed to remove barriers at a key trailhead and create a more welcoming, independent way for people with mobility challenges to access the trail.

A $120,000 Impact100 TC grant would help transform the existing gravel trailhead with ADA-compliant van-accessible parking, a paved pathway connecting directly to the trail, improved parking surfaces and an accessible restroom.

The impact is especially meaningful for organizations like Joy-2-Ride Benzie, which uses adaptive cycles to give people with disabilities the opportunity to experience the trail. Today, accessibility at the trailhead itself remains a barrier. These improvements would make it easier for participants to arrive, unload and access the trail more independently.

Meet Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail and all five of our 2026 Grant Finalists 👉 https://www.impacttc.org/meet-the-2026-grant-finalists/

09/20/2026

Always great to see the locals competing at Ironman, especially one of our favorites ❤️ Awesome job Frederik!

09/20/2026

We are back on schedule for asphalt repairs on the paved section of the trail beginning Monday near 10th St. in Frankfort, extended to Elberta, with a couple of sections along the trail between Elberta and where the trail crosses River Road. Please be advised that these trail sections will be closed during the repairs.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS at each trail access point during the work to redirect trail users. We anticipate the work taking up to 4 days. If you’re available to volunteer on one of the days this week, please contact trail care coordinator Stephanie Kennedy at [email protected]

09/19/2026

Wonderful volunteers from the Friends are at the entrance to the Ironman village today until 2 o’clock. Stop by and say hi and learn more about the trail and the work we do to maintain it and make it accessible for all.