Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail

05/27/2026

The Friends would like to express our appreciation to our Treasurer for the past seven years, Doug Cook, as he steps away from this role. However, don’t be surprised if you see Doug leading a group of birders at various hotspots around our county, including the Betsie Valley Trail. He is the longtime President of the Benzie Audubon Society.

05/26/2026

The Friends gathered today for our annual planning meeting. We also took the opportunity to honor Charlie Gregory for his seven years of service as the trail care coordinator and on the Friends board. We were also treated to a wonderful tribute poem to Charlie by his successor, Stephanie Kennedy (see poem image). The group has reestablished our priorities for this season and beyond, and as you can see by the joy on all the faces (even after a three hour meeting), we are excited about realizing our vision for the trail in both the short and long-term. Please consider supporting our efforts by donating through our website or volunteering.

05/23/2026

From a trail user: "My truck (Ford) keys bounced out of my bag this morning on the trail somewhere between Beulah and the bridge over the Betsie River, near Thompsonville." If found, please email [email protected]

05/22/2026

Looks like fun! We ❤️ BVT trail sponsor and supporter of so many great, local things Stormcloud Brewing Company! Thank you!

05/21/2026

IMPORTANT! We expect a big increase in folks using the trail this holiday weekend, so it’s a good time to keep some important things in mind…

Please be courteous and patient with others. The trail is for EVERYONE to enjoy in their own way. Families sometimes lose track of youngsters and folks aren’t always keeping a tight leash on pets, so please be careful, announce when passing, and have fun!

Also, the 1 ½ mile special use section of the trail along Crystal Lake from Beulah to Mollineaux Rd. has special rules that are posted, including a lower speed limit (10 MPH) vs. the rest of the trail (15 MPH) and no pets allowed (except service animals are permitted). Pets are permitted on the remainder of the trail as long as they are leashed and under control.

Please report serious trail violations to the DNR 24-hour tip line (800) 792-292-7800 (voice or text). For emergencies, dial 9-1-1. For trail condition issues, such as a fallen tree, email the trail care coordinator at [email protected].

05/20/2026

We ❤️ trail sponsor Coastline Cycles! It’s time to get your bikes tuned up! 🚴‍♀️

05/13/2026

This Saturday! 🎣🥃 We ❤️ trail sponsor Iron Fish Distillery!

05/04/2026

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing SueFi Photography! Share your trail pics or send to [email protected]

05/02/2026

9ish today Saturday May 2nd Beulah Park/Crystal Ave! Bring a rake!😊

04/30/2026

Betsie Valley Trail on Saturday! 🦅👀

May is a BIG month for birding. We hope you'll join us on one or more of our upcoming field trips. Interested in what else we have going on? Visit our website to see a complete list of 2026 events and to learn about becoming a club member. www.BenzieAudubon.org