The Trail has served the community and visitors well during this tumultuous year and even with the cold temps and falling snow, there’s still plenty to do on the Trail!
The paved segments of the Trail on the east end of Betsie Bay from 10th Street in Frankfort to the River Road crossing is being maintained by this winter by The Cottage Pros who are again graciously providing snow removal services. So get out and enjoy a nice walk or jog!
Other segments of the Trail are typically suitable for winter hiking, showshoeing, cross-country skiing, and fat tire bikes.
Email us your Trail pics! We want to see what fun you’re having on the Trial this winter and we’d like to share your pictures on our social media.
Partnership with Area Snowmobile Club
Most are unaware that snowmobiling is permitted on the Trail segment from Beulah to Thompsonville. However, clearing, preparing, and maintaining this segment of the Trail for winter use is no small task and we are most appreciative of the partnership we’ve had with the Benzie Manistee Snowbirds, a local snowmobile club founded over 50 years ago.
Since their inception, the Snowbirds have worked to develop recreational trail systems in Leelanau, Benzie and Manistee Counties. Their partnership with the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail has been a successful one from both perspectives. Besides taking care of the Trail in winter, the club has helped to put in gates and signage, and together we had the bridge built over the Betsie River in Thompsonville to access that community.
The club has also been a great supporter of the plans we are working on now for the possible creation of a year-round spur connecting directly to Crystal Mountain Resort and also extending the Trail from Thompsonville into Manistee County toward both Cadillac and Manistee.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Benzie Manistee Snowbirds Club and how to become a member visit the contact page on their website. (Please note: not all the images below provided by the Snowbirds were taken on the BVT.)
Trail conditions after a snow storm
Clearing the Trail
Grooming the Trail
Snowmobile riders taking a break along the Trail