Fundraising

Expanding access to those with mobility challenges is an immediate need and today the Friends are launching the Trail Access Accessibility Project! We’re always working towards increasing the use of the trail for everyone of all ages and abilities. We work with the Michigan DNR to keep the trail beautiful… Read More »

Our third annual Brew-to-Brew Trail Day was a big success! Thank you to our event sponsors and everyone who participated! It was a lot of fun! Check out the recap video: 

During our planning meeting this past spring, the Friends decided to prioritize and address the degradation of the Trail along Crystal Lake, specifically, the section between County Farm and Mollineaux Roads. At the time, we did not anticipate the rash of accidents, including some needing medical treatment, that would occur… Read More »

On what turned out to be a beautiful day to be out on the trail, 141 participants in this year’s Brew-to-Brew Trail Day helped the Friends easily surpassed their fundraising goal for the event. With the generous participation again this year from Stormcloud Brewing Company and Five Shores Brewing, registrants… Read More »

The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail have installed internet service at the Beulah Trailhead and Visitor Center building. The group is pleased to announce the public can now use the high-speed Wi-fi service free of charge while at the location. “With the new resurfacing project that’s going to start… Read More »

The Friends were excited to receive the news in October that our second try for a Michigan Spark Grant funded by American Rescue Plan Act was approved by the Michigan DNR. “We were quite happy with the news of the grant,” said Jim Gribble, Director of Marketing and Public Relations… Read More »

Since the opening of the Trail, the volunteers from the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail have been using personal vehicles and often their own tools to keep the Trail clear and beautiful for all to enjoy. Today, the group is announcing a giant leap forward in their ability to… Read More »

“Last summer, I heard someone say it was smart to put a brewery on either end of the Trail and it got me thinking,” commented Jim Gribble, Friends Marketing & PR Director, “we should do something to celebrate that! That’s where the idea of having the first Brew-to-Brew Trail Day… Read More »

Last November, the Friends announced our intent to raise the needed funds to pave the Trail from Beulah to Thompsonville. Since then, we’ve been working to identify potential funding sources for this big project. We’re looking at nearly $3 million to pave the 12-mile section. A Potential Game-Changer for Thompsonville… Read More »

The dedicated volunteer Trail Crew has long had a need for a storage facility along the trail. Currently, the Friends have several spread out, inconvenient, and costly storage sites, none of which are ideal for storage of motorized grooming equipment. Often, the Friends rely on volunteers to bring their own… Read More »