News

Is there a speed limit on the Trail? Are dogs allowed on the Trail? Are e-bikes permitted on the Trail? These are a few of the questions we often hear from trail users and we’ll address these below, but we feel it’s important, as the Friends of the Betsie Valley… Read More »

In January of 2020, we were awarded a $150,000 DNR Recreational Passport grant to resurface the BVT along Crystal Lake. The Friends raised the required $50,000 in matching funds, but due to several factors, the project was delayed until this year. Today, the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail are… Read More »

Most of us regular Betsie Valley Trail users are conditioned to stop and show extra caution when crossing M-115, but for visitors and the casual Trail user, the potential danger is not always readily apparent. That’s why the Friends decided to look into options that would help make this intersection… Read More »

In our last blog, Meet Our New Trail Care Coordinator, we introduced Charlie Gregory who is the new caretaker of the Betsie Valley Trail. Providing Charlie with the volunteers he needs to keep the Trail beautiful and to make new Trail enhancements is the role of our Volunteer Coordinator. Today,… Read More »

Last summer, when John Rothhaar let us know that 2020 would be his last year as Trail Care Coordinator, we knew it was going to be a difficult task to replace him. For the past four years, John has served tirelessly taking care of the Trail and serving on the… Read More »

Site preparation work has begun on a new, fully accessible site improvement to the Lewis Bridge overlook along the Betsie Valley Trail and Betsie River. Crews have already been out to the site and are beginning to clear the area for the landscaping work which will commence next spring. According… Read More »

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… Read More »

If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Tom Jackson walking along the Trail, don’t be surprised when you feel the boundless energy and joy that seems to radiate from him. “Thinking back over a decade to when I first started using the Trail on my bike,” Tom reflected through… Read More »

As an active cyclist in the community, Bryce Dreeszen had often ridden the Betsie Valley Trail with the Cherry Capital Cycling Club, so when the call came offering a spot on the Board of the Friends he eagerly accepted. That initial Board position in 2010 led to becoming Treasurer for… Read More »

“One day when we were doing some work on the trail,” explained John Rothhaar, Trail Care Coordinator, “I chatted with a couple of women who were rollerblading. They raved about how much they loved the trail, but also mentioned in passing how it was difficult to get from the River… Read More »