Northwest Michigan Bike Trails

Betsie Valley Trail

The Betsie Valley Trail is 22 miles long and extends from Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah to Thompsonville in Benzie County Michigan (see map and trail description on Trail Tour page). From Frankfort to Beulah it is non-motorized. All of it is excellent for bicycles and pedestrian use. The 6 miles from Frankfort to Mollineaux Rd. is asphalt and is good for roller blading. From Beulah to Thompsonville (13 miles) the compacted aggregate trail is open to snowmobiles from December through March.

The trail is owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and is operated and maintained by Benzie County. The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail (FBVT) is a Michigan not for profit corporation formed in 1993 "to advocate, promote and encourage the development and successful operation of a recreational trail on the former Ann Arbor Railroad corridor in Benzie County." FBVT is a benevolent friend of the trail. It supports the efforts of the DNR and County and intends to see that the trail is built, maintained and enjoyed.

TART

The 10.5 mile long TART Trail is a paved urban transportation corridor with an eastern end point at M-72 (Bates Road) in Acme Township and a western end point at the M-22/M-72 intersection in Traverse City.

The eastern trail section from M-72 to Lautner Road is 2 miles, then the trail leapfrogs to Bunker Hill Road and continues for 8.4 miles into Traverse City. At its western end point the TART trail connects to the Leelanau Trail, which runs north to Suttons Bay.

The TART Trail's route gives users views of both West and East Grand Traverse Bays, through Traverse City neighborhoods and the Mitchell Creek watershed. Locals and visitors alike are found enjoying the TART, including families, bicyclists, dog walkers, parents pushing strollers and in-line skaters.