Benzie County Michigan Trail Guide: For Hiking, Biking, Cross-country Skiing, and Snowshoeing

This guide provides a quick and easy reference to all of the official trails (and several ＂unofficial＂ ones) for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in Benzie County, Michigan. With the THIRTEENTH edition, this book now covers 33 trails, including the Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail. Explore year-round one of northwestern lower Michigan’s favorite counties!

All of the trails can be used for hiking, most can be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and several for mountain biking. The MichiganShore-to-Shore Trail is also used by horse riders. The Betsie Valley Trail is a former railroad with a long paved section that can also be used by road bikes and rollerblades. There are three paved township walking trails that can also be used for rollerblading. And four trails can also by used by Class 1 ebikes.

In the eleventh edition I added a list of ＂Very Easy Trails for Those with Limited Mobility＂ for those with limited walking capacity or mobility who seek easy, flat, wide, paved or crushed stone paths - there are several of those and some areas even have a dedicated U.A. (universally accessible) trail.

In addition to all the wonderful well-known water-based recreational opportunities in Benzie County, there are several lovely trails to explore, all via your choice of human-powered transportation. This guide is for anyone interested in experiencing even more of the outdoor splendor the county has to offer.

The trails explore along streams, rivers, and inland lakes, as well as Lake Michigan’s beaches, bluffs, and great views. They travel through woods, meadows, hills, valleys, wetlands, and dunes. Some pass through former farms and orchards or follow old railroads or logging trails. Four of the trails are in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. All encompass myriad plant and animal life and have something unique to offer.

Included in the guide is a road map of Benzie County showing trailhead locations. Many details are provided for each trail, including: URLs to each trail’s Web site and trail map; trail lengths, hiking times, and difficulty; GPS coordinates, detailed directions, and Google Maps URLs for each trailhead; as well as helpful tips and comments. Keep this guide in your car or at your cottage for easy reference!

Jim is also the author of:

• A Guide to Benzie County Michigan Rivers, Lakes, and Creeks
• A Guide to the Rivers and Lakes of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, Michigan
• The Savvy Paddler - A Guide to the Essentials of Recreational Kayaking

He lives, works, and plays in northwestern lower Michigan - one of his favorite outdoor locations - where he owns and operates a computer consulting and Web site design company.