Two trails in the northern Lower Peninsula are recipients of the 2025 Pure Michigan Trail designation, an annual recognition that spotlights some of the state’s best trail experiences:

• The Betsie Valley Trail, a 22-mile pathway extending from Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah to Thompsonville in Benzie County.
• The Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-plus mile inland water trail made up of 12 lakes and interconnected rivers located in northwest Michigan.

The Pure Michigan Trail and Trail Town Designation Program is a partnership between the DNR and Pure Michigan and is designed to help boost the state’s position as the “Trails State.”

Read the entire Showcasing the DNR story about this year’s recipients.