Crystal Lake South Bicycle
This ride is great for the adventurous, with ease. The length of the trip seems extreme, however the actual ride is very pleasant with a mix of waterfront flat riding and Betsie Valley Trail low stress pedal. Catherine S, at 12 years old, rode from Beulah to Frankfort in 3 hours at an easy pace. A great trip for young and old alike, who want an adventure without overly excessive effort!
Begin you trip in Beulah at the staging area downtown. Starting out along the Crystal Lake shoreline on the gravel surface, with the option of riding along the adjacent paved road. Drop into Railroad Point Nature Preserve and the dam area for a quick break on the water’s edge. Ride the rail trail for a brief distance before entering the M-115 corridor, a narrow shouldered fast traffic section with some incline. Exiting M-115 onto Shorewood brings densely wooded section crowning over the road with hills and curves, before turning lakeward on Lobb and dropping down to Crystal Lake shoreline again. An easy residential roadway with 2′ shoulders and open view to the lake. At the West end of the lake, enter M-22 roadway with a wide shoulder and a fair amount of traffic. Some hills and turns, then a long descent into Frankfort. After a tour through town, take the Betsie Valley trail, an off-road rail trail with gentle grade, all the way back to Beulah.
