The Betsie River Campsite – June 19 – 23, 2014
This year we decided to spend our vacation in June camping around the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Lower Michigan. We made 3 different stops that basically covered the 3 corners of the now famous M-22 highway. We started with 4 nights at the Betsie River Campsite in Elberta, Michigan. From there it was on to Leelanau State Park for 2 nights and then we ended with 4 nights at Traverse City State Park. This was our first time staying at all three locations and we really liked them all. However, if we had to pick a favorite it would be the Betsie River Campsite. Frankfort and the surrounding area is nice and not as busy as the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. It kind of reminds us of how Sleeping Bear was before all the publicity in recent years. There are also a lot of options for hiking, biking and paddling. Even after 4 nights here, there are still a few things on our to do list for next time.
This first page has our photos and report from our stay at the Betsie River Campsite. Watch for the link at the bottom of the page to see our other stops on this trip.
The Betsie River Campsite:
We left on Thursday night after work and drove up to the Betsie River Campsite. We stayed in campsite #4 which was an outside site that was right at the end of a row of seasonal campers. Most of the sites here are nice and grassy. Our site had a little more dirt than most because a tree came down on it during the off season.
The kids were excited that right next to our site was a little playground.
We typically do not stay at very many private campgrounds, but we really liked the Betsie River Campsite. Everything was well maintained and the camp hosts were very nice. The sites themselves were pretty average. They were all close together and the area is fairly open with some large trees that provide some shade, but not really any privacy. However, they do have a nice little camp store that sells snacks, locally made ice cream treats and a few other supplies. They will also cook you breakfast in the little kitchen in the back. We didn’t try it, but it looked and smelled really good. In the morning they also brewed some tasty coffee that was roasted locally at Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co.The large coffee was great deal at only $1.50. Our kids also made several trips a day to the store to buy candy with some of their loose change.
Looking down the road from near the camp store to our campsite in the corner. The campground backs up to the Betsie River State Game Refuge, but it is not on the river.
Another nice feature of the Betsie River Campsite is that the Betsie Valley Rail Trail runs right past the entrance. If you take a left turn in about 1.5 miles you are in downtown Elberta. If you continue on in another 1.5 miles or 3 miles total from the campground you will be in downtown Frankfort. Taking a right turn, the trails follows along the Betsie River and then the shore of Crystal Lake and reaches the town of Beulah after a nice 7 mile ride.
After setting up camp we got on the bikes and made the short ride into Elberta for ice cream.
Unfortunately for the kids our ice cream destination, the Conundrum Cafe was already closed. It was kind of a conundrum to figure out when they are open. We were going to go here after kayaking too, and it looked closed again. Lucky for us the Mayfair Tavern is nearby and they had vanilla ice cream for the kids and nachos and Oberon for the parents out on the patio.
We would have liked to relax on the patio longer, but the sun was starting to go down so it was time to start heading back. Above is the bike path bridge over the Betsie River.
The next morning when we woke up it was raining and after looking radar we decided it would be a good day for a drive. After up 40 minutes in the truck we ended up in Empire at the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center. We looked at the displays and actually took the time to watch the video in the auditorium which was okay. After that we stopped in at the Boat Museum in the Cannery Building in Glen Haven. We hoped that after this the rain would let up enough to do the Scenic Drive or the Dune Climb, but it was actually coming down even harder so headed into Glen Arbor for lunch.
It had been several years since we had been to Art’s Tavern for burgers so we thought we would give it a try again. The hand made burgers were good, but nothing too special. I understand that it is somewhat seasonal, but it is still a little expensive for what you get. It was even an extra $3 to add fries to things on the kids menu that were already small. The small town travern atmosphere is nice and it is good for an occasional stop, but we will probably not be regulars when we are up here. If you go make sure that you have cash or your checkbook because they do not take credit cards.
More reviews for Art’s Tavern on Trip Advisor >>
After lunch…it was still raining and the radar showed more on the way.
We walked around the shops in Glen Arbor in our rain coats. This is Reid at his favorite stop, the toy room in the Totem Shop. In addition to toys and candy they also have a good selection of outdoor clothing.
We couldn’t think of anything else to do in the area on a rainy day so we drove back to the campsite. We spent what was left of the afternoon in the camper reading and watching movies. Sometimes it is nice to have a little down time, but with this being our first full day we were all a little stir crazy.
We have kind of an unofficial rule when we are camping that if it is raining we eat out. We thought it was fitting that after an all day rain we should go to the Stormcloud Brewing Company in Frankfort.
We sampled a few of the beers, they all were respectable, we liked the Rainmaker the best. The pizzas were also very good. We just happened to be here on their one year anniversary and there was free birthday cake for everyone. The kids thought this was the best thing ever.
More reviews of Stormcloud Brewing Company on Trip Advisor >>
Everyone was getting tired of the rain after dinner.
By the next morning the rain had stopped and the forecast looked good. The plan was for mom and the kids to bike the rail trail into Frankfort and go to the craft fair and car show. I drove to Arcadia Dunes to ride the Dryhill mountain bike trail. Just as I was starting my mountain bike ride and everyone else were about half way to Frankfort a rain shower popped up right over us. The group en route to Frankfort only got a little damp and it ended. Over on the mountain bike trail it lasted for about half of the ride and I was pretty much soaked through.
Reid has been watching the Cars movies lately and he was excited to see a car that looked like Doc Hudson.
Reid has been breaking out this pose for pictures lately when he gets excited. We are not sure where would have he learned this.
Even with the rain the Dryhill trail is one of my favorite mountain bike routes in Michigan. The main loop is about 9 miles of fast and flowing single track. The loop can be ridden in either direction, but have heard that most people like it best in the counterclockwise direction.
I didn’t wear my GoPro camera this time. However, there is a video of this trail on our You Tube channel from August 2013 >>
Kayaking the Lower Betsie River:
In the afternoon it looked like we were going to have a good weather window so we decided to take the kayaks down the Betsie River. We launched just above the bridge on River Road about 2 miles east of the Betsie River Campground. They were working on improving the launch and parking area when we were here. There is a pit toilet by the gravel parking area and this is also a staging area for the Betsie Valley Rail Trail. On the way here we spotted a bike in Elberta so I could ride the rail trail back to get the truck when we were done with the float.
Directions to the Betsie River launch site on Google maps >>
The water in the lower part of the Betsie River seemed pretty high. This was probably a result of all the rain the previous day. The current was steady and about just right for a family paddle. This is the last section of river before Betsie Lake and the banks were all lined with tall grass with very few good landing spots. Almost the entire trip runs through the Betsie River State Game Refuge which makes for a really nice float through undeveloped state forest land.
As we got closer to Betsie Lake and the Lake Michigan shore the clouds and cool fog were rolling in off the big lake again. We always try to remember to take a bag of suckers along in the kayaks. They help keep everyone happy when it started to get cool as the fog stole away the sunshine.
Reesey was really happy because she was in the front of the kayak with mom and all the suckers.
As you get closer to Betsie Lake the current slows and you get into a more open wetland area at the mouth of the river.
The bike path bridge the we rode over on our first night.
After crossing under the M-22 bridge the takeout is in a small bay to the left. This area must have had a recent goose invasion because we had to walk through a mine field while caring the kayaks up the ramp.
The track of the Betsie River kayak and bike loop in Google Maps.
This section of the Betsie River is about 5.5 miles long and it took us about 1 hour and 40 minutes to paddle which is about just right for our kids. Then the bike ride back to the get the truck is an easy 3 miles on the Betsie Valley Trail. This would also be an easy walk if you did not have a bike to spot at the end.
Hiking at Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve:
The next morning the weather was looking good and it was time for a hike in the Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve.
Green Point Dunes Preserve protects 242 acres on Lake Michigan about 2 miles south of Elberta, MI. The trail is a lollipop loop that is a little under 2 miles long which makes for a perfect family hike.
Checking the map at the start of the loop portion of the hike. We decided to walk in the clockwise direction.
There is a small gravel road cutting through the preserve that goes to a small piece of private property with a cottage that you will see by the stairs to the beach. The photo above shows the trail heading out toward the beach just after crossing the road.
Heading down the stairs to the beach.
The Green Point Dune Preserve beach looking north. We took a short break on the beach and watched the fog coming in off from Lake Michigan again.
After the beach access the trail makes a steady climb for about 0.2 miles up the dune ridge along Lake Michigan.
The trail tops out at a nice overlook with a small deck and bench.
From the overlook you can see the remains of a shipwreck just off the shore. The sign above tells about the interesting history of this boat. Next time we will have to hike in with our goggles and life jackets and try to swim out and get a close up look at it.
Click here to view this sign larger >>
Just a little further down the trail there is another overlook deck, but the view was partially hidden by the fog again.
A video of images from our GoPro camera taken every 60 seconds on the hike. Many of the images in the low light sections of the hike were blurry. I deleted the really bad ones, but left several others in to help show the hike.
Our track in Google Maps. It took our family about 1.5 hours to complete this hike, going a leisurely pace.
For more information and a trail map visit the Green Point Dunes Page >>
Biking the Betsie Valley Trail to the Cherry Hut:
By afternoon the fog burned off and it was finally mostly sunny. We took off down the Betsie Valley Trail again and headed east. This is a really nice section of trail that first runs along the banks of the Betsie River and then the shore of Crystal Lake.
Our destination was the Cherry Hut about 7 miles from the Betsie River Campsite.
Our girls have always watched for the Cherry Hut sign as we are heading north. We are not quite sure why, but they nicknamed it “The cherry with big fat eyeballs.” They were quite excited to be holding him in their hands.
A slice of the famous cherry pie.
It was the middle of the afternoon so we just had snacks and then headed back.
On shore of beautiful Crystal Lake at Railroad Point Natural Area.
The section of trail along the lake is crushed limestone, but was packed down well enough in most places that Kim was okay on the skinny road bike tires. The trail between Railroad Point and Beulah is interesting as passes right through the backyards of the cottages on Crystal Lake. The cottage owners must not have been very happy when this trail was put in.
About half way back Reid was getting tired so we moved him from the tag-a-long bike to the Burley Trailer
A GoPro video of our ride on the Betsie Valley Trail. On the way back we changed the perspective by mounting the camera to the back of the Burly trailer.
When we woke up on our last morning at Betsie River Campsite it was raining again so we followed our eat out when it is raining rule and went for breakfast at the Lighthouse Cafe in Elberta.
The service at the Lighthouse Cafe was a little slow, but that was okay with us because we were waiting for the rain to stop before we packed up our camp. Although, after we got our order in the food came fairly quick. Everything was very good and the portions were big. It was not too expense at about $35 for our family of 5. Overall we liked this little place and would recommend it for breakfast.
See more reviews for the Lighthouse Cafe on Trip Advisor >>
The timing worked out good and when we were done with breakfast the rain was letting up. We drove into Frankfort to get a few supplies at the grocery store and then it was time to pack up camp and move on to Leelanua State Park. We really enjoyed the Betsie River Campsiteand surrounding area and will definitely be back.
Continue along with us to our next stop at Leelanau State Park >>
Our Favorites
I have had my GoPro camera for a couple years now and we are still finding new ways to use it to document and share our adventures. It is easy to use and the photo and video quality has been surprisingly good.
Connecting to the GoPro using the smart phone app and the camera’s built in Wi-Fi is a really nice feature that allows you to control the camera, change settings and view your videos. The app also has a live view feature that lets you view what the camera sees on the screen of your smart phone. I have found this very useful for framing shots because there is not a screen or view finder on the camera.
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