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Outdoor Recreation in Benzie 

The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive in Benzie is that mother nature reigns supreme. Lush fairways and snowy slopes, winding trails and peaceful rivers—this four-season playground has it all.

We are home to a portion of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park where you’ll find beaches, dunes, trails, and spectacular scenery. Spend some time hiking in the park, or on one of the many trails within the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.  

Rent a canoe, kayak, or SUP to explore the Bestie and Platte Rivers, Crystal Lake, or Lake Michigan itself. If you’d rather have (bike) wheels on the ground, explore the Betsie Valley Trail that extends 22 miles from Elberta, through Frankfort and Beulah, to Thompsonville.

One of the best ski resorts in the Midwest, Crystal Mountain, offers downhill and Nordic skiing during the winter, and the county includes over 100 miles of snowmobile trails. The moment the snow melts, nine golf courses are open and ready for business. And all year round, you can enjoy fishing, birding, and glimpsing native flora and fauna on a walk in the woods.

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