Betsie River

The Betsie River is a 54-mile river in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Most sources place its source at the outflow of Green Lake, between Karlin and Interlochen in Grand Traverse County. From there it runs southwest into Benzie County, passes briefly through northern Manistee County, and turns north back into Benzie County. Near the mouth it widens into Betsie Lake and then enters Lake Michigan between Frankfort and Elberta. The river drains about 155,026 acres and is part of Michigan's Natural Rivers Program. The Grass Lake Dam, built by the state Wildlife Division in 1951, holds back an impoundment of about 90 acres roughly 4 miles below Green Lake. Downstream, the former Consumers Energy power dam at Homestead was mostly removed in 1974 and now serves as a sea lamprey barrier. The old Thompsonville Dam failed in 1989 and was removed.

The Michigan DNR's Parks and Recreation Division manages the public access sites. Boat ramps are at Grass Lake State Forest Campground, Kurick Road, County Line Bridge, US 31 and Lower River Road. Carry-in sites are at Homestead Dam, Grace Road and River Road. Since 2020, fishing has been closed from August 1 to November 15 within 300 feet of the Homestead Dam lamprey barrier and fish passage facility.

The river's salmon fishery draws thousands of anglers each year and supports a wild run of Chinook salmon. Salmon and trout can reach the entire main stem of the river, including the stretch above the Grass Lake Dam.