Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The biggest trail networks: Au Sable State Forest - Roscommon Unit (51.3 mi), Backus Township park (0.5 mi). 14% of Backus Township’s land is conserved, about 3,149 acres. 3,160 acres are parks and preserves, 8,360 per 1,000 residents.
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
The longest trail network is Au Sable State Forest - Roscommon Unit, with 51.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
14% of Backus Township’s land. Who manages Backus Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backus Lake Flooding State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 1,651 | Open |
| Denton Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 799 | Open |
| Chippewa Hunting Club Private Park | Private owners | 468 | Open |
| Backus Creek State Game Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 190 | Open |
| Township of Backus Park Local Park | Town or city | 44 | Open |
| Mid-Forest Lodge Private Recreation or Education | Private owners | 1 | Open |
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 27 | 30 | 41 | 54 | 67 | 77 | 81 | 78 | 71 | 57 | 43 | 32 |
| Rain (in) | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 81 °F). 3.6 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Backus Township →
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backus Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Higgins Township | 15% | 1.8 | 3,731 | 75% | A+ |
| Denton Township | 7% | 1.2 | 202 | 35% | A− |
| Richfield Township | 5% | 2.4 | 596 | 45% | A− |
| Nester Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
The longest trail networks: Au Sable State Forest - Roscommon Unit, 51.3 miles; Backus Township park, 0.5 miles; Backus Creek State Game Area, 0.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Au Sable State Forest - Roscommon Unit and Backus Township park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
47,529 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Backus Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,160 of them inside the town line.
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Backus Township neighbors.
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →