Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area
Managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
6,662 acres14.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
–Not graded
Outdoors in Butterfield Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Butterfield Township
The biggest trail networks: Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area (14.3 mi), Pere Marquette State Forest - Cadillac Unit (2.3 mi). 37% of Butterfield Township’s land is conserved, about 8,270 acres. 8,145 acres are parks and preserves, 22,815 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
37%
8,270 acres · of 35.4 sq mi of land
Trails
18 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
8,145 ac
22,815 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
37%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
1
1 boat launch
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area, with 14.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Pere Marquette State Forest - Cadillac Unit
Managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
1,223 acres2.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Osceola Missaukee Grasslands State Game Area
Managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
74 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Butterfield Township Park
Managed by Butterfield Township
42 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 7 parks & preserves
Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area6,662 acres · 14.3 mi of trail · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Pere Marquette State Forest - Cadillac Unit1,223 acres · 2.3 mi of trail · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Ben D. Jeffs River Park34 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Missaukee County
Osceola Missaukee Grasslands State Game Area74 acres · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Butterfield Township Park42 acres · Butterfield Township
Au Sable State Forest - Roscommon Unit7 acres · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Merritt Area Community Park2 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
8,270 conserved acres
37% of Butterfield Township’s land. Who manages Butterfield Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State fish & wildlife6,768 ac
State natural resources1,244 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)259 ac
State Conservation Area · 8,011 acConservation Easement · 259 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 259 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Lake State Wildlife Research Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 6,695 | Open |
| Cadillac State Forest Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 1,244 | Open |
| Osceola-Missaukee Grasslands State Game Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 73 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Butterfield Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Butterfield Township
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Boat launches in Butterfield Township
1 boat launch without a name on the map.
Trails & water
1 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
1Equestrian
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Butterfield Township: May and July to September
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) | 28 | 31 | 41 | 54 | 68 | 77 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 58 | 44 | 33 |
| Rain (in) | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
February is the driest month (1.5 in) and July the warmest (highs of 81 °F). 3.6 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Butterfield Township →
Next door
Butterfield Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Roscommon Township250 miHolland Township78 miEnterprise Township24 miButterfield Township18 miAetna Township14 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfield Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Holland Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Roscommon Township | 13% | 2.4 | 1,488 | 21% | A |
| Enterprise Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Aetna 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.
Questions about parks and trails in Butterfield Township
Where can I hike in Butterfield Township?
The longest trail networks: Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area, 14.3 miles; Pere Marquette State Forest - Cadillac Unit, 2.3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Butterfield Township’s trails?
Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area and Pere Marquette State Forest - Cadillac Unit don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Butterfield Township?
79,724 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Butterfield Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 8,145 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Butterfield Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
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 →