Backus Township

Backus Township (T22N, R2W) is one of eleven townships located in Roscommon County. It is nestled between Higgins Township to the north Denton Township to the west, Richfield Township to the east, and Nester Township to the south. The township comprises approximately 35.9 square miles with approximately 34.3 square miles of land and 1.6 square miles of water.

Backus Township contains several rivers and creeks as well as numerous lakes and ponds. Denton Creek and the North Branch of the Denton flow across the southerly portion of the township. Major water bodies include Backus Lake and Denton Creek Flooding Lakes. Other small lakes include Shadow Lake which flows into Lake James and Lanes Lake between Sections 35 and 36.  The township is mostly forested which is utilized as woodlands and hunting lands.  Minimal cleared land is used for agriculture purposes. Houghton Lake State Forest is located  throughout the township. Forested wetlands, scrub-shrub wetlands and emergent wetlands are scattered throughout the township and are
mostly associated with the drainage areas for the Denton Creek.