Backus Creek State Game Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Backus Creek State Game Area |
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Looking south from the Backus Creek Dam
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 Backus Creek State Game Area
Location in Michigan
Backus Creek State Game Area
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roscommon County, Michigan |
| Nearest city | West Branch, Michigan |
| Area | 4,379 acres (1,772 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,158 ft (353 m) |
| Established | 1954 |
| Governing body | MDNR |
Backus Creek State Game Area is a special outdoor place in Roscommon County, Michigan. It's a large area, about 4,379 acres, where people can go hunting, enjoy nature, and see wildlife. It also protects important wetlands. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) takes care of this area.
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Exploring Backus Creek State Game Area
Backus Creek State Game Area is in the middle of Roscommon County. This is in the north-central part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The area has three dams that help control the water from Backus Creek. This creek flows into the Cut River and then into Houghton Lake.
Most of the game area is surrounded by state forests. These are part of the Au Sable State Forest. Only a small part on the west side has private homes.
How to Get There
You can reach the area by several dirt roads. The main entrance is Backus Creek Road, which is off M-18. Interstate 75 (I-75) runs along the northeast edge of the game area.
The main office for the area is at the Roscommon DNR Service Center. This office is located at 8717 North Roscommon Road. You can find it near exit 239 off I-75.
Nearby Towns and Cities
The closest towns are Prudenville and Houghton Lake to the southwest. St. Helen is to the northeast. The village of Roscommon is about 10 miles (16 km) north. The city of West Branch is about 20 miles (32 km) east.
Another nearby wildlife area is the Denton Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south. Backus Creek State Game Area is one of 12 state game and wildlife areas in Roscommon County.
History of the Game Area
Before it became a state game area, one person owned all the land. The first dam, Backus Lake Dam, was built in 1937. This dam helped create the artificial wetlands you see today.
Becoming a State Game Area
The state of Michigan bought the land using money from a special grant. This grant came from the Pittman–Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. This act helps fund wildlife projects. The Backus Creek State Game Area officially opened on October 13, 1954.
Soon after, two more dams were built in 1956. These dams helped make the wetlands even bigger. In 2008, the game area grew to include the southern Backus Lake Flooding. This made the total area about 4,379 acres (1,772 ha).
Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS)
In 2017, Backus Creek State Game Area became a Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS). There are 19 GEMS locations in Michigan. These sites are special places for bird hunting. They have detailed maps and information about the plants there.
Being a GEMS site helped improve the walking trails. This makes it easier for hunters and hikers to get around. Backus Creek State Game Area now has 12 miles (19 km) of maintained trails. Maps show that 60% of the area has aspen trees. There are also many conifers and tag alders.
Dam Reconstruction Project
All three dams in the area get yearly check-ups. In 2019, the Backus Lake Dam and Backus Creek Dam were closed for major repairs. The Little Mud Dam stayed open.
When the two dams were closed, the water levels in the area dropped a lot. The water returned to the natural flow of Backus Creek. The project aimed to make the dams and their walls stronger. This will help control the water levels better in the future. The work finished in late 2020. Water levels in the reservoirs are slowly returning to normal. The game area stayed open during this time. However, hunting and fishing activities were limited.
Dams and Water Areas
Backus Creek State Game Area has three man-made water areas. These areas have made Backus Creek wider and created three reservoirs. About 1,830 acres (740 ha) of the area are managed wetlands.
Backus Lake Dam and Backus Lake
The Backus Lake Dam (44°19′50.7″N 84°34′49.2″W / 44.330750°N 84.580333°W) was the first to be built in 1937. It created the highest water area, known as Backus Lake or Backus Lake Flooding. This lake is about 735 acres (297 ha). It is where Backus Creek begins. The lake gets its water from natural runoff and nearby wetlands. Sometimes, this reservoir is also called Mud Lake.
Backus Creek Dam and Little Mud Dam
The Backus Creek Dam and Little Mud Dam were both built in 1956. These dams are small and similar. They have four spillways that help control floods. The Backus Creek Dam (44°20′44.3″N 84°35′41.7″W / 44.345639°N 84.594917°W) is the second dam along Backus Creek. It created the Backus Creek Flooding, which is about 485 acres (196 ha).
The Little Mud Dam (44°21′30.8″N 84°36′42.4″W / 44.358556°N 84.611778°W) is the farthest upstream dam. It is closer to homes, so it is checked more often. This dam created Little Mud Lake (or Little Mud Lake Flooding), which is about 610 acres (247 ha). After the water flows from the Little Mud Dam, it goes into the Cut River and then into Houghton Lake.
Things to Do at Backus Creek
Backus Creek State Game Area offers many activities. Hunting is the main one.
Hunting and Trapping
People hunt animals like deer, turkey, black bear, waterfowl (like ducks), grouse, woodcock, snowshoe hare, and squirrel. Trapping is also allowed for animals like beaver, muskrat, mink, and river otter. You can also trap coyote, fox, and raccoon in certain spots. The area has 12 miles (19 km) of trails for hunters.
Other Activities
Fishing is also popular, but it's not the main focus of the area. The water levels in Backus Creek and the flooded areas can change a lot. This depends on the time of year and how much rain falls. There are two simple boat launches. They are only good for kayaks and small canoes.
You can camp in the area, but there are no special camping spots. Other fun things to do include hiking, birdwatching, and geocaching.
