7607 Michigan Avenue ï P.O. Box 68 ï Thompsonville, MI, 49683 ï Phone: 231-378-2144 ï FAX: 231-378-4665 ï Hours by Appointment
• HOME • Township Board • Community News, Info, and Events   • Meeting Information • Documents and Forms • Board of Review   • Joint Planning Commission • Grass Lake Campground   • Links of Interest   • Maps Web Site © Copyright 2007-2026 by Colfax Township, Michigan and ATI Consulting All rights reserved		Welcome to Colfax Township in Beautiful Benzie County !! UPCOMING EVENTS: • None at this time.   ANNOUNCEMENTS: • AUGUST ELECTION : COUNTY/TOWNSHIP MILLAGE RESET: A very important referendum on county and township financing will appear on our August ballot.  On August 5, 2026, the County will be askingwhether or not to reset the operating millage to previously approved limits. To understand why this needs to be asked, one must understand how revenues are decided and why the millages used to fund services and run local government have been continuously shrinking over more than 40 years due to the Headlee Amendment. To be a fully knowledgeable voter on this important, impactful issue. Please review the informationbelow providedby Benzie County and Crystal Lake Township. Learn whatwill be involved in the reset — and what will happen if it isn't reset.   Stay Informed - Tax Advisory Committee and Headlee — At the County's Web site Guide to Property Taxes, Proposal A, & Headlee Amendment — PDF document from the County The Request to Reset the County and Township Operation Millages to Previously Approved Limits — PDF document from Crystal Lake Township (Posted 3/11/2026) Colfax Township is situated in the southeast corner of beautiful Benzie County in Michigan's northwest Lower Peninsula. Its residents enjoy the area's quiet rural character yet have the convenience of services offered in nearby Benzonia and the villages of Thompsonville and Beulah. The larger cities of Manistee, Cadillac and Traverse City are an easy drive from the township, between 29 to 39 miles away. The township is about 40% state land with a population of 657 residents according to the 2010 census. Colfax Township offers residents and visitors a variety of seasonal activities. Early spring is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, and the township has over ten thousand acres of state land to explore, much of it along the Betsie River. Don't forget your camera! In May the hunt is on for morel mushrooms just as trilliums begin to bloom. During the summer the Betsie River is well-known for canoeing, kayaking, tubing and fishing and offers many access points. The Betsie is a designated Natural River and an important natural resource that runs through the entire township. Camping at the township's rustic Grass Lake Campground on the Betsie River and golfing at nearby Crystal Mountain Resort are also popular summer activities. Salmon fishing takes center stage in September (check the DNR website for rules and dates). There are many trails to travel on state land throughout the year by foot, bike or horseback and are especially spectacular when fall colors are in full display. Winter months offer outdoor enthusiasts many choices, including downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and sledding.