First pick
Bowmont Park
Park or garden
134 ha35.4 km of path
7 h 50 minto walk all 35.4 km of path
1.3 km northfrom the centre
CMBA LinkFournier Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Dwayne Reilander · CC BY-SA 4.00.9%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Bowness · parks, protected land & trails
6.3 km from Bowness to Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
For a national park, Banff National Park is 67 km away. Within 5 km are 2 beaches; Bowmont Beach is the nearest. 0.9% of the land and water within 10 km is protected (the typical Canadian town: 2.3%).
Protected land
0.9%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
2
within 10 km, 2 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
67 km
Banff National Park
Nearest provincial park
6.3 km
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Against other towns
Bowness against other Canadian towns
Each figure against the 2,611 Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (not city hubs or reserves), with the town marked and the typical one’s line. No letter: the outdoors is described for Canadian towns, not graded.
Protected within 10 km0.9%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas2Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches2Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Bowness has the 12th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (11,326 to 11,740 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Protected within 10 km
Bowness0.9%
Towns its size2.9%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Bowness2
Towns its size6
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Bowness0
Towns its size0
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
Where Bowness trails its peers is protected land nearby; 28 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banff AB | 100% | 100% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot QC | 34% | 0.6% | 50 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | Montmagny QC | 26% | 0.1% | 51 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Chapel Hill North ON | 14% | 1.2% | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Williams Lake BC | 14% | 8.3% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Cardinal Creek ON | 11% | 0% | 43 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Ramara ON | 8.6% | 0.5% | 37 | 2 | 10 |
| 8 | Sechelt BC | 7.5% | 2% | 17 | 0 | 24 |
| 9 | Milton-Parc QC | 7.5% | 0% | 18 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | New Kleinburg ON | 7.5% | 12% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Katimavik-Hazeldean ON | 6.8% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Ebenezer West ON | 6.8% | 11% | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Estevan SK | 6.5% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Coldstream BC | 6.2% | 0.4% | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Hochelaga QC | 5.3% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 4 |
| 16 | Provinceton BC | 5.3% | 5.9% | 160 | 6 | 0 |
| 17 | Pont-Rouge QC | 5.1% | 0% | 41 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Chester NS | 4.1% | 6.1% | 124 | 1 | 21 |
| 19 | Arnprior ON | 3.9% | 1.3% | 22 | 0 | 2 |
| 20 | Hawkesbury ON | 3.5% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | Casa Loma ON | 2.3% | 0% | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| 22 | North Riverdale ON | 2.2% | 0% | 10 | 5 | 31 |
| 23 | René-Goupil QC | 2.1% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Selkirk MB | 1.8% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Fort Richmond MB | 1.6% | 2.3% | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | Bridgwater Trails MB | 1.4% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Pelmo Park-Humberlea ON | 1.3% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | William Whyte MB | 1.3% | 0% | 18 | 4 | 0 |
| 29 | Bowness AB | 0.9% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Millbrook ON | 0.6% | 0.1% | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 31 | Keelesdale-Eglinton West ON | 0.5% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | Long Branch ON | 0.3% | 0% | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| 33 | New Toronto ON | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 17 |
| 34 | Jefferson MB | 0.3% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | West Springs AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Fontainebleau ON | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Dundalk ON | 0.1% | 0.1% | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Morden MB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 39 | Drayton ON | 0% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 40 | Beddington Heights AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Bowness
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the neighbourhood; tap a number for its park or wood.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
12 named parks and woods to walk in near Bowness
The biggest is Bowmont Park, 134 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
12 named parks and woods, 431 ha in all
Parks & gardens 345 haWoods 86 ha
Two places, Bowmont Park and Paskapoo Slopes, make up 51% of the total.
Canada Olympic Park
Park or garden · 50 m outside town
80 ha8.6 km of path
1 h 55 minto walk all 8.6 km of path
1.7 km south-westfrom the centre
Muscle HamsterNeedatowieSafari+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Dale Hodges Park
Park or garden · 180 m outside town
55 ha12.6 km of path
2 h 50 minto walk all 12.6 km of path
2.0 km eastfrom the centre
Sideshow BobBow River Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Bowness Park
Park or garden
47 ha10.4 km of path
2 h 20 minto walk all 10.4 km of path
2.0 km north-westfrom the centre
Bow River PathwayBush Party
Directionsto a point inside
Paskapoo Slopes
Wood or forest · 60 m outside town
86 ha15.5 km of path
3 h 25 minto walk all 15.5 km of path
1.5 km southfrom the centre
Ridge RunLemon OrchardBeaver Fever+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Baker Park
Park or garden
16 ha3.6 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.6 km of path
2.3 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Shouldice Park
Park or garden
8.9 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
2.2 km south-eastfrom the centre
Bow River Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
John Hextall Park
Park or garden
1.0 ha0.3 km of path
1.9 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 12 named parks and green spaces
Bowmont ParkPark or garden · 134 ha · 35.4 km of path
DirectionsCanada Olympic ParkPark or garden · 80 ha · 8.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDale Hodges ParkPark or garden · 55 ha · 12.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBowness ParkPark or garden · 47 ha · 10.4 km of path
DirectionsPaskapoo SlopesWood or forest · 86 ha · 15.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBaker ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 3.6 km of path
DirectionsShouldice ParkPark or garden · 8.9 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsJohn Hextall ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsMacKintosh ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsQueen Elizabeth ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsBeaupre ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsCity of Calgary Parks, Baker Park DepotPark or garden · 0.4 ha · just outside town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, commons and woods with a name, in the town or within 400 m, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Sizes are the mapped outline’s.
Close to home
In Bowness, a park is close to every home
Residents of each 2021 dissemination area, at a point inside it, within 400 m (about a 5-minute walk) of a park or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Within 400 m (100%)Further (0%)
Bowness100%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, lower than here.
Protected areas
2 protected areas lie within 10 km of Bowness
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Bowness0%
Within 10 km0.9%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Governments or Indigenous nations hold all 2. Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park leads for size with 1,337 ha.
Glenbow Ranch Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,337 ha · 6.3 km from the edge of town
Griffith Woods ParkMunicipal park · 110 ha · 7.0 km from the edge of town
Source: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
National & provincial parks
Banff National Park, 67 km off
National parks (Parks Canada) and provincial or territorial parks by direction and distance from the town’s edge: every one within 10 km, and the nearest of each within 100 km.
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
6.3 km north-west13 km²since 2008
National park
Banff National Park
67 km north-west6,641 km²since 1885
A provincial park is closer: Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, at 6.3 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Bowness has 143 km of footpaths in and around it
OpenStreetMap footpaths, paths, bridleways and steps, and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it; woods as mapped (landuse=forest, natural=wood).
Footpaths
143 km
in and around the town (20.9 km²)
Woodland
9.9%
about 2.1 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
BownessTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths6.8
048 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
BownessTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland9.9%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 52% of Canadian towns. Few places match it for paths: more than 98% of Canadian towns have fewer.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
No named walking route passes Bowness on the map
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
No named walking or hiking route is mapped near the neighbourhood; local paths may simply not be on OpenStreetMap as routes.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Bowness is best on foot in May and July to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Calgary (Airport), 13 km away). Good months: long days, highs of 15–30 °C, light rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | -2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 10 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 61 | 113 | 66 | 54 | 37 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
In July the typical high is 24 °C; in January, -2 °C. Rain and snow peak in June (113 mm) and ease in January (10 mm). A typical year sees 139 cm of snow. The climate in Bowness →
Beaches
Beaches near Bowness: 2 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Bowmont Beachin town
DirectionsBowmont Beach0.1 km from town
DirectionsCanada publishes no open register of beach water tests; the local public health unit posts swimming advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Bowness: 8 viewpoints, 3 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Playgrounds lead the count with 110.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 8
Plus 8 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 3
Plus 3 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 21
Picnic Site 1in town
DirectionsPicnic Site 2in town
DirectionsPicnic Site 3in town
DirectionsPicnic Site 4in town
DirectionsPicnic Site 5in town
DirectionsPicnic Site 6in town
DirectionsPicnic Site 7in town
DirectionsPicnic Site 8in town
DirectionsPlus 13 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 110
Bastet Playgroundin town
DirectionsJumpstart Playground0.1 km from town
DirectionsMontgomery Community Centre Playground0.8 km from town
DirectionsMonkey Around1.0 km from town
DirectionsTerrace Road School Playground1.0 km from town
DirectionsPatterson Heights Playground1.5 km from town
DirectionsAlberta Children's Hospital Playground1.6 km from town
DirectionsDigger Park1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 102 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 5
Plus 5 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
2 gardens and historic parks to visit near Bowness
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Prince's Island ParkGarden or park · 7.4 km from town
DirectionsOlympic PlazaGarden or park · 8.6 km from town
DirectionsSources: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, and Wikidata (CC0), as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic places from Parks Canada’s Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel.
Next door
Next to Bowness
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Silver SpringsCougar RidgeVarsityMontgomeryCoach HillDalhousieBowness
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowness | 0.9% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Silver Springs 2.1 km | 0.8% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Cougar Ridge 2.2 km | 0.7% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Varsity 2.8 km | 0.3% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Montgomery 2.8 km | 0.3% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Coach Hill 3.2 km | 0.3% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Dalhousie 3.5 km | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Next door, protected shares stay within twice Bowness’.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- Walking routes. A route counts when 300 m or more of it lies within 2 km of the town. Coverage of trails on OpenStreetMap varies by region.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
Questions about the outdoors in Bowness
What is the nearest national park to Bowness?
The nearest is Banff National Park, 67 km away.
Which is the biggest protected area near Bowness?
It is Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, a provincial park covering 1,337 ha.
Are there protected areas near Bowness?
Yes: 0.9% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Where can you swim near Bowness?
Bowmont Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Bowness?
The closest is Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, at 6.3 km.
When is the best time for walking in Bowness?
May and July to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Sources
Where Bowness’ outdoors figures come from
Protected areas: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2026: every area within 10 km and the nearest national and provincial parks, measured outline to outline.
Walking routes and beaches: OpenStreetMap, November 2026: named hiking, foot and walking route relations within 2 km and beaches within 5 km.
Towns: Statistics Canada 2021 Census boundaries and populations; the comparison is the Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+, not city hubs or reserves.
When to go: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, from the nearest station that publishes them.
Gardens: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden) and Wikidata gardens within 15 km, as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic gardens and parks from Canada’s heritage registers (Parks Canada DFHD, the Canadian Register of Historic Places, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel).
Green space, paths, woods, things to do: OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik’s Canada extract), November 2026: parks, gardens, playing fields, woods, footpaths, the coastline and things to do in and around each town.
Residents: Statistics Canada 2021 Census dissemination areas (population, boundaries), each at a point inside it.
Walking routes and beaches © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Not on this page: trailheads and trail grades, and beach water quality. No open Canadian dataset gives these for every town yet.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).