First pick
Bowmont Park
Park or garden
134 ha35.4 km of path
7 h 50 minto walk all 35.4 km of path
2.6 km westfrom the centre
CMBA LinkFournier Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin · CC BY 2.00.3%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Varsity · parks, protected land & trails
8.7 km from Varsity to Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Of the country within 10 km, 0.3% lies in protected areas; the median Canadian town has 2.3%. Within 5 km are 2 beaches; Bowmont Beach is the nearest. The closest of Canada’s national parks is Banff National Park, at 70 km.
Protected land
0.3%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
3
within 10 km, 3 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
70 km
Banff National Park
Nearest provincial park
8.7 km
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Against other towns
How Varsity compares with 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. There is no Outdoors grade for Canadian towns; the figures stand beside the country’s towns of 2,500+ without a letter.
Protected within 10 km0.3%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 areas3Areas 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
Varsity has the 5th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (12,321 to 12,888 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
Varsity0.3%
Towns its size1.9%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Varsity3
Towns its size4
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Varsity0
Towns its size0
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
Where Varsity trails its peers is protected land nearby; 34 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | View Royal BC | 21% | 45% | 35 | 3 | 20 |
| 2 | Orleans Village - Chateauneuf ON | 14% | 0% | 35 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Summerland BC | 11% | 7.5% | 25 | 0 | 45 |
| 4 | Bridlewood AB | 7.7% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine QC | 7.3% | 6.1% | 46 | 0 | 94 |
| 6 | Saltspring Island BC | 6.7% | 17% | 109 | 3 | 44 |
| 7 | Rothesay NB | 5.5% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 37 |
| 8 | Saint-Hippolyte QC | 4.2% | 6.9% | 21 | 2 | 5 |
| 9 | Highland Creek ON | 3.5% | 0.6% | 14 | 0 | 5 |
| 10 | Chaparral AB | 3.2% | 9.8% | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 11 | New Springbrook ON | 3.1% | 2.4% | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | Lakeview AB | 2.9% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 13 | Carignan QC | 2.7% | 2.1% | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Yonge-Eglinton ON | 2.6% | 0% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 15 | Grenet QC | 2.5% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Spring Valley ON | 2.4% | 8.4% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Regent Park ON | 2.3% | 0% | 10 | 8 | 40 |
| 18 | Bromont QC | 2.2% | 2% | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| 19 | Yonge-Bay Corridor ON | 2.2% | 0% | 11 | 9 | 38 |
| 20 | Dovercourt Village ON | 2.1% | 0% | 11 | 3 | 13 |
| 21 | Kings County, Subdivision B NS | 1.7% | 5.9% | 19 | 2 | 9 |
| 22 | Bayview Woods-Steeles ON | 1.7% | 17% | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Forest Hill North ON | 1.5% | 0% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 24 | Royal Oak AB | 1.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | Highland West ON | 1.3% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Winchester ON | 1.2% | 0.6% | 28 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Meaford ON | 1.1% | 2.1% | 70 | 4 | 21 |
| 28 | Tyndall Park MB | 1.1% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Wellesley ON | 1% | 0% | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 30 | Windsor Park MB | 0.8% | 0.2% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Gander NL | 0.7% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 32 | Chalmers MB | 0.6% | 0% | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | Amos QC | 0.5% | 0.2% | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 34 | Lac Ste. Anne County AB | 0.5% | 0.4% | 33 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | Alderwood ON | 0.3% | 0% | 5 | 1 | 12 |
| 36 | Varsity AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 37 | Rutherford AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Norwich ON | 0.2% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 39 | DT Hospital ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 40 | Downtown AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
The map
The green map of Varsity
The neighbourhood’s parks, woods, protected land and paths, with its named places numbered.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
11 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Varsity
Bowmont Park is the largest, at 134 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
11 named parks and woods, 228 ha in all
Parks & gardens 228 ha
Between them, Bowmont Park and Dale Hodges Park cover 83%.
Dale Hodges Park
Park or garden
55 ha12.6 km of path
2 h 50 minto walk all 12.6 km of path
0.9 km south-westfrom the centre
Sideshow BobBow River Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs
Park or garden
8.9 ha2.9 km of path
40 minto walk all 2.9 km of path
2.6 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Varsity Ravine
Park or garden
9.0 ha1.3 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
0.9 km northfrom the centre
Varsity Estates Park regional pathway
Directionsto a point inside
University Athletic Park
Park or garden · 320 m outside town
8.1 ha0.4 km of path
2.0 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Silver Springs Park
Park or garden · 210 m outside town
6.0 ha0.2 km of path
2.8 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Blakiston Park
Park or garden · 110 m outside town
2.7 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
1.9 km eastfrom the centre
Baseball Diamond Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Central Commons Park
Park or garden · 360 m outside town
1.4 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
1.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 11 named parks and green spaces
Bowmont ParkPark or garden · 134 ha · 35.4 km of path
DirectionsDale Hodges ParkPark or garden · 55 ha · 12.6 km of path
DirectionsBotanical Gardens of Silver SpringsPark or garden · 8.9 ha · 2.9 km of path
DirectionsVarsity RavinePark or garden · 9.0 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsUniversity Athletic ParkPark or garden · 8.1 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSilver Springs ParkPark or garden · 6.0 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBlakiston ParkPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 1.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsCentral Commons ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 1.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsUniversity Research ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsJohn Hextall ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDigger ParkPark or garden · 0.2 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
Every resident of Varsity lives near a park
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%)
Varsity100%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, lower than here.
Protected areas
Varsity has 3 protected areas within 10 km
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Varsity0%
Within 10 km0.3%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
The 3 are all publicly owned. Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park leads for size with 1,337 ha.
Griffith Woods ParkMunicipal park · 110 ha · 8.1 km from the edge of town
Glenbow Ranch Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,337 ha · 8.7 km from the edge of town
Inglewood Migratory Bird SanctuaryWildlife area · 111 ha · 9.4 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, 70 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
8.7 km north-west13 km²since 2008
National park
Banff National Park
70 km north-west6,641 km²since 1885
A provincial park is closer: Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, at 8.7 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Varsity has 163 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
163 km
in and around the town (22.8 km²)
Woodland
1.8%
about 0.4 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
VarsityTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths7.2
04.59 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
VarsityTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland1.8%
0%50%100%
It is less wooded than 76% of Canadian towns. Paths are denser here than in 98% of Canadian towns.
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 Varsity 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.
Nothing near the neighbourhood is mapped as a named walking route, which often means the trails just haven’t been entered 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
Varsity is best on foot in May and July to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Calgary (Airport) (11 km), and daylight at the town’s latitude. Good months: 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15–30 °C, little 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 |
Rain and snow peak in June (113 mm) and ease in January (10 mm). Daytime highs run from -2 °C in January up to 24 °C in July. Snowfall averages 139 cm a year. The climate in Varsity →
Beaches
2 beaches within 5 km of Varsity
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Bowmont Beach0.6 km from town
DirectionsBowmont Beach0.7 km from town
DirectionsThis page can’t show water quality: no open, Canada-wide record of beach testing exists. Check local advisories first.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Varsity: 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.
The map shows 148 playgrounds, ahead of the rest.
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 9
Picnic Site 11.5 km from town
DirectionsPicnic Site 21.7 km from town
DirectionsPicnic Site 81.9 km from town
DirectionsPicnic Site 91.9 km from town
DirectionsPicnic Site 31.9 km from town
DirectionsPicnic Site 62.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 148
Monkey Aroundin town
DirectionsDigger Park0.4 km from town
DirectionsJumpstart Playground0.7 km from town
DirectionsAlberta Children's Hospital Playground0.8 km from town
DirectionsTerrace Road School Playground0.8 km from town
DirectionsUniversity of Calgary Child Development Playground0.8 km from town
DirectionsHaqet Playground0.8 km from town
DirectionsMontgomery Community Centre Playground1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 140 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 10
Varsity Ravinein town
DirectionsDalhousie off-leash area 21.2 km from town
DirectionsPlus 8 dog parks without a name on the map.
Slipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
3 gardens within reach of Varsity
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 · 4.9 km from town
DirectionsDevonian GardensGarden or park · 5.5 km from town
DirectionsOlympic PlazaGarden or park · 6.2 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 Varsity
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
DalhousieBrentwoodMontgomeryUniversity HeightsBownessSilver SpringsVarsity
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varsity | 0.3% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Dalhousie 1.9 km | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Brentwood 2.0 km | 0.1% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Montgomery 2.1 km | 0.3% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| University Heights 2.5 km | 0.6% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Bowness 2.8 km | 0.9% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Silver Springs 3.1 km | 0.8% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Varsity holds its own on protected land: no neighbour has twice its share.
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.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
Questions about the outdoors in Varsity
How far is Varsity from a national park?
Banff National Park, 70 km from the edge of town.
Are there protected areas near Varsity?
Within 10 km, 0.3% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Varsity?
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, a provincial park of 1,337 ha.
Is there a beach near Varsity?
Bowmont Beach, 0.6 km from town, is the nearest mapped beach.
When should you visit Varsity for the outdoors?
May and July to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Varsity?
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, 8.7 km away.
Sources
Where Varsity’s 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).