First pick
William Hawrelak Park
Park or garden
60 ha9.8 km of path
2 h 10 minto walk all 9.8 km of path
2.0 km north-westfrom the centre
Belgravia Access NorthRich Kid
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.00.1%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Garneau · parks, protected land & trails
Garneau is 36 km from Elk Island National Park
9.8 km from town is Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, the nearest provincial park. Named trails close by number 3, the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw and Wander Trail among them. Within 10 km of the town, 0.1% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town.
Protected land
0.1%
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
36 km
Elk Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
9.8 km
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
1
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Garneau, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Walking routes3 named routes within 2 kmLittle protected land0.1% within 10 km; the typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Out of doors, Garneau leads with its choice of walking routes. Where it falls short is protected land nearby.
Against other towns
How Garneau 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. Canada’s grades don’t include the outdoors, so this page compares the figures rather than grading them.
Protected within 10 km0.1%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 routes3Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches1Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Garneau has the 3rd least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (8,375 to 8,612 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
Garneau0.1%
Towns its size2.9%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Garneau2
Towns its size3
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Garneau3
Towns its size0
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
Where Garneau trails its peers is protected land nearby; 36 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunt Club Park ON | 13% | 0% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Alta Vista ON | 13% | 0.7% | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Britannia ON | 13% | 12% | 31 | 4 | 9 |
| 4 | West Centretown ON | 11% | 0% | 36 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Stone Mills ON | 10% | 11% | 58 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Wildfield ON | 9.1% | 14% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Muskoka Lakes ON | 6.3% | 11% | 26 | 1 | 12 |
| 8 | Iqaluit NU | 6.1% | 11% | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 9 | Lac la Biche County AB | 5.8% | 5.7% | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | Norton Park ON | 5.5% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Trinity Commons ON | 5.3% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Saint-Roch QC | 5.1% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Vaughan Metropolitan Centre ON | 4.7% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Somerset AB | 4.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 15 | Electoral Area A, Comox Valley BC | 4% | 4.1% | 97 | 2 | 19 |
| 16 | Heart Lake North ON | 3.9% | 43% | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Trail BC | 3.5% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| 18 | Electoral Area G, Nanaimo BC | 3.2% | 7.5% | 32 | 0 | 13 |
| 19 | Brownsburg-Chatham QC | 3.1% | 2% | 35 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Ogden AB | 2.9% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 21 | Deer Lake BC | 2.9% | 0% | 22 | 4 | 25 |
| 22 | Rocky Ridge AB | 2.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Douro-Dummer ON | 2.3% | 1.4% | 17 | 2 | 3 |
| 24 | Prairie View SK | 2.3% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Puslinch ON | 2.2% | 1.1% | 29 | 18 | 5 |
| 26 | Goderich ON | 1.5% | 0% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 27 | Drumheller AB | 1% | 4.9% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | St. John's MB | 0.9% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Rosewood SK | 0.9% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Hillhurst AB | 0.6% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 31 | South-West Oxford ON | 0.5% | 0.3% | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| 32 | Lac-Beauport QC | 0.4% | 0.1% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 33 | Marlborough Park AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Albert Park/Radisson Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | King Edward Park AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 36 | Wild Rose AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 37 | Nolan Hill AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Garneau AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 39 | Huron-Kinloss ON | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 40 | Dauphin MB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in Garneau
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
27 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Garneau
Largest first: William Hawrelak Park leads with 60 ha. Numbers match the map.
27 named parks and woods, 272 ha in all
Parks & gardens 272 ha
Between them, William Hawrelak Park and Buena Vista Park cover 41%.
Buena Vista Park
Park or garden · 170 m outside town
53 ha10.9 km of path
2 h 25 minto walk all 10.9 km of path
1.9 km westfrom the centre
Buena Visa Park Access (South)Peckers HollowPecker's Conneckter
Directionsto a point inside
Kinsmen Park
Park or garden
47 ha9.5 km of path
2 h 5 minto walk all 9.5 km of path
0.9 km north-eastfrom the centre
HUB Traverse9160 Walterdale Hill NWKinsmen River's Edge Singletrack+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
MacKinnon Ravine Park
Park or garden · 150 m outside town
35 ha8.7 km of path
1 h 55 minto walk all 8.7 km of path
3.2 km north-westfrom the centre
Roller CoasterRoot CanalBack Breaker+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Victoria Park
Park or garden · 250 m outside town
18 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
1.5 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Ramsay Ravine
Park or garden · 150 m outside town
17 ha1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
3.2 km north-westfrom the centre
Ramsay Ravine Multi-Use TrailWonder Woman
Directionsto a point inside
Government House Park
Park or garden · 170 m outside town
8.4 ha1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
2.6 km north-westfrom the centre
Purple HazeWonder Woman
Directionsto a point inside
Emily Murphy Park
Park or garden
8.1 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
2.0 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 27 named parks and green spaces
William Hawrelak ParkPark or garden · 60 ha · 9.8 km of path
DirectionsBuena Vista ParkPark or garden · 53 ha · 10.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsKinsmen ParkPark or garden · 47 ha · 9.5 km of path
DirectionsMacKinnon Ravine ParkPark or garden · 35 ha · 8.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsVictoria ParkPark or garden · 18 ha · 1.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRamsay RavinePark or garden · 17 ha · 1.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGovernment House ParkPark or garden · 8.4 ha · 1.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsEmily Murphy ParkPark or garden · 8.1 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsConstable Ezio Faraone ParkPark or garden · 5.0 ha · 1.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMain QuadPark or garden · 2.1 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsÎNÎW River Lot 11∞ Indigenous Art ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsWindsor ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsBraithwaithe ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsGeoscience GardenPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsCorbett QuadPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsCorbett FieldPark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsTipton ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsMcKernan ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGarneau ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha
DirectionsCharles Simmonds ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsArts/Business QuadPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsEngineering QuadPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsGowan ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsJoe Morris ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsLight Horse ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsEdinboro ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsDr. Wilbert McIntyre 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 Garneau 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%)
Garneau100%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
For comparison, the median Canadian town has 83%.
Protected areas
Garneau has 2 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 Garneau0%
Within 10 km0.1%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Each of the 2 is held by a public body. At 2,055 ha, Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park is the largest.
Larch SanctuaryNature reserve · 24 ha · 7.0 km from the edge of town
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial ParkProvincial park · 2,055 ha · 9.8 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
The parks within reach of Garneau
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
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park
9.8 km north-west21 km²since 2005
National park
Elk Island National Park
36 km east194 km²since 1913
Nearer still is Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, a provincial park 9.8 km away.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Paths to walk: 145 km in and around Garneau
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
145 km
in and around the town (17.4 km²)
Woodland
17%
about 3 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
GarneauTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths8.3
0510 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
GarneauTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland17%
0%50%100%
Paths are denser here than in 100% of Canadian towns. It is more wooded than 64% 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
3 walking routes near Garneau
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalLocalOther waymarked
Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw83.8 km
Edmonton Pedway Network3.2 km
Wander Trail1.0 km
The longest of the rest is the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw, 83.8 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Walking season in Garneau: May, August and September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Edmonton (City) (5.5 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) | 8.0 | 9.7 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 15.9 | 17.0 | 16.5 | 14.8 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| High (°C) | -6 | -3 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 10 | 1 | -5 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 20 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 44 | 70 | 83 | 61 | 39 | 21 | 18 | 12 |
Summer highs reach 24 °C in July; in January they stay near -6 °C. Expect 83 mm in July, warm and wet, and 12 mm in February. Some 124 cm of snow falls each winter. The climate in Garneau →
Beaches
Accidental Beach, 2.8 km away, is the beach near Garneau
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Accidental Beach2.8 km from town
DirectionsNo open data on beach water quality covers every province, so check with public health before a swim.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
12 viewpoints near Garneau
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
There are 81 playgrounds, more than of anything else. The highest named peak nearby is Bellamy Hill, at 686 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 12
RiverSide 1000.2 km from town
DirectionsKeillor Point0.8 km from town
DirectionsFrederick G. Todd Lookout1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 9 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 6
Bellamy Hill686 m · 1.7 km from town
DirectionsMcDougall Hill670 m · 1.9 km from town
DirectionsGrierson Hill678 m · 2.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 70
Site #5in town
DirectionsSite 2in town
DirectionsSite 3in town
DirectionsSite 60.3 km from town
DirectionsSite 10.3 km from town
DirectionsSite 50.4 km from town
DirectionsSite 40.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 63 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 81
McKernan Playground0.4 km from town
DirectionsBeaver Lodge1.4 km from town
DirectionsIce Cave & Melt Water Play Area1.4 km from town
Directionssplash pad1.5 km from town
DirectionsPlus 77 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 5
South Bark0.1 km from town
DirectionsBuena Vista Dog Park0.5 km from town
DirectionsBelgravia Dog Park1.3 km from town
DirectionsPleasantview Dog Park1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
3 gardens and historic parks to visit near Garneau
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
William Hawrelak ParkGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsChinese Garden PagodaGarden or park · 2.5 km from town
DirectionsMill Woods Sports ParkGarden or park · 8.1 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 Garneau
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Queen AlexandraMcKernanStrathconaBelgraviaAllendaleDowntownGarneau
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garneau | 0.1% | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Queen Alexandra 1.0 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| McKernan 1.1 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Strathcona 1.7 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Belgravia 1.9 km | 0.2% | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Allendale 2.2 km | 0.1% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Downtown 2.4 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Garneau is not outdone two to one on protected land by any neighbour.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- National and provincial parks. National parks are Parks Canada’s; provincial parks are the province’s or territory’s, Québec’s parcs nationaux among them.
- 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.
- Protected land. The share is of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s outline, from CPCAD’s mapped areas; marine areas count, so a coastal town can score high on water.
- Private land. Land owned by individuals, companies or conservation groups counts toward the figures but is never named: a person’s land isn’t a place to visit.
Questions about the outdoors in Garneau
Is there protected land near Garneau?
Within 10 km, 0.1% of the land lies in protected areas.
What walking routes are near Garneau?
OpenStreetMap maps the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw, Wander Trail and Edmonton Pedway Network close by, with others.
Where can you swim near Garneau?
Try Accidental Beach, 2.8 km from town.
What is the nearest national park to Garneau?
Elk Island National Park, 36 km from the edge of town.
What is the largest protected area near Garneau?
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, a provincial park of 2,055 ha.
Is there a provincial park near Garneau?
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, 9.8 km away.
When should you visit Garneau for the outdoors?
May, August and September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
Sources
Sources for this page on Garneau
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).