First pick
Mill Creek Ravine Park
Park or garden
141 ha24.1 km of path
5 h 20 minto walk all 24.1 km of path
4.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
The TrapRidge RunnerOff-Leash Path+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Joli Rumi · CC BY-SA 4.00.1%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Strathcona · parks, protected land & trails
Elk Island National Park lies 34 km beyond Strathcona’s edge
For a provincial park, Big Island Provincial Park lies 12 km off. Of the country within 10 km, 0.1% lies in protected areas; the median Canadian town has 2.3%. Named trails close by number 2, the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw and Edmonton Pedway Network among them.
Protected land
0.1%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
1
within 10 km, 1 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
34 km
Elk Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
12 km
Big Island Provincial Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
1
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Against other towns
How Strathcona 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. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
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 areas1Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named 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
Strathcona sits 4th from last of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (8,158 to 8,412 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
Strathcona0.1%
Towns its size1.3%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Strathcona1
Towns its size3
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Strathcona2
Towns its size0
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Strathcona lags towns its size: 36 of 39 are ahead.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Malbaie QC | 27% | 0.5% | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Argyle NS | 21% | 22% | 136 | 0 | 22 |
| 3 | Alta Vista ON | 13% | 0.7% | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Old Ottawa East ON | 13% | 4.2% | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Upper Cornell ON | 12% | 49% | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Crestview-Tanglewood ON | 12% | 0% | 28 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | Mount Joy ON | 10% | 0% | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Rigaud QC | 7.1% | 1.5% | 44 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | Secord AB | 6.4% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Saint-Vincent-de-Paul QC | 5.6% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Norton Park ON | 5.5% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Saint-Roch QC | 5.1% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Kirkland Lake ON | 5% | 9.5% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 14 | G-Section (bramalea) ON | 5% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Walden AB | 3.2% | 0.1% | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| 16 | McNab/Braeside ON | 2.7% | 0.1% | 35 | 0 | 14 |
| 17 | Douro-Dummer ON | 2.3% | 1.4% | 17 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | Torbay NL | 1.9% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 19 | South Pointe MB | 1.6% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | Goderich ON | 1.5% | 0% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 21 | Alnwick/Haldimand ON | 1.1% | 2.9% | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| 22 | South Terwillegar AB | 0.8% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Lawson Heights SK | 0.7% | 8.1% | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 24 | St. Norbert MB | 0.6% | 1.6% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | South-West Oxford ON | 0.5% | 0.3% | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| 26 | Bayfield ON | 0.5% | 0.1% | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 27 | Vermilion River County AB | 0.5% | 0.3% | 24 | 0 | 6 |
| 28 | Southdale MB | 0.5% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Springfield North MB | 0.5% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Plattsville ON | 0.4% | 0.1% | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 31 | Clinton ON | 0.4% | 0.3% | 11 | 13 | 6 |
| 32 | Valley Gardens MB | 0.4% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Kildare-Redonda MB | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Marlborough Park AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | St. Marys ON | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 36 | King Edward Park AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 37 | Strathcona AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 38 | Happy Valley-Goose Bay NL | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 39 | Aylmer ON | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Ponoka AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Strathcona
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
Walk in Strathcona: 24 named parks and woods
Largest first: Mill Creek Ravine Park leads with 141 ha. Numbers match the map.
24 named parks and woods, 290 ha in all
Parks & gardens 266 haWoods 24 ha
Between them, Mill Creek Ravine Park and Kinsmen Park cover 65%.
Kinsmen Park
Park or garden
47 ha9.5 km of path
2 h 5 minto walk all 9.5 km of path
1.3 km north-westfrom the centre
HUB Traverse9160 Walterdale Hill NWKinsmen River's Edge Singletrack+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Gallagher Park
Park or garden · 80 m outside town
22 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
1.6 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
Park or garden · 160 m outside town
15 ha5.2 km of path
1 h 10 minto walk all 5.2 km of path
2.2 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Henrietta Muir Edwards Park
Park or garden
10 ha3.8 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.8 km of path
2.0 km north-eastfrom the centre
Edmonton QueenCloverdale AccessBirdhouse+1 path
Directionsto a point inside
Nellie McClung Park
Wood or forest
13 ha3.5 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.5 km of path
1.1 km northfrom the centre
Old Timers' AccessThe West CoastNellie McLung Lower Access+1 path
Directionsto a point inside
Queen Elizabeth Park
Wood or forest
11 ha2.9 km of path
40 minto walk all 2.9 km of path
Centralin the middle of Strathcona
Gnome TrailNellie McLung Lower AccessOld Timers' Access
Directionsto a point inside
Constable Ezio Faraone Park
Park or garden · 300 m outside town
5.0 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
1.8 km north-westfrom the centre
Royal Glenora Stairs
Directionsto a point inside
All 24 named parks and green spaces
Mill Creek Ravine ParkPark or garden · 141 ha · 24.1 km of path
DirectionsKinsmen ParkPark or garden · 47 ha · 9.5 km of path
DirectionsGallagher ParkPark or garden · 22 ha · 1.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsLouise McKinney Riverfront ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 5.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsHenrietta Muir Edwards ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 3.8 km of path
DirectionsNellie McClung ParkWood or forest · 13 ha · 3.5 km of path
DirectionsQueen Elizabeth ParkWood or forest · 11 ha · 2.9 km of path
DirectionsConstable Ezio Faraone ParkPark or garden · 5.0 ha · 1.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsIrene Parlby ParkPark or garden · 4.1 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRossdale Park 1Park or garden · 3.7 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDonnan ParkPark or garden · 3.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsRossdale Park 2Park or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsÎNÎW River Lot 11∞ Indigenous Art ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsDiamond ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · just outside town
DirectionsGarneau ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsStrathcona ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha
DirectionsEnd of Steel ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsMuttart ConservatoryPark or garden · 1.2 ha · just outside town
DirectionsMcDougall ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsLight Horse ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsWest Ritchie Community GardenPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRossdale Linear ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsW.C. "Tubby" Bateman ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsDr. Wilbert McIntyre ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
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
All of Strathcona is within a short walk of 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%)
Strathcona100%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
Few do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%.
Protected areas
Strathcona has 1 protected area 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 Strathcona0%
Within 10 km0.1%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
A government owns it.
Larch SanctuaryNature reserve · 24 ha · 7.6 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
Parks around Strathcona
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
Big Island Provincial Park
12 km south-west0.8 km²since 2023
National park
Elk Island National Park
34 km east194 km²since 1913
Big Island Provincial Park, a provincial park, is nearer at 12 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Strathcona and its edge hold 119 km of footpath
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
119 km
in and around the town (14.1 km²)
Woodland
12%
about 1.8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
StrathconaTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths8.4
0510 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
StrathconaTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland12%
0%50%100%
Paths are denser here than in 100% of Canadian towns. More of it is wooded than in 57% 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
2 mapped routes to walk from Strathcona
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalOther waymarked
Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw83.8 km
Edmonton Pedway Network3.2 km
Among local routes, the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw is longest at 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
The best months for walking in Strathcona: May, August and September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Edmonton (City), 5.6 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) | 8.0 | 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 |
A typical year sees 124 cm of snow. In July the typical high is 24 °C; in January, -6 °C. The warmest month, July, is also the wettest (83 mm), while February is driest at 12 mm. The climate in Strathcona →
Beaches
For a swim near Strathcona: Accidental Beach, 0.9 km off
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Accidental Beach0.9 km from town
DirectionsWhether the water is fit for a swim isn’t in any open national dataset; public health posts the local advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Strathcona: 9 viewpoints, 1 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
9Viewpoints6Hills and peaks1Waterfalls1Nature reserves18Picnic sites87Playgrounds4Dog parks1Slipways
The tallest named summit close by is Bellamy Hill (686 m). The map shows 87 playgrounds, ahead of the rest.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 9
Frederick G. Todd Lookout0.2 km from town
DirectionsRiverdale Lookout0.9 km from town
DirectionsRiverSide 1000.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 6 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 6
Grierson Hill678 m · 0.4 km from town
DirectionsMcDougall Hill670 m · 0.5 km from town
DirectionsBellamy Hill686 m · 0.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 1
EPCOR Waterfall0.8 km from town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
Camel Humps Nature Reserve1.0 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 18
Site 60.5 km from town
DirectionsSite 50.8 km from town
DirectionsSite 40.9 km from town
DirectionsSite 11.0 km from town
DirectionsSite 21.0 km from town
DirectionsSite 31.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 12 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 87
McKernan Playground1.3 km from town
DirectionsRiverdale School Playground1.3 km from town
DirectionsHazeldean Spray Park1.6 km from town
Directionssplash pad1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 83 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 4
South Bark0.0 km from town
Directions104th Avenue Off-Leash Dog Park1.2 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Slipways 1
Emily Murphy Park Canoe Launch1.9 km from town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
3 gardens and historic parks to visit near Strathcona
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Chinese Garden PagodaGarden or park · 0.6 km from town
DirectionsWilliam Hawrelak ParkGarden or park · 2.3 km from town
DirectionsMill Woods Sports ParkGarden or park · 7.2 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 Strathcona
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
RitchieQueen AlexandraGarneauDowntownBonnie DoonRiverdaleStrathcona
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strathcona | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Ritchie 1.4 km | 0.1% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Queen Alexandra 1.5 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Garneau 1.7 km | 0.1% | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Downtown 1.8 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Bonnie Doon 1.8 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Riverdale 2.1 km | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Around Strathcona, nobody nearby has double its protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
Questions about the outdoors in Strathcona
What is the nearest provincial park to Strathcona?
Big Island Provincial Park, 12 km away.
When is the best time for walking in Strathcona?
May, August and September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Is Strathcona near a national park?
Elk Island National Park, 34 km from the edge of town.
Is there protected land near Strathcona?
Within 10 km, 0.1% of the land lies in protected areas.
Are there hiking trails near Strathcona?
OpenStreetMap maps the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw and Edmonton Pedway Network close by, with others.
What is the nearest beach to Strathcona?
The nearest is Accidental Beach, 0.9 km from town.
What is the largest protected area near Strathcona?
Larch Sanctuary: 24 ha, a nature reserve.
Sources
The sources behind Strathcona’s outdoors figures
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).