First pick
West River's Edge Park
Park or garden
225 ha16.7 km of path
3 h 45 minto walk all 16.7 km of path
20 km south-eastfrom the centre
At the End of the RainbowHidden Gold Trail - WestTrain in Vain+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: WinterE229 WinterforceMedia · CC00.8%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Sturgeon County · parks, protected land & trails
A national park 18 km from Sturgeon County: Elk Island National Park
For walks, 8 named routes run within 2 km, such as the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw and Moose Trail. Within 10 km are 25 protected areas. Jubilation Beach is the one beach within 5 km.
Protected land
0.8%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
25
within 10 km, 11 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
18 km
Elk Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park
Walking routes
8
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
1
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Sturgeon County has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyElk Island National Park, 18 km awayWalking routes8 named routes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeLois Hole Centennial Provincial Park reaches the town
Sturgeon County’s best card is Elk Island National Park within easy reach, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
Sturgeon County beside other Canadian towns, figure by figure
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 km0.8%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0.7%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas11Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes8Named 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
Sturgeon County has the 7th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (20,650 to 21,663 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
Sturgeon County0.8%
Towns its size2%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Sturgeon County11
Towns its size7
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Sturgeon County8
Towns its size0
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Sturgeon County sits near the top of its size group: 13 of 39 have more. On protected land nearby it is behind: 33 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rivière-du-Loup QC | 36% | 0.6% | 30 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Pitt Meadows BC | 28% | 18% | 127 | 2 | 11 |
| 3 | Dorval QC | 20% | 0.2% | 38 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Dunbar-Southlands BC | 17% | 0.9% | 12 | 1 | 62 |
| 5 | Mont-Bleu QC | 17% | 12% | 33 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | Woodlawn NS | 15% | 3.3% | 27 | 5 | 11 |
| 7 | Upper Lachine QC | 12% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | South Frontenac ON | 9.4% | 13% | 89 | 18 | 5 |
| 9 | Varennes QC | 9.3% | 6.2% | 56 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Colchester County, Subdivision B NS | 9% | 4.9% | 84 | 10 | 5 |
| 11 | Ile-des-Soeurs QC | 7.8% | 8% | 24 | 0 | 7 |
| 12 | Baie-Comeau QC | 7.4% | 0.4% | 22 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Maisonneuve QC | 5.2% | 0% | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures QC | 5% | 0.5% | 37 | 1 | 2 |
| 15 | Cole Harbour NS | 4.4% | 6.9% | 22 | 2 | 17 |
| 16 | West Rouge ON | 3.4% | 2.2% | 14 | 0 | 10 |
| 17 | Black Creek ON | 2.7% | 1% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | East L'Amoreaux ON | 2.2% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | L'Amoreaux West ON | 2.2% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Gabriel-Sagard QC | 2% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Chameran/Montpellier QC | 1.9% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Thornlea ON | 1.9% | 0% | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | The Beaches ON | 1.9% | 0% | 11 | 3 | 44 |
| 24 | Carling ON | 1.7% | 3.5% | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Huron Heights ON | 1.6% | 1.8% | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Englemount-Lawrence ON | 1.4% | 0% | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | Sunningdale ON | 1.4% | 1.6% | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | White Oaks ON | 1.4% | 0.1% | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Salmon Arm BC | 1.3% | 0.1% | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Oakwood Village ON | 1.3% | 0% | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| 31 | South Parkdale ON | 1.3% | 0% | 10 | 4 | 22 |
| 32 | Camrose AB | 0.9% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Oakdale-Beverley Heights ON | 0.9% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | Sturgeon County AB | 0.8% | 0.7% | 25 | 8 | 1 |
| 35 | Lloydminster (Part) AB | 0.5% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Tillsonburg ON | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 37 | East Windsor ON | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Forest Glade ON | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 39 | Evanston AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Saddle Ridge AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Sturgeon County
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the town; 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
29 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Sturgeon County
The biggest is West River's Edge Park, 225 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
29 named parks and woods, 459 ha in all
Parks & gardens 459 ha
Most of it sits in West River's Edge Park and Cardiff Park: 62% together.
Heritage Trails Park
Park or garden
58 ha9.9 km of path
2 h 10 minto walk all 9.9 km of path
22 km eastfrom the centre
Hell's HavenEnchanted ForestFox Run+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Cardiff Park
Park or garden
62 ha4.3 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.3 km of path
2.5 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Chabot Park
Park or garden
17 ha2.4 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.4 km of path
21 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Kingswood Park
Park or garden
17 ha1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
12 km southfrom the centre
Red Willow Trails
Directionsto a point inside
Turner Park
Park or garden
11 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
23 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Citadel Park
Park or garden · 380 m outside town
8.5 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
22 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Erin Ridge Ravine
Park or garden
7.3 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
11 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 29 named parks and green spaces
West River's Edge ParkPark or garden · 225 ha · 16.7 km of path
DirectionsHeritage Trails ParkPark or garden · 58 ha · 9.9 km of path
DirectionsCardiff ParkPark or garden · 62 ha · 4.3 km of path
DirectionsChabot ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 2.4 km of path
DirectionsKingswood ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsTurner ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsCitadel ParkPark or garden · 8.5 ha · 0.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsErin Ridge RavinePark or garden · 7.3 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsOakmont ParkPark or garden · 6.6 ha · 0.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPeter Ream ParkPark or garden · 4.8 ha · 1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsFuture School SitePark or garden · 5.3 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMcDonald Sport ComplexPark or garden · 5.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 3.5 ha · 0.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsWilliam Casey ParkPark or garden · 3.1 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSir Winston Churchill ParkPark or garden · 4.4 ha
DirectionsLegacy ParkPark or garden · 3.5 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsOakdale ParkPark or garden · 2.3 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDodger Dog ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · just outside town
DirectionsEcho Glen ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsOliver ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsLegal TrailPark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMarion Rogers ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsKnights of Columbus ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · just outside town
DirectionsOverton ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGrasshopper Hill ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · just outside town
DirectionsGreen AreaPark or garden · 0.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsGault Memorial ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsJubilation Beach ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsKensington ParkPark 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
2 in 10 people in Sturgeon County live 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 (16%)Further (84%)
Sturgeon County16%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 18,000 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. The typical Canadian town reaches 83%.
Protected areas
Protected land at the edge of Sturgeon County: Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Sturgeon County0.7%
Within 10 km0.8%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public bodies own 11 of the 25; land trusts and private owners hold the others. Biggest of the named areas: Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, 2,055 ha. The figures include 14 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial ParkProvincial park · 2,055 ha · reaches Sturgeon County
Opal Natural AreaNature reserve · 371 ha · reaches Sturgeon County
Halfmoon Lake Natural AreaNature reserve · 332 ha · 2.3 km from the edge of town
Wagner Natural AreaNature reserve · 220 ha · 3.0 km from the edge of town
George Lake Natural AreaNature reserve · 130 ha · 4.0 km from the edge of town
Bilby Natural AreaNature reserve · 121 ha · 4.8 km from the edge of town
Redwater River Natural AreaNature reserve · 65 ha · 6.2 km from the edge of town
Halfway Lake Natural AreaNature reserve · 128 ha · 7.8 km from the edge of town
Taylor Lake Natural AreaNature reserve · 40 ha · 7.8 km from the edge of town
Crippsdale Natural AreaNature reserve · 65 ha · 8.7 km from the edge of town
1 more named area within 10 km is in the comparison figures.
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
Big parks near Sturgeon County
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
At the edge21 km²since 2005
National park
Elk Island National Park
18 km east194 km²since 1913
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Sturgeon County and its edge hold 251 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
251 km
in and around the town (2,390.7 km²)
Woodland
9.6%
about 229.5 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Sturgeon CountyTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Sturgeon CountyTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland9.6%
0%50%100%
Paths are thinner on the ground than in 85% of Canadian towns. Woods cover more of it than in 52% 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
8 walking routes near Sturgeon County
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalLocal
Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw83.8 km
Moose Trail2.0 km
Coyote Trail1.4 km
Meadow Trail1.3 km
Porcupine Trail1.1 km
Dogwood Loop0.8 km
Poplar Trail0.8 km
Chickadee Trail0.5 km
At 83.8 km, the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw is the longest local route. 7 are short walks under 3 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 Sturgeon County: May, August and September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Edmonton (City), 21 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 | 17.1 | 16.6 | 14.8 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.5 | 7.4 |
| 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 |
Snowfall averages 124 cm a year. Daytime highs run from -6 °C in January up to 24 °C in July. July brings both the warmest days and the most rain (83 mm); February is driest (12 mm). The climate in Sturgeon County →
Beaches
For a swim near Sturgeon County: Jubilation Beach, 0.4 km off
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Jubilation Beach0.4 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
Sturgeon County has 7 viewpoints within 2 km
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Most numerous: playgrounds (143).
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 7
John E. Poole Interpretive Wetlandin town
DirectionsLake Viewpoint - Big Lake Environment Support Societyin town
DirectionsPlus 5 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Edmonton and Area Land Trust - Boisvert's GreenWoodsin town
DirectionsRedwater Provincial Recreation Areain town
DirectionsPicnic sites 7
Plus 7 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 143
Andy's Place Playground0.9 km from town
DirectionsNapoleon Park Playground1.2 km from town
DirectionsRapperswill Playground1.4 km from town
DirectionsCastlewood Lake Playground1.9 km from town
DirectionsHenderson Park2.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 138 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 6
McLeod Creek Farm and Campgroundin town
DirectionsCentennial RV Park0.1 km from town
DirectionsFort Lions Campground0.1 km from town
DirectionsSandy Beach Campground0.5 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 2
Plus 2 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
William Hawrelak Park, 11 km from Sturgeon County, is the garden to visit
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 · 11 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 Sturgeon County
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
MorinvilleBon AccordElsinoreSt. AlbertCanossaRapperswillSturgeon County
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon County | 0.8% | 25 | 8 | 1 |
| Morinville 7.5 km | 0.1% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bon Accord 13 km | 0.1% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Elsinore 14 km | 0.2% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| St. Albert 14 km | 3.4% | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| Canossa 14 km | 0.9% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rapperswill 14 km | 1.2% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
For protected land, St. Albert has twice as much or more.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- Protected land. CPCAD maps each protected area; the page counts how much of the 10 km around the town they cover, lakes and sea included.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- 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 Sturgeon County
What is the largest protected area near Sturgeon County?
It is Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, a provincial park covering 2,055 ha.
Is there a provincial park near Sturgeon County?
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park begins at the town’s edge.
When is the best time for walking in Sturgeon County?
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.
Is Sturgeon County near a national park?
It is Elk Island National Park, 18 km off.
Are there protected areas near Sturgeon County?
Protected areas cover 0.8% of the land within 10 km.
Where can you swim near Sturgeon County?
Try Jubilation Beach, 0.4 km from town.
What walking routes are near Sturgeon County?
Try the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw, Moose Trail and Coyote Trail; more are on the map.
Sources
The sources behind Sturgeon County’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).