First pick
Matsqui Trail Regional Park
Park or garden
71 ha15.9 km of path
3 h 30 minto walk all 15.9 km of path
10 km north-eastfrom the centre
Matsqui TrailRiver Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.03.9%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Abbotsford · parks, protected land & trails
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve lies 47 km beyond Abbotsford’s edge
Cultus Lake Park is the closest provincial park, at 4.0 km. Swimmers have 10 beaches within 5 km, Hayward Lake First Beach the nearest. CPCAD lists 37 protected areas within 10 km.
Protected land
3.9%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
37
within 10 km, 15 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
47 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
4.0 km
Cultus Lake Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
10
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Against other towns
Each figure for Abbotsford, set against 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. This page carries no grade, because Canada’s grading doesn’t cover the outdoors; the comparisons are the point.
Protected within 10 km3.9%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0.5%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas15Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches10Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Abbotsford has the 19th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (105,925 to 243,107 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
Abbotsford3.9%
Towns its size3.7%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Abbotsford15
Towns its size15
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Abbotsford2
Towns its size2
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Abbotsford’s strong point is walking routes, where 13 of 39 top it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Ridge BC | 26% | 21% | 101 | 1 | 41 |
| 2 | Coquitlam BC | 25% | 28% | 130 | 5 | 69 |
| 3 | Delta BC | 24% | 17% | 181 | 9 | 19 |
| 4 | Richmond BC | 21% | 3.2% | 73 | 2 | 31 |
| 5 | Kamloops BC | 14% | 13% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 6 | Kelowna BC | 13% | 3.8% | 36 | 0 | 42 |
| 7 | Saanich BC | 11% | 9.4% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| 8 | Strathcona County AB | 9.4% | 1.4% | 38 | 7 | 6 |
| 9 | Trois-Rivières QC | 8.4% | 1.2% | 44 | 1 | 10 |
| 10 | Cape Breton NS | 8.2% | 8.6% | 176 | 1 | 74 |
| 11 | Pickering ON | 7.6% | 11% | 46 | 1 | 11 |
| 12 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury ON | 6.7% | 3.5% | 43 | 5 | 18 |
| 13 | Saguenay QC | 6% | 6.1% | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| 14 | Kingston ON | 5% | 6.2% | 54 | 2 | 5 |
| 15 | Ajax ON | 4.9% | 5.8% | 31 | 1 | 8 |
| 16 | Lévis QC | 4.1% | 0.6% | 62 | 1 | 8 |
| 17 | Sherbrooke QC | 4.1% | 0.8% | 23 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | Whitby ON | 3.9% | 4.7% | 37 | 1 | 3 |
| 19 | Abbotsford BC | 3.9% | 0.5% | 37 | 2 | 10 |
| 20 | Terrebonne QC | 3.8% | 3.6% | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 21 | Langley BC | 3.5% | 2.9% | 144 | 8 | 10 |
| 22 | Barrie ON | 2.6% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| 23 | Burlington ON | 2.5% | 1.6% | 27 | 2 | 17 |
| 24 | Oshawa ON | 2.4% | 0.3% | 30 | 1 | 4 |
| 25 | St. John's NL | 2.2% | 1.2% | 6 | 1 | 41 |
| 26 | Richmond Hill ON | 1.9% | 8.4% | 51 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | Nanaimo BC | 1.9% | 6.7% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| 28 | Cambridge ON | 1.7% | 0.4% | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| 29 | Bowmanville ON | 1.6% | 3% | 25 | 2 | 9 |
| 30 | Milton ON | 1.3% | 0% | 38 | 15 | 3 |
| 31 | St. Catharines ON | 1.2% | 1.7% | 15 | 4 | 7 |
| 32 | Niagara Falls ON | 1.1% | 1.7% | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 33 | Chatham ON | 1% | 1% | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 34 | Guelph ON | 0.9% | 3.1% | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 35 | Oakville ON | 0.9% | 4.1% | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 36 | Red Deer AB | 0.7% | 1.2% | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | Waterloo ON | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| 38 | Lethbridge AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Brantford ON | 0.3% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | Thunder Bay ON | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
The map
The green map of Abbotsford
The town’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
30 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Abbotsford
Matsqui Trail Regional Park is the largest, at 71 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 507 ha in all
Parks & gardens 507 ha
Its largest place holds only 14%: the rest is spread out.
Mill Lake Park
Park or garden
43 ha7.5 km of path
1 h 40 minto walk all 7.5 km of path
1.1 km southfrom the centre
Mill Lake Park BoardwalkMill Lake Fishing Pier
Directionsto a point inside
Willband Creek Park and Detention Pond
Park or garden
42 ha3.6 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.6 km of path
2.9 km north-eastfrom the centre
Willband Creek Park Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Straiton Park
Park or garden
41 ha3 km of path
40 minto walk all 3 km of path
5.8 km north-eastfrom the centre
The Lost OakleyStraiton Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Downes Bowl Park
Park or garden
34 ha4.7 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.7 km of path
2.3 km north-westfrom the centre
Downes Bowl Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Abbotsford Exhibition Park
Park or garden
32 ha3.1 km of path
40 minto walk all 3.1 km of path
1.3 km north-westfrom the centre
Discovery Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Maclure Trail Park
Park or garden
25 ha5.7 km of path
1 h 15 minto walk all 5.7 km of path
2.8 km westfrom the centre
Discovery Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Fishtrap Creek Park
Park or garden
19 ha3.8 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.8 km of path
3.3 km westfrom the centre
Discovery TrailFishtrap Creek Park Trail
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Matsqui Trail Regional ParkPark or garden · 71 ha · 15.9 km of path
DirectionsMill Lake ParkPark or garden · 43 ha · 7.5 km of path
DirectionsWillband Creek Park and Detention PondPark or garden · 42 ha · 3.6 km of path
DirectionsStraiton ParkPark or garden · 41 ha · 3 km of path
DirectionsDownes Bowl ParkPark or garden · 34 ha · 4.7 km of path
DirectionsAbbotsford Exhibition ParkPark or garden · 32 ha · 3.1 km of path
DirectionsMaclure Trail ParkPark or garden · 25 ha · 5.7 km of path
DirectionsFishtrap Creek ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 3.8 km of path
DirectionsClearbrook ParkPark or garden · 18 ha · 3.6 km of path
DirectionsFraser River Heritage ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 2.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsAlbert Dyck Memorial ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsOld Riverside ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsMcDonald ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsBateman ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsTownline Hill ParkPark or garden · 9.9 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsDeLair ParkPark or garden · 6.9 ha · 2.3 km of path
DirectionsLower Sumas Mountain ParkPark or garden · 7.5 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsCassiar ParkPark or garden · 6.4 ha · 2 km of path
DirectionsDouglas Taylor ParkPark or garden · 7.6 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsMcKay Creek ParkPark or garden · 6.9 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsGardner ParkPark or garden · 6.1 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsRavine ParkPark or garden · 7.0 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsSouthern ParkPark or garden · 6.2 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsStoney Creek ParkPark or garden · 7.1 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsClayburn ParkPark or garden · 7.9 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsMcKee Creek ParkPark or garden · 5.6 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsMcMillan ParkPark or garden · 7.3 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsGladwin ParkPark or garden · 5.2 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsLonzo Creek ParkPark or garden · 6.9 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsEllwood ParkPark or garden · 6.1 ha · 0.8 km of path
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
9 in 10 people in Abbotsford 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 (85%)Further (15%)
Abbotsford85%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
Around 26,000 residents are further than 400 m from a park. Against the typical Canadian town’s 83%, that is high.
Protected areas
3.9% of the country within 10 km of Abbotsford is protected
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Abbotsford0.5%
Within 10 km3.9%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 15 of the 37. The others are private conservation land. The largest named one is Golden Ears Park, at 62,539 ha. 22 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Bert Brink Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 915 ha · reaches Abbotsford
Aldergrove Regional ParkNature reserve · 148 ha · reaches Abbotsford
Glen Valley Regional ParkNature reserve · 67 ha · 1.5 km from the edge of town
SilverdaleNature reserve · 46 ha · 1.7 km from the edge of town
Great Blue Heron Nature ReserveNature reserve · 15 ha · 2.2 km from the edge of town
Kanaka Creek Regional ParkNature reserve · 475 ha · 3.7 km from the edge of town
Cultus Lake ParkProvincial park · 2,729 ha · 4.0 km from the edge of town
Fraser River Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 191 ha · 5.8 km from the edge of town
Rolley Lake ParkProvincial park · 115 ha · 8.1 km from the edge of town
Liumchen Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 2,161 ha · 8.6 km from the edge of town
3 more named areas within 10 km are in the figures.
2 areas recorded only by their type (provincial layers such as wildlife habitat areas) are counted, not listed.
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 Abbotsford
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
Cultus Lake Park
4.0 km east27 km²since 1948
Provincial park
Rolley Lake Park
8.1 km north1.2 km²since 1961
Provincial park
Golden Ears Park
9.5 km north625 km²since 1967
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
47 km south-west67 km²since 2010
Closer to home, Cultus Lake Park is 4.0 km away. 3 provincial parks lie within 10 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Abbotsford has 423 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
423 km
in and around the town (497.9 km²)
Woodland
21%
about 105.1 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
AbbotsfordTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.8
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
AbbotsfordTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland21%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 68% of Canadian towns. 60% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km².
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
Abbotsford has 2 named walking routes
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
Other waymarked
Chadsey Lake Trail4.0 km
Marsh Pond Loop0.8 km
Among local routes, the Chadsey Lake Trail is longest at 4.0 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 Abbotsford: May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Abbotsford (4.3 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) | 8.6 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.2 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 6 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 226 | 117 | 146 | 114 | 94 | 70 | 39 | 47 | 78 | 144 | 233 | 197 |
From 6 °C in December to 25 °C in August: that is the range of daytime highs. November is the wettest month (233 mm) and July the driest (39 mm). The yearly snowfall is near 56 cm. The climate in Abbotsford →
Beaches
10 beaches within 5 km of Abbotsford
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Hayward Lake First Beachsand · 4.1 km from town
DirectionsHayward Lake Second Beachsand · 4.1 km from town
DirectionsLindell Beachmixed · 4.7 km from town
DirectionsAdd 7 unnamed beaches to the count. Sandy ones: 2. Canada 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
Abbotsford has 45 viewpoints and 8 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
45Viewpoints15Hills and peaks8Waterfalls8Nature reserves23Picnic sites256Playgrounds7Dog parks2Campsites3Slipways
Count 256 playgrounds, the biggest group. Look up to Sumas Mountain: 910 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 45
Aldergrove Bowl Viewpointin town
DirectionsCo-op Community Viewing Platformin town
DirectionsLions Pointin town
DirectionsPage Bluffsin town
DirectionsSumas Mountain Viewpoint0.8 km from town
DirectionsEastern Lookout0.9 km from town
DirectionsBaker Rock0.9 km from town
DirectionsVedder Mountain Hang Glider Lookout1.2 km from town
DirectionsPlus 37 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 15
Eagle Mountain300 m · in town
DirectionsIntervedder Mountain623 m · in town
DirectionsMcKee Peak468 m · in town
DirectionsPilgrim's Knob305 m · in town
DirectionsPoignant533 m · in town
DirectionsSumas Mountain910 m · 0.9 km from town
DirectionsTaggart Peak796 m · 1.0 km from town
DirectionsHeritage Mountain212 m · 1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 7 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 8
Plus 5 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 8
Glen Valley Regional Parkin town
DirectionsMcKee Peak Parkin town
DirectionsPoplar Parkin town
DirectionsGenstar Wetlands Conservation Area0.5 km from town
DirectionsMilaster Passive Park0.6 km from town
DirectionsAldergrove Regional Park0.6 km from town
DirectionsNathan Creek Wetlands Park1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 nature reserve more.
Picnic sites 23
Mission Bridge Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsPicnic Shelterin town
DirectionsBlacktail Picnic Shelter0.5 km from town
DirectionsPlus 20 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 256
Abbotsford Senior's Community Parkin town
DirectionsMill Lake Children's Play Parkin town
DirectionsPlay Abbyin town
DirectionsPlay Junglein town
DirectionsPlay Parkin town
DirectionsRotary Crossingin town
DirectionsSpray Parkin town
DirectionsTownhill Park Playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 248 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 7
Clearbrook Park Off-Leash Dog Parkin town
DirectionsGladwin Road Dog Parkin town
DirectionsLower Dog Off-Leash Areain town
DirectionsUpper Dog Off-Leash Areain town
DirectionsYarrow Dog Off-Leash Area0.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Camp Elkgrovein town
DirectionsCamp Sumasin town
DirectionsSlipways 3
Dewdney Regional Park Boat Ramp0.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
A garden to visit near Abbotsford
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
International Friendship Garden & Cultural GatewayGarden or park · at the edge of 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 Abbotsford
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
MissionElectoral Area G, Fraser ValleyAbbotsford
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford | 3.9% | 37 | 2 | 10 |
| Mission 11 km | 19% | 28 | 3 | 33 |
| Electoral Area G, Fraser Valley 14 km | 5.1% | 31 | 3 | 9 |
Around Mission the protected share is at least double.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- 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.
Questions about the outdoors in Abbotsford
What is the best season to get outdoors in Abbotsford?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
How far is Abbotsford from a national park?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is closest, at 47 km.
Is there a beach near Abbotsford?
The nearest is Hayward Lake First Beach, 4.1 km from town.
Where can you walk near Abbotsford?
Try the Chadsey Lake Trail and Marsh Pond Loop; more are on the map.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Abbotsford?
Cultus Lake Park, 4.0 km from the edge of town.
How much land around Abbotsford is protected?
Protected areas cover 3.9% of the land within 10 km.
Which is the biggest protected area near Abbotsford?
Golden Ears Park, a provincial park of 62,539 ha.
Sources
The sources behind Abbotsford’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).