Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domainIn Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay, 38% of the land is set aside as protected
The protected share within 10 km is 26%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%. 20 areas within 10 km are protected for nature. For a swim, Martell Beach is the nearest of 5 beaches within 5 km.
Where Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
For someone who likes to get outside, Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay’s draw is protected land inside its own boundary, with protected land around it close behind.
Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay 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. There is no Outdoors grade for Canadian towns; the figures stand beside the country’s towns of 2,500+ without a letter.
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay comes 4th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (2,631 to 2,706 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
For protected land nearby, Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay sits near the top of its size group: 3 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Ronge SK | 49% | 0.2% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Division No. 7, Subdivision E NL | 30% | 28% | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Bouctouche NB | 27% | 1.6% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay BC | 26% | 38% | 20 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Tumbler Ridge BC | 12% | 5.1% | 5 | 0 | 51 |
| 6 | Eastman QC | 11% | 7.4% | 49 | 5 | 7 |
| 7 | Swan Valley West MB | 11% | 1% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Electoral Area F, Sunshine Coast BC | 10% | 15% | 73 | 0 | 231 |
| 9 | Saint George NB | 7.2% | 14% | 28 | 0 | 23 |
| 10 | East River, Part 1 PE | 4.3% | 9.1% | 38 | 14 | 20 |
| 11 | Emerson-Franklin MB | 3.7% | 0.1% | 123 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Kinburn ON | 3.1% | 0% | 31 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | Saint-François-Xavier-de-Brompton QC | 2.8% | 5.3% | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Saint-Mathieu QC | 2.4% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | La Présentation QC | 1.7% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Adelaide/Churchill SK | 1.7% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Eastdale ON | 1.6% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 8 |
| 18 | Westmeria ON | 1.6% | 0% | 18 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | Meadowlark Park AB | 1.6% | 0% | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | Brockville MB | 1.5% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | South River Heights MB | 1.5% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 | Westview SK | 1.4% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | North Point Douglas MB | 1.2% | 0% | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| 24 | Grand Manan NB | 0.8% | 6.1% | 14 | 1 | 31 |
| 25 | Hanna AB | 0.8% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Waterville QC | 0.7% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Berwick NS | 0.6% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Saint-Alexandre QC | 0.6% | 0.6% | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Grey MB | 0.6% | 0.7% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Saint-Chrysostome QC | 0.4% | 0.3% | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 31 | Sundre AB | 0.4% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Macamic QC | 0.3% | 0% | 11 | 2 | 3 |
| 33 | Cy Becker AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Spaniard's Bay NL | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 35 | Saint-Bernard QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Saint-Martin QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Saint-Léonard-d'Aston QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Delton AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | Gold Bar AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 40 | Highlands AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The green map of Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay
The town’s parks, woods, protected land and paths as mapped.
Most of Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay is more than a short walk from 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.
In the typical Canadian town the share is 83%, higher than here. Around 2,700 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
26% of the country within 10 km of Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay is protected
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
On public land: 15 of the 20. The others are private conservation land. At 201,967 ha, Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Park is the largest. The figures include 5 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
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.
91 km to Kootenay National Park
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.
West Arm Park
Kianuko Park
Lockhart Creek Park
Pilot Bay Park
Kootenay Lake Park
Drewry Point Park
There are 7 provincial parks within 10 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
124 km of paths in and around Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay
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 · km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
92% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km². It is more wooded than 97% 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.
No named walking route passes Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay 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.
There is no mapped walking route within 2 km of the town; a local trail club’s maps may show more.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
Walking season in Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay: May and July to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Creston (32 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 | 13.7 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.9 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| High (°C) | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 76 | 48 | 65 | 47 | 63 | 74 | 35 | 24 | 40 | 54 | 84 | 81 |
Some 151 cm of snow falls each winter. Summer highs reach 29 °C in July; in December they stay near 1 °C. Most rain and snow falls in November, 84 mm; August sees 24 mm. The climate in Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay →
Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay has 5 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
2 are mapped as sand. The map adds 3 unnamed stretches of beach. Beach water tests aren’t published as open data across Canada, so swimming advisories come from the local health unit.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay: 8 and 1
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Most numerous: hills and peaks (32). Among the peaks, Mount Baldr is highest at 2,794 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 8
Plus 5 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 32
Plus 24 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 1
Nature reserves 4
Picnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 1
Plus 1 playground without a name on the map.
Campsites 9
Plus 2 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next to Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. The nearest places to Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay with figures are 30–47 km away.
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay | 26% | 20 | 0 | 5 |
| Electoral Area C, Central Kootenay 30 km | 19% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Creston 32 km | 5.5% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electoral Area B, Central Kootenay 34 km | 4.5% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay 45 km | 26% | 24 | 2 | 14 |
| Nelson 47 km | 14% | 10 | 2 | 8 |
None of the places nearby has twice as much protected land around it as Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay. More routes are mapped around Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay (2).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay
When is the best time for walking in Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay?
On the normals, May and July to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Is there a provincial park near Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay?
Lockhart Beach Park touches the town.
Are there protected areas near Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay?
Protected areas cover 26% of the land within 10 km.
Is there a beach near Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay?
Try Martell Beach, in town, first of several.
What is the nearest national park to Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay?
It is Kootenay National Park, 91 km off.
Which is the biggest protected area near Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay?
Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Park: 201,967 ha, a provincial park.
Sources for this page on Electoral Area A, Central Kootenay
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.
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).