First pick
Bonnington Steed Recreation Site
Park or garden
5,825 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
22 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain26%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay · parks, protected land & trails
Protected areas cover 26% of the country around Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Within its own boundary, 31% of the town is protected. For a swim, Taghum Beach is the nearest of 14 beaches within 5 km. 24 protected areas lie within 10 km.
Protected land
26%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
24
within 10 km, 15 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Kokanee Glacier Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
14
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round26% of the land within 10 km, more than 97% of Canadian townsProtected land in town31% of Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay itself lies in protected areasBeaches14 beaches within 5 kmA provincial park at the edgeKokanee Glacier Park reaches the town
What Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay has most to offer outdoors is protected land around it, with protected land inside its own boundary close behind.
Against other towns
How Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay 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 km26%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town31%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
Beaches14Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay has the most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (4,237 to 4,380 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
Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay26%
Towns its size2.4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay15
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay2
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay leads its size group for protected land nearby: none of the other 39 has more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay BC | 26% | 31% | 24 | 2 | 14 |
| 2 | Oka QC | 20% | 26% | 53 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | Electoral Area E, Cariboo BC | 16% | 17% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Beaupré QC | 16% | 1.2% | 26 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Victoria County, Subdivision B NS | 12% | 17% | 244 | 1 | 21 |
| 6 | Invermere BC | 10% | 13% | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Red Lake ON | 10% | 1.1% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Bancroft ON | 9.5% | 2.3% | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Deep River ON | 8.1% | 1% | 18 | 0 | 10 |
| 10 | Sunrise Estates BC | 5.8% | 3.1% | 152 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | Highlands East ON | 5.2% | 2.1% | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 12 | Bruleville ON | 4.9% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Grand Forks BC | 4.5% | 0.9% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Simonds NB | 3.9% | 12% | 12 | 0 | 17 |
| 15 | Electoral Area E, Sunshine Coast BC | 3.4% | 5.1% | 34 | 0 | 48 |
| 16 | Downtown SK | 3.2% | 39% | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 17 | Stellarton NS | 3.1% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Ormstown QC | 2.9% | 1.6% | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| 19 | Richmond County, Subdivision A NS | 2.7% | 1.4% | 149 | 0 | 27 |
| 20 | Bartonville ON | 2.5% | 0% | 16 | 1 | 4 |
| 21 | White City SK | 2.3% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Central Park MB | 1.6% | 0% | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | Spence MB | 1.6% | 0% | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| 24 | Eganville ON | 1.5% | 0.4% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | Lantzville BC | 1.5% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 8 |
| 26 | St. George MB | 1.5% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Rossland BC | 1.4% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Tuxedo MB | 1.3% | 20% | 24 | 1 | 27 |
| 29 | Inglewood AB | 0.6% | 17% | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 30 | Discovery Ridge AB | 0.5% | 32% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 31 | Lorelei AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Patricia Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 33 | Pollard Meadows AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 34 | Winston Heights/Mountview AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 35 | East Angus QC | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | Crabtree QC | 0.1% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Saint-Ambroise QC | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Prescott ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | Claresholm AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Mayliewan AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
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
12 named parks and woods to walk in near Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Bonnington Steed Recreation Site is the largest, at 5,825 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
12 named parks and woods, 7,131 ha in all
Parks & gardens 7,129 haWoods 2.3 ha
Between them, Bonnington Steed Recreation Site and Ross-White Lady Lake Recreation Site cover 92%.
Ross-White Lady Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
734 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
25 km north-eastfrom the centre
Ross Lake Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Noakes-Haiseldean Lakes Recreation Site
Park or garden
490 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
28 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Kokanee Creek Old Growth Recreation Site
Park or garden
56 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
25 km northfrom the centre
Old Growth Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Cottonwood Lake Regional Park
Park or garden
7.5 ha0.3 km of path
4.6 km southfrom the centre
Great Northern Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Art Gibbon's Park
Park or garden · 230 m outside town
5.3 ha
3.1 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Saddle Cabin (Snowater) Recreation Site
Park or garden
0.9 ha
15 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 12 named parks and green spaces
Bonnington Steed Recreation SitePark or garden · 5,825 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsRoss-White Lady Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 734 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsNoakes-Haiseldean Lakes Recreation SitePark or garden · 490 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsKokanee Creek Old Growth Recreation SitePark or garden · 56 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsTaghum BeachPark or garden · 8.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsCottonwood Lake Regional ParkPark or garden · 7.5 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsArt Gibbon's ParkPark or garden · 5.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsSaddle Cabin (Snowater) Recreation SitePark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsQueen Elizabeth ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · just outside town
DirectionsLion's Uphill ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · just outside town
DirectionsNarrows IslandWood or forest · 2.3 ha
DirectionsRedfish Cabin Recreation SitePark or garden · 0.3 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
Most of Electoral Area E, 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.
Within 400 m (0%)Further (100%)
Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay0%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
In the typical Canadian town the share is 83%, higher than here. That leaves about 4,300 people more than a short walk away.
Protected areas
24 protected areas around Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay31%
Within 10 km26%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
15 of the 24 belong to a government or an Indigenous nation. Kokanee Glacier Park is the biggest, 32,035 ha. Another 9 are privately owned conservation land; they count in the figures but aren’t named, as private land isn’t a place to visit.
Kokanee Glacier ParkProvincial park · 32,035 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
West Arm ParkProvincial park · 26,197 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Midge Creek Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 14,757 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Kootenay Lake ParkProvincial park · 343 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Kokanee Creek ParkProvincial park · 260 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Grohman Narrows ParkProvincial park · 10 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Glade North BeachNature reserve · 12 ha · 0.9 km from the edge of town
Slocan PoolsNature reserve · 18 ha · 1.1 km from the edge of town
Pilot Bay ParkProvincial park · 347 ha · 1.4 km from the edge of town
Lockhart Beach ParkProvincial park · 8.0 ha · 1.6 km from the edge of town
4 more named areas within 10 km are in the figures.
1 area recorded only by its type (a provincial layer such as wildlife habitat areas) is 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
From the edge of Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay, Kokanee Glacier Park begins
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
Kokanee Glacier Park
At the edge320 km²since 1922
Provincial park
West Arm Park
At the edge262 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Kootenay Lake Park
At the edge3.4 km²since 1987
Provincial park
Kokanee Creek Park
At the edge2.6 km²since 1955
Provincial park
Grohman Narrows Park
At the edge0.1 km²since 1981
Provincial park
Pilot Bay Park
1.4 km north-east3.5 km²since 1964
There is no national park within 100 km; for big parks, Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay has its province’s. Within 10 km are 8 provincial parks.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
307 km of paths in and around Electoral Area E, 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
307 km
in and around the town (1,079.6 km²)
Woodland
82%
about 884.9 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area E, Central KootenayTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.3
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area E, Central KootenayTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland82%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 96% of Canadian towns. It has fewer paths per km² than 73% 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 Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
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
Great Northern Trail53.5 km
Slocan Valley Rail Trail50.1 km
Among local routes, the Great Northern Trail is longest at 53.5 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 Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay: June to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Warfield (54 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 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.3 | 16.3 | 15.9 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| High (°C) | 1 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 13 | 6 | 1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 93 | 62 | 61 | 54 | 72 | 68 | 47 | 25 | 32 | 62 | 86 | 98 |
Most rain and snow falls in December, 98 mm; August sees 25 mm. In July the typical high is 29 °C; in December, 1 °C. The climate in Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay →
Beaches
14 beaches within 5 km of Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Taghum Beachsand · in town
DirectionsTroup Beachsand · in town
DirectionsRed Sands Nude Beach0.1 km from town
DirectionsSix Mile Beachsand · 0.3 km from town
Directions5 Mile Beachsand · 0.5 km from town
DirectionsShoreacres Beachsand · 1.1 km from town
DirectionsShoreacres Beachsand · 1.1 km from town
DirectionsLakeside Beachsand · 1.2 km from town
DirectionsCrescent Valley Beach3.1 km from town
DirectionsAdd 5 unnamed beaches to the count. OpenStreetMap marks 7 as sandy. No national or provincial register of beach water quality is published as open data, so check the local health unit before swimming.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay: 24 viewpoints, 4 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
24Viewpoints26Hills and peaks4Waterfalls3Nature reserves1Picnic sites10Playgrounds1Dog parks11Campsites2Slipways
There are 26 hills and peaks, more than of anything else. The highest named peak nearby is Cond Peak, at 2,801 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 24
Lookout 1in town
DirectionsLookout 2in town
DirectionsLookout 3in town
DirectionsLookout 4in town
DirectionsLookout 5in town
DirectionsCanyon Lookout0.2 km from town
DirectionsLyon's Bluff1.0 km from town
DirectionsPulpit Rock1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 16 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 26
Balfour Knob2,260 m · in town
DirectionsEsmeralda Peak2,790 m · in town
DirectionsEvening Ridge2,091 m · in town
DirectionsGrays Peak2,692 m · in town
DirectionsHalf Dome2,328 m · in town
DirectionsMorning Mountain1,885 m · in town
DirectionsMount Beattiein town
DirectionsMount Connor1,943 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 18 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 4
Glade Falls0.3 km from town
DirectionsCottonwood Falls0.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 3
Giveout Cabin Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsGiveout Creek (Morning Mountain) Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsPulpit Rock Access Regional Trail1.7 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 10
Plus 10 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Lakeside Park0.9 km from town
DirectionsCampsites 11
Friends Campground And Day Usein town
DirectionsSandspit Campgroundin town
DirectionsToad Rock Motorcycle Campgroundin town
DirectionsRedfish Campground0.2 km from town
DirectionsGroup Campground0.2 km from town
DirectionsCopper Hut Recreation Site0.6 km from town
DirectionsNelson Camp Ground0.7 km from town
DirectionsBear Spring Eco Retreat0.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 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.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
NelsonElectoral Area F, Central KootenayElectoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay | 26% | 24 | 2 | 14 |
| Nelson 3.2 km | 14% | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Electoral Area F, Central Kootenay 7.5 km | 22% | 13 | 2 | 12 |
No place nearby has double Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay’s share of protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Protected land. Protected here means in CPCAD, Canada’s official list: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and other conserved land, measured within 10 km of the town’s edge.
- 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. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay
Are there protected areas near Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay?
Protected areas cover 26% of the land within 10 km.
Is there a provincial park near Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay?
Kokanee Glacier Park touches the town.
Where can you swim near Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay?
The nearest is Taghum Beach, in town.
What walking routes are near Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay?
Try the Slocan Valley Rail Trail and Great Northern Trail; more are on the map.
When is the best time for walking in Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay?
June to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay?
Kokanee Glacier Park: 32,035 ha, a provincial park.
How far is Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay from a national park?
No national park lies within 100 km of Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay.
Sources
The sources behind Electoral Area E, Central Kootenay’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.
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).