First pick
Norns Range Recreation Site
Park or garden
7,714 ha4.3 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.3 km of path
17 km northfrom the centre
Goose Creek Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain11%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay · parks, protected land & trails
Few places match Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay for protected land nearby: more than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Within 5 km lie 4 beaches, unnamed on the map. The nearest national park is more than 100 km away. Count 13 protected areas within 10 km of town.
Protected land
11%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
13
within 10 km, 10 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Champion Lakes Park
Beaches
4
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round11% of the land within 10 km, more than 87% of Canadian townsA provincial park at the edgeChampion Lakes Park reaches the town
Above all, Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay offers protected land around it, with a provincial park at its edge close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay, 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. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
Protected within 10 km11%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town4.9%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas10Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches4Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Among 40 towns its size, Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay ranks 3rd for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (3,827 to 4,007 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 J, Central Kootenay11%
Towns its size1.5%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay10
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay0
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay’s strong point is protected land nearby, where 2 of 39 top it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electoral Area F, East Kootenay BC | 30% | 23% | 41 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | L'Islet QC | 30% | 0.1% | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay BC | 11% | 4.9% | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Trend-Arlington ON | 10% | 0% | 22 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Lamont County AB | 9.6% | 2.2% | 51 | 4 | 1 |
| 6 | Okanagan Falls BC | 9.1% | 18% | 34 | 0 | 30 |
| 7 | Cap-Santé QC | 8.3% | 0.1% | 26 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Colchester County, Subdivision A NS | 7.5% | 14% | 51 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Ainslie Wood West ON | 7.5% | 15% | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson QC | 5.9% | 0.1% | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Saint-André-Avellin QC | 5.1% | 1.2% | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Stinson ON | 4.9% | 0% | 21 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Normanview Residents Group SK | 3.7% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Fairview AB | 3.7% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Belmead AB | 3.7% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | New Richmond QC | 3.4% | 0.5% | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 17 | Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard QC | 3% | 0.2% | 20 | 4 | 9 |
| 18 | Lisgar ON | 2.8% | 0% | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| 19 | Auditorium ON | 1.9% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Stoney Creek ON | 1.5% | 0% | 14 | 4 | 8 |
| 21 | Norwood East MB | 1.5% | 0% | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| 22 | Keswick AB | 1.5% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Kentley ON | 1.4% | 0% | 13 | 1 | 9 |
| 24 | City Park SK | 1.3% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| 25 | Bridgeport East ON | 1.2% | 0% | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Forty Mile County No. 8 AB | 1.1% | 1.6% | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Livingston AB | 0.6% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Rosscarrock AB | 0.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Mission Gardens MB | 0.5% | 2.3% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Leila North MB | 0.3% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Templeton-Sinclair MB | 0.3% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Pasadena NL | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | Fraser AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 34 | Maple AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 35 | Watford ON | 0.1% | 0.2% | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | Cardston AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Danville QC | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Pincher Creek AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Fort Macleod AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Belle Rive AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Electoral Area J, 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
17 named parks and woods to walk in near Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
Norns Range Recreation Site is the largest, at 7,714 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
17 named parks and woods, 13,801 ha in all
Parks & gardens 13,801 ha
Norns Range Recreation Site plus Bonnington Steed Recreation Site account for 98% of the green.
Bonnington Steed Recreation Site
Park or garden
5,821 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
16 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Renata Natural Arch Recreation Site
Park or garden
115 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
28 km westfrom the centre
Natural Arch Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Bowman Point Recreation Site
Park or garden
79 ha
39 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Millennium Park
Park or garden · 190 m outside town
24 ha2.1 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
3.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Millennium Walkway
Directionsto a point inside
Pass Creek Regional Park
Park or garden
9.7 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
2.7 km eastfrom the centre
Robson Roost Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Kinnaird Park
Park or garden · 180 m outside town
8.9 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
6.6 km south-eastfrom the centre
Kinnaird Park Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Sunshine Bay Recreation Site
Park or garden
10 ha
37 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 17 named parks and green spaces
Norns Range Recreation SitePark or garden · 7,714 ha · 4.3 km of path
DirectionsBonnington Steed Recreation SitePark or garden · 5,821 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsRenata Natural Arch Recreation SitePark or garden · 115 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsBowman Point Recreation SitePark or garden · 79 ha
DirectionsMillennium ParkPark or garden · 24 ha · 2.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPass Creek Regional ParkPark or garden · 9.7 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsKinnaird ParkPark or garden · 8.9 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSunshine Bay Recreation SitePark or garden · 10 ha
DirectionsComplex ParkPark or garden · 6.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsZuckerberg Island Heritage ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsWaterloo Eddy Regional ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsDeer Creek Falls Recreation SitePark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsGrassy Hut Recreation SitePark or garden · 2.3 ha
DirectionsKinsmen ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · just outside town
DirectionsCastlegar Dog ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsZinio ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsBlueberry ParkPark or garden · 0.2 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
4 in 10 people in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay 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 (38%)Further (62%)
Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay38%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town reaches 83%. For about 2,400 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away.
Protected areas
13 protected areas around Electoral Area J, 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 J, Central Kootenay4.9%
Within 10 km11%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 10 of the 13. Biggest of the named areas: Granby Park, 41,317 ha. 3 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Gladstone ParkProvincial park · 39,510 ha · reaches Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
Syringa ParkProvincial park · 4,538 ha · reaches Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
Champion Lakes ParkProvincial park · 1,452 ha · reaches Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
Brilliant Dam Conservation LandsNature reserve · 80 ha · reaches Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
Nancy Greene ParkProvincial park · 196 ha · 0.2 km from the edge of town
Granby ParkProvincial park · 41,317 ha · 2.8 km from the edge of town
Arrow Lakes ParkProvincial park · 121 ha · 4.2 km from the edge of town
Inonoaklin ParkProvincial park · 12 ha · 4.8 km from the edge of town
Glade North BeachNature reserve · 12 ha · 6.6 km from the edge of town
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 J, Central Kootenay, Gladstone 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
Gladstone Park
At the edge395 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Syringa Park
At the edge45 km²since 1968
Provincial park
Champion Lakes Park
At the edge15 km²since 1955
Provincial park
Nancy Greene Park
0.2 km south-west2.0 km²since 1972
Provincial park
Granby Park
2.8 km north-west413 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Arrow Lakes Park
4.2 km north-west1.2 km²since 1981
No national park lies within 100 km of Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay; the provincial parks are the big protected land within reach. Within 10 km are 7 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
Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay has 189 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
189 km
in and around the town (2,099.4 km²)
Woodland
90%
about 1,883.4 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area J, Central KootenayTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area J, Central KootenayTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland90%
0%50%100%
Paths are thinner on the ground than in 87% of Canadian towns. More of it is wooded than in 99% 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
No named walking route passes Electoral Area J, 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.
OpenStreetMap lists no walking route near the town, though paths on the ground may well exist.
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 Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay: April and June to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Warfield, 27 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) | 8.6 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| High (°C) | 0 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 93 | 62 | 61 | 54 | 72 | 68 | 47 | 25 | 32 | 62 | 86 | 98 |
Highs peak near 30 °C in August and fall to 0 °C in December. December is the wettest month (98 mm) and August the driest (25 mm). The climate in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay →
Beaches
4 unnamed beaches near Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
This page can’t show water quality: no open, Canada-wide record of beach testing exists. Check local advisories first.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay has 12 viewpoints and 5 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
12Viewpoints17Hills and peaks5Waterfalls3Nature reserves9Picnic sites9Playgrounds2Dog parks10Campsites3Slipways
Count 17 hills and peaks, the biggest group. Look up to Airy Mountain: 2,547 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 12
Brilliant Overlookin town
DirectionsDove Hill Viewpointin town
DirectionsViewpoint river and mountainsin town
DirectionsBrilliant Generating Station Viewpoint0.3 km from town
DirectionsPlus 8 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 17
Aaron Hill1,633 m · in town
DirectionsBentz Peak2,250 m · in town
DirectionsBulldog Mountain1,385 m · in town
DirectionsDeer Park Mountain1,170 m · in town
DirectionsGem Hill1,608 m · in town
DirectionsLadybird Mountain2,261 m · in town
DirectionsMount O'Leary1,868 m · in town
DirectionsMount Shields1,787 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 9 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 5
Cayuse Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsDeer Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsLittle McPhee Fallsin town
DirectionsTulip Fallsin town
DirectionsPlus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 3
Champion Lakes Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsLadybird Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsNorns Staging Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsCampsites 10
Bighorn Campgroundin town
DirectionsBowman Point Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsChampion Lakes Campgroundin town
DirectionsLadybird Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsPass Creek Regional Parkin town
DirectionsPass Creek Regional Park & Campgroundin town
DirectionsSyringa Main Campgroundin town
DirectionsGrassy Hut Recreation Site0.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
CastlegarElectoral Area I, Central KootenayElectoral Area B (Lower Columbia-Old-Glory), Kootenay BoundaryElectoral Area J, Central Kootenay
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay | 11% | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| Castlegar 6.1 km | 6% | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Electoral Area I, Central Kootenay 12 km | 0.2% | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Electoral Area B (Lower Columbia-Old-Glory), Kootenay Boundary 14 km | 7.8% | 12 | 0 | 3 |
Next door, protected shares stay within twice Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay’s.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay
When is the best time for walking in Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay?
On the normals, April and June to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Is there a provincial park near Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay?
Champion Lakes Park touches the town.
What is the largest protected area near Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay?
It is Granby Park, a provincial park covering 41,317 ha.
Is Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay near a national park?
The nearest national park is more than 100 km from Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay.
Is there protected land near Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay?
Within 10 km, 11% of the land lies in protected areas.
Is there a beach near Electoral Area J, Central Kootenay?
The beaches mapped within 5 km have no names on the map.
Sources
Sources for this page on Electoral Area J, 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).