First pick
McKean Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
1,191 ha
39 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain16%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay · parks, protected land & trails
More of the land around Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay is protected than around 9 in 10 Canadian towns
For a national park, Mount Revelstoke National Park is 35 km away. The 10 km around town hold 20 protected areas. Swimmers have 4 beaches within 5 km, Whatshan Lake Public Beach the nearest.
Protected land
16%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
20
within 10 km, 17 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
35 km
Mount Revelstoke National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Inonoaklin Park
Beaches
4
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round16% of the land within 10 km, more than 94% of Canadian townsA provincial park at the edgeInonoaklin Park reaches the town
For someone who likes to get outside, Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay’s draw is protected land around it, with a provincial park at its edge close behind.
Against other towns
Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay against 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. This page carries no grade, because Canada’s grading doesn’t cover the outdoors; the comparisons are the point.
Protected within 10 km16%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town4.8%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas17Areas 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 K, Central Kootenay ranks 4th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (1,965 to 2,587 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 K, Central Kootenay16%
Towns its size1.6%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay17
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay0
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay beats most towns its size for protected land nearby; 3 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anmore BC | 22% | 47% | 16 | 5 | 98 |
| 2 | Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska QC | 19% | 0% | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Gracefield QC | 19% | 19% | 34 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay BC | 16% | 4.8% | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | East Preston NS | 16% | 6.3% | 20 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Clearwater BC | 7.7% | 4.1% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Roberval QC | 6.1% | 1.2% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague QC | 5.8% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | North Frontenac ON | 5.7% | 5.2% | 13 | 6 | 4 |
| 10 | Cap-Chat QC | 5.3% | 0.4% | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| 11 | Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards ON | 4.4% | 1.5% | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Saint-Polycarpe QC | 4.2% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Macassa ON | 4.1% | 0% | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Saint-Damien QC | 4% | 3.2% | 22 | 1 | 9 |
| 15 | Unity SK | 3.4% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sherwood ON | 3.4% | 0% | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | McNab SK | 2.6% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Mandeville QC | 2.5% | 1.8% | 19 | 4 | 7 |
| 19 | Esterhazy SK | 1.8% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | City Commercial Core ON | 1.8% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Caswell Hill SK | 1.4% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | Fossambault-sur-le-Lac QC | 1.3% | 7.8% | 15 | 0 | 14 |
| 23 | Pembina MB | 1.1% | 1.8% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Burrows-Keewatin MB | 1% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Elmwood AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | Hatley QC | 0.7% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 27 | Munroe West MB | 0.4% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Brooke-Alvinston ON | 0.3% | 0.2% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Rosedale AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Minchau AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Lunenburg NS | 0.1% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| 32 | Salisbury NB | 0.1% | 2.1% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Dufferin MB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Ekota AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 35 | Satoo AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Magrath AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Nanton AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Rimbey AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Sexsmith AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
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
26 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
McKean Lake Recreation Site is the largest, at 1,191 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
26 named parks and woods, 4,870 ha in all
Parks & gardens 4,807 haWoods 63 ha
McKean Lake Recreation Site and Hamling Lakes Recreation Site together hold 46% of it.
Mount Abriel Recreation Site
Park or garden
1,021 ha31.7 km of path
7 hto walk all 31.7 km of path
20 km northfrom the centre
Ride OnUpper Dusty PantherMinty Fresh+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Hamling Lakes Recreation Site
Park or garden
1,061 ha
26 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Shannon Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
456 ha0.4 km of path
21 km south-eastfrom the centre
Shannon Creek Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Wensley Cross Country Recreation Site
Park or garden
375 ha3.8 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.8 km of path
13 km north-eastfrom the centre
Jackrabbit Snowshoe
Directionsto a point inside
Caribou Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
100 ha
16 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Octopus Creek Recreation Site
Park or garden
93 ha
49 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Catherine Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
79 ha
30 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 26 named parks and green spaces
McKean Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 1,191 ha
DirectionsMount Abriel Recreation SitePark or garden · 1,021 ha · 31.7 km of path
DirectionsHamling Lakes Recreation SitePark or garden · 1,061 ha
DirectionsShannon Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 456 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsWensley Cross Country Recreation SitePark or garden · 375 ha · 3.8 km of path
DirectionsCaribou Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 100 ha
DirectionsOctopus Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 93 ha
DirectionsCatherine Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 79 ha
DirectionsHorseshoe Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 49 ha
DirectionsCedar Grove Trail Recreation SitePark or garden · 47 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsCameron Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 46 ha
DirectionsSnowshoe Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 40 ha
DirectionsKimbol Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 37 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsTaite Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 38 ha
DirectionsHalfway River Hotsprings Recreation SitePark or garden · 28 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsLarson Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 25 ha
DirectionsFosthall Bay Recreation SitePark or garden · 21 ha
DirectionsMosquito Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 20 ha
DirectionsRottacker Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 20 ha · just outside town
DirectionsHomer GladesWood or forest · 63 ha
DirectionsBox Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 18 ha
DirectionsEureka Lookout (Cherryville) Recreation SitePark or garden · 16 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsWilson Lake West Recreation SitePark or garden · 14 ha
DirectionsUpper Halfway Springs Recreation SitePark or garden · 9.0 ha
DirectionsRichy Recreation SitePark or garden · 2.4 ha
DirectionsStevens Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 0.5 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 K, 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 K, Central Kootenay0%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
About 2,000 residents live further than 400 m from one. Most towns do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%.
Protected areas
The 20 protected areas near Electoral Area K, 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 K, Central Kootenay4.8%
Within 10 km16%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 20, 17 are public land; the others are privately held. Biggest of the named areas: Goat Range Park, 79,123 ha. 3 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Goat Range ParkProvincial park · 79,123 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Valhalla ParkProvincial park · 50,189 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Granby ParkProvincial park · 41,317 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Hamling Lakes Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 30,572 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Monashee ParkProvincial park · 22,739 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Mcdonald Creek ParkProvincial park · 468 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Arrow Lakes ParkProvincial park · 121 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Nakusp Hot SpringsNature reserve · 70 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Upper BrouseProtected area · 16 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Inonoaklin ParkProvincial park · 12 ha · reaches Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
6 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
Mount Revelstoke National Park is 35 km away
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
Goat Range Park
At the edge791 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Valhalla Park
At the edge502 km²since 1983
Provincial park
Granby Park
At the edge413 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Monashee Park
At the edge227 km²since 1962
Provincial park
Mcdonald Creek Park
At the edge4.7 km²since 1982
Provincial park
Arrow Lakes Park
At the edge1.2 km²since 1981
7 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
Paths to walk: 193 km in and around Electoral Area K, 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
193 km
in and around the town (5,073.9 km²)
Woodland
81%
about 4,089.6 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area K, Central KootenayTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area K, Central KootenayTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland81%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 96% of Canadian towns. For path density, 94% of Canadian towns do better.
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 mapped walking route near Electoral Area K, 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.
No named walking or hiking route is mapped near the town; local paths may simply not be on OpenStreetMap as routes.
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 K, Central Kootenay: May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Vernon (105 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) | 8.5 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.4 | 16.4 | 16.0 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 8.1 |
| High (°C) | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 37 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 45 | 55 | 37 | 30 | 34 | 41 | 49 | 44 |
March is the driest month at 25 mm; June the wettest at 55 mm. Summer highs reach 27 °C in July; in December they stay near 1 °C. The climate in Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay →
Beaches
Beaches near Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay: 4 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Whatshan Lake Public Beachmixed · in town
DirectionsNakusp_Municipal_Beach0.1 km from town
Directions2 further beaches go unnamed. For water quality, look to the local health unit: no open beach-testing data covers Canada.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay: 8 viewpoints, 8 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
8Viewpoints90Hills and peaks8Waterfalls3Nature reserves4Picnic sites5Playgrounds28Campsites9Slipways
Hills and peaks lead the count with 90. Mount Burnham tops the hills nearby, 2,869 m.
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 90
Allshouse Peak1,877 m · in town
DirectionsBlue Grouse Mountain2,013 m · in town
DirectionsBoulder Mountain2,415 m · in town
DirectionsBox Mountain1,784 m · in town
DirectionsChicken Knob2,003 m · in town
DirectionsEast Twin Peak2,451 m · in town
DirectionsEureka Mountain1,962 m · in town
DirectionsFrigg Towerin town
DirectionsPlus 82 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 8
Gardner Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsIone Fallsin town
DirectionsSt. Leon Fallsin town
DirectionsSuperslidein town
DirectionsPlus 4 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 3
Arrow Lakes Provincial Park - Burton Sitein town
DirectionsArrow Lakes Provincial Park - Fauquier Sitein town
DirectionsSummit Lake Provincial Park1.7 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 4
Plus 4 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 5
Plus 5 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 28
Burton Historical Park Campgroundin town
Directionshalcyon heightsin town
DirectionsHorseshoe Lakein town
DirectionsKootenay Bornin town
DirectionsMcDonald Creek Provincial Campgroundin town
DirectionsNakusp Hot Springs Campground0.1 km from town
DirectionsTwin Lakes0.3 km from town
DirectionsMunicipal Campground and RV park0.5 km from town
DirectionsPlus 20 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 9
McDonald Creek Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsSummit Lake RV Park1.3 km from town
DirectionsPlus 7 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area K, 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 K, Central Kootenay with figures are 11–72 km away.
NakuspElectoral Area D, Central KootenayElectoral Area E, North OkanaganElectoral Area H, Central KootenayKasloElectoral Area K, Central Kootenay
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay | 16% | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| Nakusp 11 km | 11% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Electoral Area D, Central Kootenay 55 km | 32% | 18 | 0 | 4 |
| Electoral Area E, North Okanagan 57 km | 10% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Electoral Area H, Central Kootenay 63 km | 25% | 28 | 1 | 4 |
| Kaslo 72 km | 4.4% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Next door, protected shares stay within twice Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay’s.
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. 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.
- 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.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay
How far is Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay from a national park?
The nearest is Mount Revelstoke National Park, 35 km away.
How much land around Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay is protected?
Within 10 km, 16% of the land lies in protected areas.
Where can you swim near Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay?
Try Whatshan Lake Public Beach, in town, first of several.
When should you visit Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay for the outdoors?
May 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 K, Central Kootenay?
It is Goat Range Park, a provincial park covering 79,123 ha.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay?
Inonoaklin Park, which reaches the edge of town.
Sources
Where Electoral Area K, Central Kootenay’s outdoors figures come from
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).