First pick
Bear Creek Recreation Site
Park or garden
34,222 ha192.4 km of path
42 h 45 minto walk all 192.4 km of path
14 km south-westfrom the centre
Mcdougall RimRoot-a-Toot-TootChristie Falls Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain6.7%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Central Okanagan West · parks, protected land & trails
A provincial park at Central Okanagan West’s edge: Darke Lake Park
The 10 km around town hold 49 protected areas. Swimmers have 35 beaches within 5 km, Swim Bay Beach the nearest. Protected areas cover 6.7% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%.
Protected land
6.7%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
49
within 10 km, 30 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Darke Lake Park
Walking routes
1
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
35
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Central Okanagan West has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A provincial park at the edgeDarke Lake Park reaches the townBeaches35 beaches within 5 kmMany protected areas30 public areas within 10 kmProtected land all round6.7% of the land within 10 km, more than 77% of Canadian towns
Central Okanagan West’s best card is a provincial park at its edge, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Central Okanagan West 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 km6.7%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town5.4%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas30Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes1Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches35Beaches 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, Central Okanagan West ranks 11th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (3,252 to 3,349 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
Central Okanagan West6.7%
Towns its size2.1%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Central Okanagan West30
Towns its size2
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Central Okanagan West1
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Central Okanagan West beats most towns its size for public protected areas; 4 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint-Jean-Port-Joli QC | 52% | 0.7% | 30 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Annapolis County, Subdivision D NS | 25% | 31% | 135 | 5 | 5 |
| 3 | Pictou NS | 24% | 0.5% | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Division No. 19, Unorganized MB | 22% | 24% | 57 | 0 | 65 |
| 5 | Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast BC | 16% | 11% | 27 | 0 | 37 |
| 6 | Dalhousie NB | 13% | 0.2% | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Atholville NB | 12% | 3.1% | 24 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Inverness County, Subdivision C NS | 8.2% | 6.3% | 181 | 3 | 13 |
| 9 | Sheet Harbour NS | 7.7% | 7.8% | 124 | 2 | 17 |
| 10 | Saint-André-d'Argenteuil QC | 7.4% | 7.4% | 46 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Central Okanagan West BC | 6.7% | 5.4% | 49 | 1 | 35 |
| 12 | Enderby BC | 5.7% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Greeningdon ON | 5.4% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Grande-Rivière QC | 4.9% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Hill Park ON | 4.9% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 16 | Pilot Butte SK | 3.8% | 0% | 4 | 12 | 0 |
| 17 | Hampton NB | 3.7% | 1% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 18 | Rankin Inlet NU | 3.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Saint-Jean-Baptiste QC | 2.2% | 2% | 35 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Wellington AB | 2.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Normanhurst ON | 2% | 0% | 15 | 1 | 7 |
| 22 | North Algona Wilberforce ON | 1.8% | 4.6% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | Mill Courtland Woodside Park ON | 1.8% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Point Road MB | 1.5% | 0.2% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Bonavista NL | 0.7% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 26 | Stoke QC | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 27 | Bulyea Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | Miller AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Saint-Christophe-d'Arthabaska QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Sainte-Clotilde QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Virden MB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Inuvik NT | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Hay River NT | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 35 | Arviat NU | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| 36 | Beverly Heights AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | Eaux Claires AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Holyrood AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | Northmount AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Westwood AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The map
Central Okanagan West on the map: green space, protected land and paths
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
14 named parks and woods to walk in near Central Okanagan West
The biggest is Bear Creek Recreation Site, 34,222 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
14 named parks and woods, 34,553 ha in all
Parks & gardens 34,553 ha
The bulk, 99%, is Bear Creek Recreation Site and Lambly Lake Recreation Site.
Lambly Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
146 ha
25 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Evely Recreation Site
Park or garden
107 ha2 km of path
25 minto walk all 2 km of path
9.0 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Jackpine Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
20 ha
32 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Peachland Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
20 ha
47 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
MacDonald Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
11 ha
47 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Silver Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
9.1 ha
41 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Brenda Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden · 110 m outside town
8.5 ha
48 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 14 named parks and green spaces
Bear Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 34,222 ha · 192.4 km of path
DirectionsLambly Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 146 ha
DirectionsEvely Recreation SitePark or garden · 107 ha · 2 km of path
DirectionsJackpine Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 20 ha
DirectionsPeachland Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 20 ha
DirectionsMacDonald Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 11 ha
DirectionsSilver Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 9.1 ha
DirectionsBrenda Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 8.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsHardy Falls Regional ParkPark or garden · 4.5 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsLoon Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 2.0 ha · just outside town
DirectionsPeachland Heritage ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsAntlers Beach Regional ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsCousins ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · just outside town
DirectionsHarold's WalkwayPark or garden · 0.4 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
In Central Okanagan West, parks are rarely a short walk away
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%)
Central Okanagan West0%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
Most towns do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%. About 3,300 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
6.7% of the country within 10 km of Central Okanagan West 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 Central Okanagan West5.4%
Within 10 km6.7%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of those 49, 30 are public and the remainder private. Okanagan Mountain Park leads for size with 11,321 ha. 14 areas, privately held or of unrecorded ownership, are left unnamed.
Fintry Protected AreaNature reserve · 3,100 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Trepanier ParkProvincial park · 2,884 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Darke Lake ParkProvincial park · 1,470 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Eneas Lakes ParkProvincial park · 1,036 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Fintry ParkProvincial park · 357 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Bear Creek ParkProvincial park · 158 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Traders Cove Regional ParkMunicipal park · 14 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Coldham Regional ParkMunicipal park · 11 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional ParkMunicipal park · 5.6 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
Hardy Falls Regional ParkMunicipal park · 3.4 ha · reaches Central Okanagan West
15 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 Central Okanagan West, Trepanier 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
Trepanier Park
At the edge29 km²since 2001
Provincial park
Darke Lake Park
At the edge15 km²since 1943
Provincial park
Eneas Lakes Park
At the edge10 km²since 1968
Provincial park
Fintry Park
At the edge3.6 km²since 1996
Provincial park
Bear Creek Park
At the edge1.6 km²since 1981
Provincial park
Pennask Creek Park
0.4 km south-west12 km²since 2001
For a national park, people in Central Okanagan West travel more than 100 km. 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
Central Okanagan West and its edge hold 525 km of footpath
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
525 km
in and around the town (1,478.5 km²)
Woodland
89%
about 1,308.8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Central Okanagan WestTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.4
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Central Okanagan WestTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland89%
0%50%100%
For path density, 71% of Canadian towns do better. 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
One mapped route to walk from Central Okanagan West
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
Local
Bat House Interpretive Trail4.5 km
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
The best months for walking in Central Okanagan West: April to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Vernon, 20 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) | 8.5 | 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 | 9 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 37 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 45 | 55 | 37 | 30 | 34 | 41 | 49 | 44 |
Highs peak near 28 °C in July and fall to -1 °C in January. March is the driest month at 25 mm; June the wettest at 55 mm. Snow totals about 93 cm a year. The climate in Central Okanagan West →
Beaches
35 beaches within 5 km of Central Okanagan West
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Swim Bay Beach0.2 km from town
DirectionsPoplar point beach1.1 km from town
DirectionsSandy (Pet) Beach2.0 km from town
DirectionsTugboat Bay Beachsand · 2.7 km from town
DirectionsLECA Beach3.5 km from town
DirectionsFoster Road Beach4.4 km from town
DirectionsThe map adds 29 unnamed stretches of beach. Whether the water is fit for a swim isn’t in any open national dataset; public health posts the local advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Central Okanagan West: 124 viewpoints, 1 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
124Viewpoints22Hills and peaks1Waterfalls3Nature reserves4Picnic sites7Playgrounds2Dog parks11Campsites2Slipways
Terrace Mountain, 1,898 m, is the high point nearby. 124 viewpoints top the list.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 124
Christie Fallsin town
DirectionsFur Brigade Viewpointin town
DirectionsFur Brigade Viewpoint 2in town
DirectionsLookoutin town
DirectionsSummit Lookoutin town
DirectionsCarrot Mountain Viewpoint0.0 km from town
DirectionsTrepanier Creek dam viewpoint0.5 km from town
DirectionsLookout Shortcut Viewpoint1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 116 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 22
Blue Grouse Mountain1,284 m · in town
DirectionsCarrot Mountain1,542 m · in town
DirectionsLookout Mountain1,331 m · in town
DirectionsMount Clements1,557 m · in town
DirectionsMount Coldham1,066 m · in town
DirectionsMount Last1,517 m · in town
DirectionsMount Law1,114 m · in town
DirectionsMount Miller1,211 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 14 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 1
Hardy Fallsin town
DirectionsNature reserves 3
Telemark Cross-Country Ski Trails Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsTrepanier Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsEneas Lakes Provincial Park1.0 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 4
Plus 4 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 7
Plus 7 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 2
Shannon Woods Dog Park1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 11
Bear Creek Campgroundin town
DirectionsEvely Campgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 9 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 Central Okanagan West
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Lake CountryDuck Lake 7Okanagan (Part) 1Central Okanagan West
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Okanagan West | 6.7% | 49 | 1 | 35 |
| Lake Country 11 km | 6.1% | 20 | 0 | 22 |
| Duck Lake 7 15 km | 0.5% | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Okanagan (Part) 1 19 km | 2% | 9 | 0 | 15 |
For protected land, no neighbour of Central Okanagan West doubles its share.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
Questions about the outdoors in Central Okanagan West
Is there a beach near Central Okanagan West?
Try Swim Bay Beach, 0.2 km from town, first of several.
Where can you walk near Central Okanagan West?
OpenStreetMap maps the Bat House Interpretive Trail close by.
Is Central Okanagan West near a national park?
None within 100 km of Central Okanagan West.
Is there protected land near Central Okanagan West?
Within 10 km, 6.7% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Central Okanagan West?
On the normals, April to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
What is the largest protected area near Central Okanagan West?
Okanagan Mountain Park, a provincial park of 11,321 ha.
Is there a provincial park near Central Okanagan West?
Darke Lake Park, which reaches the edge of town.
Sources
Where Central Okanagan West’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).