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ISS015-E-18388 - View of EarthPhoto: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain
33%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap · parks, protected land & trails

Banff National Park begins at the edge of Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

The protected share within 10 km is 33%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%. 26 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the GDT ekw and GDT enc. Within its own boundary, 25% of the town is protected.

Protected land
33%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
26
within 10 km, 17 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
At the edge
Banff National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Hamber Park
Walking routes
26
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character

Where Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap stands out outdoors

Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.

What Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap has most to offer outdoors is Banff National Park on its doorstep, with protected land around it close behind.

Against other towns

Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap 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. Outdoors isn’t one of Canada’s graded subjects, so there’s no letter here: each figure is set against other Canadian towns instead.

Protected within 10 km33%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
040
Protected in town25%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
none50
Public protected areas17Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
nonetypical 440+
Walking routes26Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
none12+
Beaches2Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
none40+

CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.

Towns its size

Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap comes 2nd of 40 towns its size for protected land around it

The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (3,621 to 3,723 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.

Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap 33%
Country Hills
026%52%
Protected within 10 km
Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap33%
Towns its size1.5%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap17
Towns its size6
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap26
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0

For protected land nearby, Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap sits near the top of its size group: 1 of 39 has more.

Every town in the comparison
TownProtected within 10 kmIn townAreasRoutesBeaches
1Baie-D'Urfé QC49%0.1%4406
2Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap BC33%25%26262
3Blind River ON21%41%800
4Saint-Sulpice QC12%5.8%2900
5Bright NB7.1%4.6%4605
6Woodbridge Meadows ON5.7%2.7%2300
7Central ON5.6%0%2413
8Electoral Area F, Bulkley-Nechako BC4.8%4.4%1509
9Cowichan Bay BC4.2%5.7%64210
10Industrial Sector A and Keith ON3.5%0.9%30015
11Deer Run AB3.4%47%2015
12Parkland AB3.4%39%2010
13Piedmont QC3.1%15%1723
14Quinndale ON2.9%0%1630
15Parkview West ON2.1%2.7%26014
16Hudson AB2.1%0%200
17North Glenora AB1.9%0%210
18Killarney MB1.8%2.3%6101
19Powassan ON1.6%1.8%700
20Kensington AB1.5%0%100
21Studholm NB1.4%0%1503
22Deer Lodge MB1.3%0%1800
23Fifty Point ON1.2%0%1903
24South Tuxedo MB1.2%50%23019
25Rapperswill AB1.2%0%100
26Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez QC0.9%0%503
27Alpine Place MB0.9%2.3%1900
28Cameron Heights AB0.9%0%610
29Inkster-Faraday MB0.8%0%1300
30Lawson Heights Urban Centre SK0.7%0%1012
31Two Hills County No. 21 AB0.5%0.6%5304
32Eaglemere MB0.5%0%1300
33North Inkster Industrial MB0.5%0%900
34Dunham QC0.4%0.3%2402
35Radisson MB0.4%0%700
36Victoria West MB0.4%0%800
37West Kildonan Industrial MB0.3%0%700
38Greenfield AB0.3%0%200
39Saint-Michel QC0%0%000
40Country Hills AB0%0%000
The map

The green map of Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the town; tap a number for its park or wood.

12345678
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 A, Columbia-Shuswap

Help Lake Recreation Site is the largest, at 101 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.

17 named parks and woods, 397 ha in allHelp Lake Recreation…101 haHelp Lake Recreation Site: 101 haThree Island Lake Rec…57 haThree Island Lake Recreation Site: 57 haGiant Cedars Recreati…47 haGiant Cedars Recreation Site: 47 haThompson Falls…45 ha · 0.7 km of…Thompson Falls Recreation Site: 45 ha, 0.7 km of pathHunter Creek R…32 haHunter Creek Recreation Site: 32 haBluewater Cree…30 haBluewater Creek Recreation Site: 30 ha15 haEsplanade Bay Recreation Site: 15 ha13 haBush Arm Recreation Site: 13 ha13 haSplit Creek Recreation Site: 13 ha10 haLoon Lake Recreation Site: 10 ha9 haKeith King Memorial Park: 9.4 ha, 0.5 km of path8 haConfluence park: 7.7 ha, 0.5 km of path6 haMitten Lake Recreation Site: 5.9 ha4 haBlackwater Creek Recreation Site: 3.9 ha4 haWaitabit Creek Recreation Site: 3.7 haWapta Falls Recreation Site: 2.0 haParson Community Recreation Park: 0.8 ha
Parks & gardens 397 ha

No one place dominates; the largest has 25%.

First pick

Help Lake Recreation Site

Park or garden
101 ha
54 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Three Island Lake Recreation Site

Park or garden
57 ha
30 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Giant Cedars Recreation Site

Park or garden
47 ha
60 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Thompson Falls Recreation Site

Park or garden
45 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
29 km northfrom the centre
Thompson Falls Trail
Directionsto a point inside

Hunter Creek Recreation Site

Park or garden
32 ha
17 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Bluewater Creek Recreation Site

Park or garden
30 ha
32 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Esplanade Bay Recreation Site

Park or garden
15 ha
63 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Bush Arm Recreation Site

Park or garden
13 ha
66 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 17 named parks and green spaces
Help Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 101 ha
Directions
Three Island Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 57 ha
Directions
Giant Cedars Recreation SitePark or garden · 47 ha
Directions
Thompson Falls Recreation SitePark or garden · 45 ha · 0.7 km of path
Directions
Hunter Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 32 ha
Directions
Bluewater Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 30 ha
Directions
Esplanade Bay Recreation SitePark or garden · 15 ha
Directions
Bush Arm Recreation SitePark or garden · 13 ha
Directions
Split Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 13 ha
Directions
Keith King Memorial ParkPark or garden · 9.4 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Loon Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 10 ha
Directions
Confluence parkPark or garden · 7.7 ha · 0.5 km of path
Directions
Mitten Lake Recreation SitePark or garden · 5.9 ha
Directions
Blackwater Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 3.9 ha
Directions
Waitabit Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 3.7 ha
Directions
Wapta Falls Recreation SitePark or garden · 2.0 ha
Directions
Parson Community Recreation ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha
Directions

Source: 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

Few people in Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap 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 (0%)Further (100%)
Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap0%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%

For about 3,700 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. In the typical Canadian town the share is 83%, higher than here.

Protected areas

33% of the land around Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap 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 Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap25%
Within 10 km33%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%

Public bodies own 17 of the 26; land trusts and private owners hold the others. Jasper National Park covers 1,087,800 ha, the most of any named area. The figures include 9 private conservation areas, left unnamed.

Jasper National ParkNational park · 1,087,800 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Banff National ParkNational park · 664,100 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Kootenay National ParkNational park · 140,640 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Glacier National ParkNational park · 134,900 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Yoho National ParkNational park · 131,310 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Incomappleux ConservancyProtected area · 58,654 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 26,200 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Hamber ParkProvincial park · 25,137 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Cummins Lakes ParkProvincial park · 21,812 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Bugaboo ParkProvincial park · 13,647 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

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

Big parks near Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

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.

2 km4 km6 km8 kmNJasper National Parkat the edgeJasper National Park: at the edge · 10,878 km²Banff National Parkat the edgeBanff National Park: at the edge · 6,641 km²Kootenay National Parkat the edgeKootenay National Park: at the edge · 1,406 km²Glacier National Parkat the edgeGlacier National Park: at the edge · 1,349 km²Yoho National Parkat the edgeYoho National Park: at the edge · 1,313 km²Hamber Parkat the edgeHamber Park: at the edge · 251 km²Cummins Lakes Parkat the edgeCummins Lakes Park: at the edge · 218 km²Bugaboo Parkat the edgeBugaboo Park: at the edge · 136 km²Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
National parkProvincial park
National park

Jasper National Park

At the edge10,878 km²since 1907
National park

Banff National Park

At the edge6,641 km²since 1885
National park

Kootenay National Park

At the edge1,406 km²since 1920
National park

Glacier National Park

At the edge1,349 km²since 1886
National park

Yoho National Park

At the edge1,313 km²since 1886
Provincial park

Hamber Park

At the edge251 km²since 1941

There are 3 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.

Footpaths and woods

1,308 km of paths in and around Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

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
1,308 km
in and around the town (14,372.2 km²)

Footpaths · km per km²

Electoral Area A, Columbia-ShuswapTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
012 km per km²

Paths are thinner on the ground than in 87% 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

The GDT ekw runs past Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.

NationalRegionalLocalOther waymarked
GDT ekw41.9 km
GDT ekc39.3 km
GDT eng38.8 km
GDT enc36.3 km
GDT ekm22.0 km
Rockwall Trail52.5 km
Amiskwi Pass Trail19.6 km
Natural Bridge to Amiskwi Pass Trail17.8 km
Young's Peak Traverse9.8 km
Mount Owen Route7.0 km
Cathedral Falls Route6.7 km
Mount Kerr Route4.3 km

Plus 14 more waymarked walks on the map.

The GDT ekw is 42 km long on the map, and 41.9 km of it lies within 2 km of town. For a longer outing, the Rockwall Trail runs 52.5 km. 9 of them are under 3 km, good for a short outing.

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 A, Columbia-Shuswap: May to September

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Golden (4.9 km), and daylight at the town’s latitude. Good months: 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15–30 °C, little rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daylight (h)8.39.911.713.815.616.616.114.612.510.68.87.9
High (°C)-406131922252519101-4
Rain & snow (mm)422330243654413941385139

Some 169 cm of snow falls each winter. Summer highs reach 25 °C in July; in December they stay near -4 °C. Most rain and snow falls in June, 54 mm; February sees 23 mm. The climate in Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap →

Beaches

2 beaches within 5 km of Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap, none named

Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.

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 A, Columbia-Shuswap: 43 viewpoints, 59 waterfalls

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 (785). Among the peaks, Adamant Mountain is highest at 3,335 m.

Every named place, with directions

Viewpoints 43

Columbia Icefield Viewpointin town
Directions
Hamilton Fallsin town
Directions
Hoodoosin town
Directions
Mount 7 launch site 1in town
Directions
Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint (Lower tunnel)in town
Directions
Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint (Upper tunnel)in town
Directions
Viewpoint Paget Peakin town
Directions
Waterfallin town
Directions

Plus 35 viewpoints without a name on the map.

Hills and peaks 785

8812 Peak2,671 m · in town
Directions
Adamant Mountain3,335 m · in town
Directions
Aiguille Peak2,999 m · in town
Directions
Alien Peak2,610 m · in town
Directions
All Soul's Prospect2,420 m · in town
Directions
Allan Peak2,911 m · in town
Directions
Alnus Peak2,976 m · in town
Directions
Amiskwi Peak2,822 m · in town
Directions

Plus 777 hills and peaks without a name on the map.

Waterfalls 59

Angel's Staircase Fallsin town
Directions
Bear Creek Fallsin town
Directions
Cerberus Fallsin town
Directions
Diableret Fallsin town
Directions
Hamilton Fallsin town
Directions
Laughing Fallsin town
Directions
Mount Stephan Fallsin town
Directions
Ottertail Fallsin town
Directions

Plus 51 waterfalls without a name on the map.

Nature reserves 10

Blackwater Lakes Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Bluewater Bridge Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Dawn Mountain Nordic Trails Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Hamber Parkin town
Directions
Hamber Provincial Parkin town
Directions
Jeb Lake Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Moonraker Trails Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Quartz Creek Snowmobile Areain town
Directions

Plus 2 nature reserves more.

Picnic sites 24

Faeder Lake Day Use Areain town
Directions
Finn Creekin town
Directions
Gorman Lakein town
Directions
Interpretive Displayin town
Directions
Picnic Areain town
Directions
Slide Path Picnic Areain town
Directions

Plus 18 picnic sites without a name on the map.

Playgrounds 10

Plus 10 playgrounds without a name on the map.

Campsites 78

Alpine Rafting Campgroundin town
Directions
Bittern Lake Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Bluewater Creek Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Bush Armin town
Directions
Cairnes Creek Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Cedar Lake Recreation Sitein town
Directions
Ensign Creekin town
Directions
Esplanade Bayin town
Directions

Plus 70 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.

Gardens to visit

Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap has a historic garden or park

Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.

Howse PassNational Historic Site · from 1806 · In Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Its page

One carries a national designation. Oldest of them: Howse Pass, from 1806.

Sources: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, and Wikidata (CC0), as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic places from Parks Canada’s Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel.

Next door

Next to Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap has few close neighbours with figures, so the list reaches 5–95 km out.

GoldenImprovement District No. 9 BanffElectoral Area G, East KootenayRevelstokeRadium Hot SpringsElectoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
TownProtected within 10 kmAreasRoutesBeaches
Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap33%26262
Golden 4.5 km5.5%501
Improvement District No. 9 Banff 63 km80%17204
Electoral Area G, East Kootenay 86 km40%2382
Revelstoke 89 km16%500
Radium Hot Springs 95 km35%800

Around Improvement District No. 9 Banff the protected share is at least double.

How to read these numbers

What this data can and can’t tell you

  • 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.
  • Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
  • Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
  • 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.
  • 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, Columbia-Shuswap

Where can you swim near Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap?

There are beaches within 5 km, none of them named.

Are there hiking trails near Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap?

OpenStreetMap maps the GDT ekw, GDT enc and GDT ekm close by, with others.

What is the nearest national park to Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap?

Yes: Banff National Park reaches the edge of Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap.

Are there protected areas near Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap?

Protected areas cover 33% of the land within 10 km.

Which is the biggest protected area near Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap?

Jasper National Park: 1,087,800 ha, a national park.

When should you visit Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap for the outdoors?

On the normals, May 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, Columbia-Shuswap?

Hamber Park begins at the town’s edge.

Sources

Sources for this page on Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap

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.

Gardens: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden) and Wikidata gardens within 15 km, as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic gardens and parks from Canada’s heritage registers (Parks Canada DFHD, the Canadian Register of Historic Places, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel).

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).