First pick
Upper Puntledge River Woodlands
Wood or forest
30,513 ha182.6 km of path
40 h 35 minto walk all 182.6 km of path
24 km westfrom the centre
Boston Ridge TrailRiver TrailBear Bait Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain4%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area A, Comox Valley · parks, protected land & trails
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley has 54 public protected areas within 10 km
Swimmers have 19 beaches within 5 km, Nude Beach the nearest. Named trails close by number 2, the Vancouver Island Trail and Helliwell Park Trail among them. For a national park, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is 58 km away.
Protected land
4%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
97
within 10 km, 54 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
58 km
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Fillongley Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
19
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Electoral Area A, Comox Valley, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Many protected areas54 public areas within 10 kmBeaches19 beaches within 5 kmA provincial park at the edgeFillongley Park reaches the town
Out of doors, Electoral Area A, Comox Valley leads with the number of public protected areas close by, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
How Electoral Area A, Comox Valley 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. 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 km4%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town4.1%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas54Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches19Beaches 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 A, Comox Valley comes 15th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (8,304 to 8,524 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 A, Comox Valley4%
Towns its size2.6%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley54
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley2
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
None of the other 39 towns its size has more public protected areas than Electoral Area A, Comox Valley.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alta Vista ON | 13% | 0.7% | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Old Ottawa East ON | 13% | 4.2% | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| 3 | Britannia ON | 13% | 12% | 31 | 4 | 9 |
| 4 | Upper Cornell ON | 12% | 49% | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | Mount Joy ON | 10% | 0% | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Stone Mills ON | 10% | 11% | 58 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Wildfield ON | 9.1% | 14% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Muskoka Lakes ON | 6.3% | 11% | 26 | 1 | 12 |
| 9 | Saint-Vincent-de-Paul QC | 5.6% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Norton Park ON | 5.5% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Trinity Commons ON | 5.3% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Saint-Roch QC | 5.1% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Vaughan Metropolitan Centre ON | 4.7% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Somerset AB | 4.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 15 | Electoral Area A, Comox Valley BC | 4% | 4.1% | 97 | 2 | 19 |
| 16 | Electoral Area G, Nanaimo BC | 3.2% | 7.5% | 32 | 0 | 13 |
| 17 | Brownsburg-Chatham QC | 3.1% | 2% | 35 | 0 | 3 |
| 18 | Ogden AB | 2.9% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 19 | Deer Lake BC | 2.9% | 0% | 22 | 4 | 25 |
| 20 | McNab/Braeside ON | 2.7% | 0.1% | 35 | 0 | 14 |
| 21 | Rocky Ridge AB | 2.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | Douro-Dummer ON | 2.3% | 1.4% | 17 | 2 | 3 |
| 23 | Prairie View SK | 2.3% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Goderich ON | 1.5% | 0% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 25 | Drumheller AB | 1% | 4.9% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | St. John's MB | 0.9% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Rosewood SK | 0.9% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Hillhurst AB | 0.6% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | South-West Oxford ON | 0.5% | 0.3% | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| 30 | Bayfield ON | 0.5% | 0.1% | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 31 | Springfield North MB | 0.5% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Lac-Beauport QC | 0.4% | 0.1% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 33 | Clinton ON | 0.4% | 0.3% | 11 | 13 | 6 |
| 34 | Valley Gardens MB | 0.4% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Marlborough Park AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Albert Park/Radisson Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 37 | King Edward Park AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 38 | Garneau AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 39 | Aylmer ON | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Huron-Kinloss ON | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
The map
Where the green is in Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
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
21 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
The biggest is Upper Puntledge River Woodlands, 30,513 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
21 named parks and woods, 114,582 ha in all
Parks & gardens 127 haWoods 114,455 ha
The bulk, 46%, is Upper Puntledge River Woodlands and Alberni - Ash River Woodlands.
Upper Trent River Woodlands
Wood or forest
8,573 ha114.5 km of path
25 h 25 minto walk all 114.5 km of path
8.6 km westfrom the centre
Tsable Lake TrailTrent River TrailVan West Logging Road+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Tsable Lakes Woodlands
Wood or forest
11,417 ha68.2 km of path
15 h 10 minto walk all 68.2 km of path
7.1 km south-westfrom the centre
Beaufort Crest TrailTwin Lakes-Silversnag Ridge TrailTsable Lake Trail+3 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Beaufort East Woodlands
Wood or forest
14,867 ha60.8 km of path
13 h 30 minto walk all 60.8 km of path
16 km southfrom the centre
Beaufort Crest TrailMount Joan TrailTrev's Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Chinook Forest Woodlands W0026
Wood or forest
414 ha21.4 km of path
4 h 45 minto walk all 21.4 km of path
7.2 km north-westfrom the centre
Union Bay Forest Service RoadMoe's RevengeDan's Trail+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Upper Qualicum River Woodlands
Wood or forest
13,332 ha18.4 km of path
4 h 5 minto walk all 18.4 km of path
27 km south-eastfrom the centre
Horne Lake HustleLog TrainTrailDon's Trail (Beaufort Crest Trail)
Directionsto a point inside
Alberni Beaufort Range Woodlands
Wood or forest
12,123 ha17.3 km of path
3 h 50 minto walk all 17.3 km of path
21 km southfrom the centre
Beaufort Crest TrailDon's Trail (Beaufort Crest Trail)Log Train Trail Hal Creek detour
Directionsto a point inside
Crown Land Reserve
Wood or forest
497 ha14.7 km of path
3 h 15 minto walk all 14.7 km of path
6.3 km north-westfrom the centre
Moe's RevengeCherry & Laine
Directionsto a point inside
All 21 named parks and green spaces
Upper Puntledge River WoodlandsWood or forest · 30,513 ha · 182.6 km of path
DirectionsUpper Trent River WoodlandsWood or forest · 8,573 ha · 114.5 km of path
DirectionsTsable Lakes WoodlandsWood or forest · 11,417 ha · 68.2 km of path
DirectionsBeaufort East WoodlandsWood or forest · 14,867 ha · 60.8 km of path
DirectionsChinook Forest Woodlands W0026Wood or forest · 414 ha · 21.4 km of path
DirectionsUpper Qualicum River WoodlandsWood or forest · 13,332 ha · 18.4 km of path
DirectionsAlberni Beaufort Range WoodlandsWood or forest · 12,123 ha · 17.3 km of path
DirectionsCrown Land ReserveWood or forest · 497 ha · 14.7 km of path
DirectionsK'ómoks Royston LandsWood or forest · 676 ha · 10.3 km of path
DirectionsAlberni - Ash River WoodlandsWood or forest · 21,949 ha · 5 km of path
DirectionsCentral ParkPark or garden · 57 ha · 5 km of path
DirectionsSettlement LandsPark or garden · 61 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsDouglas Fir-salalWood or forest · 55 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsK'ómoks Union Bay LandsWood or forest · 35 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsCapes ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsJoe Walker Regional ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsShip Peninsula Regional ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsGlover Community Nature ParkWood or forest · 2.7 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsSandpiper Beach ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsShips Point Regional ParkPark 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
1 in 10 people in Electoral Area A, Comox Valley 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 (10%)Further (90%)
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley10%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 7,600 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. The typical Canadian town reaches 83%.
Protected areas
Around Electoral Area A, Comox Valley, protected areas make up 4%
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, Comox Valley4.1%
Within 10 km4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 54 of the 97. Biggest of the named areas: Helliwell Park, 2,872 ha. Another 8 are privately owned conservation land; they count in the figures but aren’t named, as private land isn’t a place to visit.
Helliwell ParkProvincial park · 2,872 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Denman Island ParkProvincial park · 561 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Boyle Point ParkProvincial park · 188 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Mount Geoffrey Escarpment ParkProvincial park · 187 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Bowser Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 113 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Tribune Bay ParkProvincial park · 105 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Denman Island Protected AreaNature reserve · 92 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Rosewall Creek ParkProvincial park · 54 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Union Bay Nature ParkMunicipal park · 36 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
Jáji7EM and Kw'ulh Marine Park [A.K.A. Sandy Island Marine Park]Provincial park · 30 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
22 more named areas within 10 km are in the figures.
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
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is 58 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
Helliwell Park
At the edge29 km²since 1966
Provincial park
Denman Island Park
At the edge5.6 km²since 2013
Provincial park
Boyle Point Park
At the edge1.9 km²since 1989
Provincial park
Mount Geoffrey Escarpment Park
At the edge1.9 km²since 2004
Provincial park
Tribune Bay Park
At the edge1.1 km²since 1978
Provincial park
Rosewall Creek Park
At the edge0.5 km²since 1956
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: 605 km in and around Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
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
605 km
in and around the town (703.2 km²)
Woodland
73%
about 512.7 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area A, Comox ValleyTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.9
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area A, Comox ValleyTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland73%
0%50%100%
Paths are thinner on the ground than in 60% of Canadian towns. Woods cover more of it than in 93% 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
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley has 2 named walking routes
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
Vancouver Island Trail742.1 km
Helliwell Park Trail4.0 km
At 742.1 km, the Vancouver Island Trail is the longest local route.
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 A, Comox Valley: May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Comox (17 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) | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 177 | 112 | 108 | 64 | 40 | 42 | 24 | 31 | 47 | 125 | 189 | 194 |
Highs peak near 23 °C in July and fall to 6 °C in December. December is the wettest month (194 mm) and July the driest (24 mm). Snow totals about 51 cm a year. The climate in Electoral Area A, Comox Valley →
Beaches
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley has 19 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Nude Beachin town
DirectionsMorning beachin town
DirectionsWhaling Station Beachin town
DirectionsLittle Tribune Beachsand · 0.1 km from town
DirectionsBig Tribune Beachsand · 0.2 km from town
DirectionsLittle Mexicosand · 1.7 km from town
DirectionsWithin 5 km is 171 km of coastline. Sandy ones: 3. Unnamed on the map: 13 more. 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
Electoral Area A, Comox Valley has 19 viewpoints and 8 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
19Viewpoints40Hills and peaks8Waterfalls10Nature reserves2Picnic sites23Playgrounds2Dog parks4Campsites2Slipways
There are 40 hills and peaks, more than of anything else. The highest named peak nearby is Mount Joan, at 1,556 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 19
Eagle Rock Viewpointin town
DirectionsRoyston Wharf Viewing Stand0.0 km from town
DirectionsFanny Bay Government Wharf0.1 km from town
DirectionsMillard Lookout1.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 15 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 40
Fuji Jim Mountain247 m · in town
DirectionsMount Apps1,531 m · in town
DirectionsMount Cameron1,505 m · in town
DirectionsMount Chief Frank1,470 m · in town
DirectionsMount Clifton1,406 m · in town
DirectionsMount Curran1,476 m · in town
DirectionsMount Geoffrey305 m · in town
DirectionsMount Henry Spencer1,477 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 32 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 8
Rosewall Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsTrent River Fallsin town
DirectionsPlus 6 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 10
Bowser Ecological Reservein town
DirectionsBoyle Point Protected Areain town
DirectionsFillongley Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsGlover Community Nature Parkin town
DirectionsMount Geoffrey Escarpment Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsTribune Bay Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsHelliwell Provincial Park0.5 km from town
DirectionsMillard Nature Park1.2 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 nature reserves more.
Picnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 23
Royston Elementary Playgroundin town
DirectionsCumberland Water Park0.8 km from town
DirectionsCourtenay Elementary Playground1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 20 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 2
Dog Tie-up Areain town
DirectionsCumberland Dog Park0.6 km from town
DirectionsCampsites 4
Bradsdadsland Campgroundin town
DirectionsFillongley Provincial Campgroundin town
DirectionsHeron Rocks (Private)in town
DirectionsTribune Bay Park Campgroundin town
DirectionsSlipways 2
Royston Small Craft Boat Launch0.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area A, Comox Valley
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
CumberlandComoxCourtenayElectoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox ValleyElectoral Area A, Comox Valley
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area A, Comox Valley | 4% | 97 | 2 | 19 |
| Cumberland 11 km | 2.6% | 44 | 1 | 1 |
| Comox 13 km | 1.4% | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| Courtenay 15 km | 1.4% | 54 | 0 | 1 |
| Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley 17 km | 1.3% | 64 | 0 | 3 |
Around Electoral Area A, Comox Valley, nobody nearby has double its protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- Private land. Land owned by individuals, companies or conservation groups counts toward the figures but is never named: a person’s land isn’t a place to visit.
- 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.
- 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 A, Comox Valley
What is the largest protected area near Electoral Area A, Comox Valley?
It is Helliwell Park, a provincial park covering 2,872 ha.
What is the nearest beach to Electoral Area A, Comox Valley?
The nearest is Nude Beach, in town.
Are there hiking trails near Electoral Area A, Comox Valley?
Try the Vancouver Island Trail and Helliwell Park Trail; more are on the map.
Is there protected land near Electoral Area A, Comox Valley?
Yes: 4% of the land within 10 km is protected.
What is the nearest national park to Electoral Area A, Comox Valley?
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, 58 km from the edge of town.
Is there a provincial park near Electoral Area A, Comox Valley?
Fillongley Park begins at the town’s edge.
When is the best time for walking in Electoral Area A, Comox Valley?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Sources
The sources behind Electoral Area A, Comox Valley’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).