First pick
Chemainus River Park
Park or garden
119 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
12 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain2.8%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley · parks, protected land & trails
Within 15 km of Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley: Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Named trails close by number 3, the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail and Vancouver Island Trail among them. The 10 km around town hold 42 protected areas. 2 beaches are mapped within 5 km, none with a name.
Protected land
2.8%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
42
within 10 km, 13 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
15 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Chemainus River Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyGulf Islands National Park Reserve, 15 km awayOn a national routeThe Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail passes within 2 kmWalking routes3 named routes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeChemainus River Park reaches the town
Above all, Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley offers Gulf Islands National Park Reserve within easy reach, with the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail close behind.
Against other towns
Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley 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. No letter: the outdoors is described for Canadian towns, not graded.
Protected within 10 km2.8%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town3.6%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas13Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes3Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches2Beaches 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 E, Cowichan Valley ranks 19th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (4,398 to 4,567 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 D (Oyster Bay - Buttle Lake), StrathconaHowick
026%52%
Protected within 10 km
Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley2.8%
Towns its size2.4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley13
Towns its size3
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley3
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley beats most towns its size for public protected areas; 13 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electoral Area D (Oyster Bay - Buttle Lake), Strathcona BC | 49% | 64% | 34 | 11 | 8 |
| 2 | Shelburne NS | 27% | 28% | 194 | 0 | 80 |
| 3 | Sparwood BC | 23% | 3.4% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Gaetz Brook NS | 15% | 4.2% | 55 | 2 | 19 |
| 5 | Douglas BC | 13% | 3.2% | 82 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Queenswood - Chatelaine ON | 12% | 0% | 40 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Electoral Area P (Rivers and the Peaks), Thompson-Nicola BC | 11% | 8.3% | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Bells Corners West ON | 9% | 11% | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | Bowen Island BC | 7.2% | 17% | 60 | 0 | 173 |
| 10 | Golden BC | 5.5% | 12% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Melville SK | 5.2% | 1% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Eastmount ON | 4.3% | 0% | 22 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Queensland AB | 4% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| 14 | Deer Ridge AB | 3.7% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 15 | Crossroads ON | 3.5% | 0% | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Warner County No. 5 AB | 3.2% | 4.7% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Montague ON | 3% | 2.8% | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| 18 | Geraldton ON | 2.8% | 2.2% | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| 19 | Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley BC | 2.8% | 3.6% | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| 20 | Country Hills ON | 2.6% | 0% | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Red Hill ON | 2.1% | 0% | 17 | 3 | 5 |
| 22 | De Salaberry MB | 1.9% | 0.2% | 46 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | New Maryland NB | 1.7% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Oxford AB | 1.7% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Highway Valley ON | 1.6% | 1.7% | 18 | 5 | 6 |
| 26 | Minnetonka MB | 1.6% | 1.7% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Roslyn MB | 1.6% | 0% | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| 28 | Felker ON | 1.5% | 0% | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Centennial MB | 1.5% | 0% | 18 | 4 | 0 |
| 30 | Rockwood MB | 1.5% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Casselman ON | 1.4% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Parkridge SK | 1.1% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | South Calgary AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 34 | Vulcan County AB | 0.3% | 0.4% | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Montgomery AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Blue Quill AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Ormsby Place AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 38 | Vanderhoof BC | 0.2% | 3.8% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 39 | Saint-Anselme QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Howick ON | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
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
21 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
Chemainus River Park is the largest, at 119 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
21 named parks and woods, 245 ha in all
Parks & gardens 245 ha
Add Chemainus River Park to Currie Creek Recreation Site and you have 62% of it.
Currie Creek Recreation Site
Park or garden
34 ha
7.5 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Bright Angel Park
Park or garden
21 ha3.6 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.6 km of path
4.0 km south-eastfrom the centre
Fitness Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Rotary / McAdam Park
Park or garden · 360 m outside town
15 ha2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
1.5 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Sandy Pool Regional Park
Park or garden
17 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
9.3 km westfrom the centre
Cowichan River FootpathCowichan Valley Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Glenora Trails Head Park
Park or garden
13 ha0.4 km of path
6.0 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Glenora Riverside Park
Park or garden
9.2 ha0.4 km of path
6.1 km westfrom the centre
Sunrise River Access
Directionsto a point inside
All 21 named parks and green spaces
Chemainus River ParkPark or garden · 119 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsCurrie Creek Recreation SitePark or garden · 34 ha
DirectionsBright Angel ParkPark or garden · 21 ha · 3.6 km of path
DirectionsRotary / McAdam ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 2.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSandy Pool Regional ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsGlenora Trails Head ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsGlenora Riverside ParkPark or garden · 9.2 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsFairbridge ParkPark or garden · 2.7 ha
DirectionsWaldon ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha
DirectionsHawkhill ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha
DirectionsAlron ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha
DirectionsCurrie ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsBelvedere TrailPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsWilmot TrailPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsCaromar Trail CorridorPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsDons ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsMaplewood ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha
DirectionsHeritage ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsCaromar Park 1Park or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsRiverbottom Road ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsMiller Road Rest AreaPark or garden · 0.3 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
About 4 in 10 of Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley’s residents are 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 (36%)Further (65%)
Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley36%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
Around 2,900 residents are further than 400 m from a park. For comparison, the typical Canadian town has 83%.
Protected areas
Within 10 km of Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley, 2.8% is protected land
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 E, Cowichan Valley3.6%
Within 10 km2.8%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 13 of the 42. The others are private conservation land. At 1,418 ha, Cowichan River Park is the largest. 29 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Cowichan River ParkProvincial park · 1,418 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
Chemainus River ParkProvincial park · 119 ha · reaches Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
S'amunu Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 155 ha · 2.1 km from the edge of town
Mount Tzuhalem Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 18 ha · 4.7 km from the edge of town
Koksilah River ParkProvincial park · 230 ha · 6.0 km from the edge of town
Eves ParkProvincial park · 19 ha · 6.1 km from the edge of town
Hwsalu-Utsum ParkProvincial park · 143 ha · 6.5 km from the edge of town
West Shawnigan Lake ParkProvincial park · 9.7 ha · 8.2 km from the edge of town
Mill Farm Regional Park ReserveMunicipal park · 315 ha · 8.3 km from the edge of town
Burgoyne Bay ParkProvincial park · 524 ha · 9.3 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
Big parks near Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
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
Cowichan River Park
At the edge14 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Chemainus River Park
At the edge1.2 km²since 1959
Provincial park
Koksilah River Park
6.0 km south2.3 km²since 1959
Provincial park
Eves Park
6.1 km north0.2 km²since 1962
Provincial park
Hwsalu-Utsum Park
6.5 km south1.4 km²since 2021
Provincial park
West Shawnigan Lake Park
8.2 km south0.1 km²since 1979
There are 7 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
Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley has 93 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
93 km
in and around the town (224.5 km²)
Woodland
85%
about 190.2 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area E, Cowichan ValleyTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.4
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area E, Cowichan ValleyTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland85%
0%50%100%
69% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km². More of it is wooded than in 98% 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 E, Cowichan Valley is on the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalRegionalOther waymarked
Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail127.5 km
Vancouver Island Trail742.1 km
Duncan Totem Tour Path1.1 km
The Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail is 128 km long on the map, and 27.3 km of it lies within 2 km of town. The Vancouver Island Trail is the big one locally: 742.1 km.
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 E, Cowichan Valley: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Victoria (Airport), 24 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) | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 15.8 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 155 | 85 | 80 | 48 | 37 | 29 | 20 | 24 | 36 | 96 | 146 | 146 |
Daytime highs run from 7 °C in December up to 23 °C in July. The wettest month, January, brings 155 mm, against 20 mm in July. Snowfall averages 39 cm a year. The climate in Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley →
Beaches
2 unnamed beaches near Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
The shoreline runs 24 km within 5 km of town. 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
Near Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley: 9 viewpoints, 1 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
9Viewpoints8Hills and peaks1Waterfalls2Nature reserves2Picnic sites14Playgrounds1Dog parks3Campsites4Slipways
Mount Brenton tops the hills nearby, 1,210 m. Playgrounds lead the count with 14.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 9
Plus 9 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 8
Mount Prevost781 m · 1.4 km from town
DirectionsMount Brenton1,210 m · 1.8 km from town
DirectionsBig Sicker Mountain730 m · 1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 5 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 1
Lower Banon Creek Falls1.8 km from town
DirectionsNature reserves 2
Busy Place Creek Parkin town
DirectionsKeating Parkin town
DirectionsPicnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 14
Playscapein town
DirectionsDuncan Lions Club Spray Park1.4 km from town
DirectionsBev Lashman Playground1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 11 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Somenos Creek Dog Park2.0 km from town
DirectionsCampsites 3
Riverside RV Park & Campingin town
DirectionsStoltz Pool Group Campground0.1 km from town
DirectionsStoltz Pool Campground0.5 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 4
Stoltz Pool Boat Launch0.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 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 E, Cowichan Valley
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
CowichanDuncanNorth CowichanCowichan BayCobble HillShawniganElectoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley | 2.8% | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| Cowichan 1.2 km | 5.9% | 58 | 3 | 4 |
| Duncan 1.5 km | 1.9% | 31 | 2 | 1 |
| North Cowichan 5.1 km | 3.9% | 72 | 7 | 10 |
| Cowichan Bay 7.3 km | 4.2% | 64 | 2 | 10 |
| Cobble Hill 12 km | 6.6% | 51 | 0 | 6 |
| Shawnigan 13 km | 22% | 66 | 4 | 8 |
North Cowichan has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 7. Around Cowichan, Cobble Hill and Shawnigan the protected share is at least double.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Protected land. Measured on CPCAD’s outlines: the part of a 10 km band around the town that lies in a protected or conserved area, water included.
- 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.
- 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. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley
What is the best season to get outdoors in Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley?
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 nearest provincial park to Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley?
Chemainus River Park begins at the town’s edge.
What is the nearest national park to Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley?
The nearest is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 15 km away.
How much land around Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley is protected?
Yes: 2.8% of the land within 10 km is protected.
What is the nearest beach to Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley?
The beaches mapped within 5 km have no names on the map.
What walking routes are near Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley?
Try the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail, Vancouver Island Trail and Duncan Totem Tour Path; more are on the map.
Which is the biggest protected area near Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley?
Cowichan River Park, a provincial park of 1,418 ha.
Sources
Where Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley’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).