First pick
Rotary / McAdam Park
Park or garden
15 ha2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
Centralin the middle of Cowichan
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.05.9%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Cowichan · parks, protected land & trails
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve lies 10 km beyond Cowichan’s edge
For a provincial park, Cowichan River Park lies 1.1 km off. The 10 km around town hold 58 protected areas. 3 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail and Vancouver Island Trail.
Protected land
5.9%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
58
within 10 km, 16 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
10 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
1.1 km
Cowichan River Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
4
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Cowichan stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyGulf Islands National Park Reserve, 10 km awayOn a national routeThe Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail passes within 2 kmWalking routes3 named routes within 2 km
Cowichan is strongest on Gulf Islands National Park Reserve within easy reach, with the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Cowichan, set against 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. There is no Outdoors grade for Canadian towns; the figures stand beside the country’s towns of 2,500+ without a letter.
Protected within 10 km5.9%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0.1%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas16Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes3Named 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, Cowichan ranks 7th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (2,500 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
Cowichan5.9%
Towns its size1.6%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Cowichan16
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Cowichan3
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Cowichan’s strong point is public protected areas, where 6 of 39 top it.
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 | East Preston NS | 16% | 6.3% | 20 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Clearwater BC | 7.7% | 4.1% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Roberval QC | 6.1% | 1.2% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Cowichan BC | 5.9% | 0.1% | 58 | 3 | 4 |
| 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
Parks, woods and paths around Cowichan
The First Nations reserve’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
Walk in Cowichan: 9 named parks and woods
Rotary / McAdam Park is the largest, at 15 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
9 named parks and woods, 38 ha in all
Parks & gardens 38 ha
Most of it sits in Rotary / McAdam Park and Cowichan Sportsplex Community Park: 69% together.
Cowichan Sportsplex Community Park
Park or garden · 180 m outside town
11 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
1.7 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Centennial Park
Park or garden
4.4 ha1.3 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
2.2 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Harmony Park
Park or garden
1.4 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
3.0 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Waldon Park
Park or garden · 170 m outside town
2.4 ha
3.9 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Maplewood Park
Park or garden · 60 m outside town
0.9 ha
0.9 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Heritage Park
Park or garden · 300 m outside town
0.9 ha
5.9 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 9 named parks and green spaces
Rotary / McAdam ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsCowichan Sportsplex Community ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 4.4 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsHarmony ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsWaldon ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · just outside town
DirectionsMaple Grove ParkPark or garden · 1.7 ha
DirectionsMaplewood ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · just outside town
DirectionsHeritage ParkPark or garden · 0.9 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
In Cowichan, 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%)
Cowichan0%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, above this. About 2,500 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
5.9% of the land around Cowichan 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 Cowichan0.1%
Within 10 km5.9%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 58, 16 are public land; the others are privately held. The largest named one is Cowichan River Park, at 1,418 ha. 31 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
S'amunu Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 155 ha · 1.0 km from the edge of town
Mount Tzuhalem Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 18 ha · 1.0 km from the edge of town
Cowichan River ParkProvincial park · 1,418 ha · 1.1 km from the edge of town
Burgoyne Bay ParkProvincial park · 524 ha · 2.4 km from the edge of town
Mill Farm Regional Park ReserveMunicipal park · 315 ha · 2.8 km from the edge of town
Mount Maxwell Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 418 ha · 4.0 km from the edge of town
Mount Maxwell ParkProvincial park · 231 ha · 4.6 km from the edge of town
Mount Tuam Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 362 ha · 5.3 km from the edge of town
Satellite Channel Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 340 ha · 6.2 km from the edge of town
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 Cowichan
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
1.1 km west14 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Burgoyne Bay Park
2.4 km east5.2 km²since 2004
Provincial park
Mount Maxwell Park
4.6 km east2.3 km²since 1938
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
10 km east67 km²since 2010
Cowichan River Park, a provincial park, is nearer at 1.1 km. 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
84 km of paths in and around Cowichan
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
84 km
in and around the town (72.6 km²)
Woodland
45%
about 33 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
CowichanTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.2
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
CowichanTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland45%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 82% of Canadian towns. For path density, 56% 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
The Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail runs past Cowichan
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 (128 km) keeps within 2 km of town for 8.4 km. Among local routes, the Vancouver Island Trail is longest at 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
Cowichan is best on foot in May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Victoria (Airport), 23 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 |
Snow totals about 39 cm a year. Highs peak near 23 °C in July and fall to 7 °C in December. Rain and snow peak in January (155 mm) and ease in July (20 mm). The climate in Cowichan →
Beaches
Cowichan has 4 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Musgrave Landing Beach1.6 km from town
DirectionsBurgoyne Bay Beach4.4 km from town
DirectionsThe map adds 2 unnamed stretches of beach. OpenStreetMap maps 70 km of coastline within 5 km. 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 Cowichan: 21 viewpoints, 1 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Count 26 playgrounds, the biggest group. Look up to Mount Tzouhalem: 480 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 21
Tzouhalem Cross0.1 km from town
DirectionsJitka's Bench0.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 19 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 3
Grouse Hill195 m · 0.0 km from town
DirectionsMount Tzouhalem480 m · 0.5 km from town
DirectionsStoney Hill201 m · 0.6 km from town
DirectionsWaterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Busy Place Creek Park0.1 km from town
DirectionsKeating Park0.6 km from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 26
Duncan Lions Club Spray Park0.2 km from town
DirectionsBev Lashman Playground0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlayscape0.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 23 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Somenos Creek Dog Park0.5 km from town
DirectionsCampsites 2
Riverside RV Park & Camping0.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Slipways 5
Plus 5 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Cowichan
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Electoral Area E, Cowichan ValleyDuncanNorth CowichanCowichan BayCobble HillShawniganCowichan
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowichan | 5.9% | 58 | 3 | 4 |
| Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley 1.2 km | 2.8% | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| Duncan 1.5 km | 1.9% | 31 | 2 | 1 |
| North Cowichan 4.8 km | 3.9% | 72 | 7 | 10 |
| Cowichan Bay 6.4 km | 4.2% | 64 | 2 | 10 |
| Cobble Hill 12 km | 6.6% | 51 | 0 | 6 |
| Shawnigan 13 km | 22% | 66 | 4 | 8 |
For protected land, Shawnigan has twice as much or more. North Cowichan has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 7.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Protected land. The share is of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s outline, from CPCAD’s mapped areas; marine areas count, so a coastal town can score high on water.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
Questions about the outdoors in Cowichan
How far is the nearest provincial park from Cowichan?
Cowichan River Park, 1.1 km from the edge of town.
Is there protected land near Cowichan?
Yes: 5.9% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Is there a beach near Cowichan?
Musgrave Landing Beach, 1.6 km from town, is the nearest mapped beach.
Are there hiking trails near Cowichan?
OpenStreetMap maps the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail, Vancouver Island Trail and Duncan Totem Tour Path close by, with others.
What is the largest protected area near Cowichan?
Cowichan River Park, a provincial park of 1,418 ha.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Cowichan?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
What is the nearest national park to Cowichan?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is closest, at 10 km.
Sources
Sources for this page on Cowichan
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).