First pick
Island View Beach Regional Park
Park or garden
52 ha3.6 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.6 km of path
1.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Island View Back Door Trail
Directionsto a point inside
9.4%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in East Saanich 2 · parks, protected land & trails
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 3.8 km from East Saanich 2
The nearest provincial park, Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park, is 3.2 km away. 9.4% of the land and water within 10 km is protected (the typical Canadian town: 2.3%). CPCAD lists 21 protected areas within 10 km.
Protected land
9.4%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
21
within 10 km, 14 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
3.8 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
3.2 km
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What East Saanich 2 has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyGulf Islands National Park Reserve, 3.8 km awayProtected land all round9.4% of the land within 10 km, more than 84% of Canadian towns
What East Saanich 2 has most to offer outdoors is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve within easy reach, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
East Saanich 2 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 km9.4%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0.6%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas14Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named 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
East Saanich 2 comes 5th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (1,962 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
East Saanich 29.4%
Towns its size1.6%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
East Saanich 214
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
East Saanich 20
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
East Saanich 2 beats most towns its size for protected land nearby; 4 of 39 do better.
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 | East Saanich 2 BC | 9.4% | 0.6% | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Clearwater BC | 7.7% | 4.1% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Roberval QC | 6.1% | 1.2% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 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
Where the green is in East Saanich 2
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the First Nations reserve; 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
3 named parks and woods to walk in near East Saanich 2
The biggest is Island View Beach Regional Park, 52 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
Cordova Spit Park
Park or garden
7.6 ha0.6 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
1.5 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Saanichton Bay Park
Park or garden
1.2 ha0.5 km of path
0.9 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
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
Most of East Saanich 2 is more than 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 (0%)Further (100%)
East Saanich 20%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
For comparison, the typical Canadian town has 83%. Around 2,000 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
Protected areas
Around East Saanich 2, protected areas make up 9.4%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside East Saanich 20.6%
Within 10 km9.4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 14 of the 21. The others are private conservation land. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is the biggest, 6,731 ha. 7 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Island View Beach Regional ParkMunicipal park · 53 ha · reaches East Saanich 2
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean ParkProvincial park · 173 ha · 3.2 km from the edge of town
Gulf Islands National Park ReserveNational park reserve · 6,731 ha · 3.8 km from the edge of town
Bear Hill Regional ParkMunicipal park · 49 ha · 3.9 km from the edge of town
Gowlland Tod ParkProvincial park · 1,280 ha · 4.6 km from the edge of town
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional ParkMunicipal park · 443 ha · 4.8 km from the edge of town
Coles Bay Regional ParkMunicipal park · 3.6 ha · 6.0 km from the edge of town
Mount Work Regional ParkMunicipal park · 754 ha · 6.2 km from the edge of town
Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird SanctuaryWildlife area · 146 ha · 7.4 km from the edge of town
Mountain Road Forest Regional ParkMunicipal park · 20 ha · 8.6 km from the edge of town
4 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
The parks within reach of East Saanich 2
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
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park
3.2 km north-west1.7 km²since 1921
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
3.8 km north-east67 km²since 2010
Provincial park
Gowlland Tod Park
4.6 km south-west13 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Bamberton Park
8.8 km west0.3 km²since 1960
Closer to home, Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park is 3.2 km away. 3 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
East Saanich 2 and its edge hold 11 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
11 km
in and around the town (13.2 km²)
Woodland
17%
about 2.3 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
East Saanich 2Towns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.8
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
East Saanich 2Towns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland17%
0%50%100%
61% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km². It is more wooded than 64% 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
No mapped walking route near East Saanich 2
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
No named walking or hiking route is mapped near the First Nations reserve; local paths may simply not be on OpenStreetMap as routes.
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 East Saanich 2: May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Victoria (Airport) (7.5 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) | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 15.7 | 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 |
The wettest month, January, brings 155 mm, against 20 mm in July. The warmest days come in July (23 °C highs), the coldest in December (7 °C). Winter brings about 39 cm of snow. The climate in East Saanich 2 →
Beaches
2 unnamed beaches near East Saanich 2
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
The coast is close: 45 km of shoreline within 5 km. 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
Outdoors around East Saanich 2: 7 places to go
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Playgrounds lead the count with 6.
Every named place, with directions
Playgrounds 6
Plus 6 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Island View Beach Regional Park Campground0.9 km from town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to East Saanich 2
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Central SaanichSidneyNorth SaanichHighlandsSaanichElectoral Area A, Cowichan ValleyEast Saanich 2
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Saanich 2 | 9.4% | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| Central Saanich 3.5 km | 9.2% | 35 | 2 | 29 |
| Sidney 7.4 km | 7% | 22 | 0 | 7 |
| North Saanich 9.2 km | 9.2% | 37 | 0 | 24 |
| Highlands 11 km | 24% | 40 | 0 | 18 |
| Saanich 13 km | 11% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley 14 km | 23% | 58 | 4 | 24 |
For walking routes, Saanich leads the area with 7. For protected land, Highlands and Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley have twice as much or more.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- 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.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
Questions about the outdoors in East Saanich 2
When should you visit East Saanich 2 for the outdoors?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Is East Saanich 2 near a national park?
The nearest is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 3.8 km away.
Is there a provincial park near East Saanich 2?
The closest is Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park, at 3.2 km.
Is there protected land near East Saanich 2?
Yes: 9.4% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Is there a beach near East Saanich 2?
There are beaches within 5 km, none of them named.
What is the largest protected area near East Saanich 2?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve: 6,731 ha, a national park reserve.
Sources
Where East Saanich 2’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).