First pick
Confluence park
Park or garden
9.4 ha1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1 km of path
1.7 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Murray Foubister · CC BY-SA 2.05.5%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Golden · parks, protected land & trails
Yoho National Park lies 14 km beyond Golden’s edge
8.2 km from town is Burges James Gadsden Park, the nearest provincial park. Within 10 km of the town, 5.5% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. There is a beach within 5 km, unnamed on the map.
Protected land
5.5%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
5
within 10 km, 2 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
14 km
Yoho National Park
Nearest provincial park
8.2 km
Burges James Gadsden Park
Beaches
1
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Against other towns
Each figure for Golden, 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. Canada’s grades don’t include the outdoors, so this page compares the figures rather than grading them.
Protected within 10 km5.5%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town12%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas2Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches1Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Golden has the 8th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (4,353 to 4,525 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
Golden5.5%
Towns its size1.7%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Golden2
Towns its size3
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Golden0
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Golden’s strong point is protected land nearby, where 7 of 39 top it. It trails them for public protected areas, where 20 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beresford NB | 24% | 6.2% | 6 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Sparwood BC | 23% | 3.4% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Gaetz Brook NS | 15% | 4.2% | 55 | 2 | 19 |
| 4 | Bells Corners West ON | 9% | 11% | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Deep River ON | 8.1% | 1% | 18 | 0 | 10 |
| 6 | Bowen Island BC | 7.2% | 17% | 60 | 0 | 173 |
| 7 | Bellerive QC | 6% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Golden BC | 5.5% | 12% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Highlands East ON | 5.2% | 2.1% | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 10 | Eastmount ON | 4.3% | 0% | 22 | 1 | 3 |
| 11 | Queensland AB | 4% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| 12 | Deer Ridge AB | 3.7% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 13 | Crossroads ON | 3.5% | 0% | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Montague ON | 3% | 2.8% | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| 15 | Geraldton ON | 2.8% | 2.2% | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| 16 | Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley BC | 2.8% | 3.6% | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| 17 | White City SK | 2.3% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | De Salaberry MB | 1.9% | 0.2% | 46 | 0 | 2 |
| 19 | New Maryland NB | 1.7% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Oxford AB | 1.7% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Highway Valley ON | 1.6% | 1.7% | 18 | 5 | 6 |
| 22 | Minnetonka MB | 1.6% | 1.7% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Roslyn MB | 1.6% | 0% | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| 24 | Spence MB | 1.6% | 0% | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | Centennial MB | 1.5% | 0% | 18 | 4 | 0 |
| 26 | Rossland BC | 1.4% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Parkridge SK | 1.1% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Glenridding Heights AB | 1.1% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | South Calgary AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | Inglewood AB | 0.6% | 17% | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 31 | Lorelei AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Vulcan County AB | 0.3% | 0.4% | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Montgomery AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 34 | Ormsby Place AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | Patricia Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 36 | Pollard Meadows AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 37 | Winston Heights/Mountview AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Howick ON | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | High Level AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Beacon Heights AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The map
Where the green is in Golden
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
4 named parks and woods to walk in near Golden
The biggest is Confluence park, 9.4 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
4 named parks and woods, 20 ha in all
Parks & gardens 20 ha
92% of the area is in just two places: Keith King Memorial Park and Confluence park.
Keith King Memorial Park
Park or garden
9.5 ha0.5 km of path
1.2 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Spirit Square
Park or garden
0.4 ha0.2 km of path
Centralin the middle of Golden
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
A park is within a short walk for 7 in 10 in Golden
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 (70%)Further (30%)
Golden70%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town does better, at 83%. For about 1,300 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away.
Protected areas
5.5% of the country within 10 km of Golden 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 Golden12%
Within 10 km5.5%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public bodies own 2 of the 5; land trusts and private owners hold the others. Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management Area is the biggest, 26,200 ha. 3 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 26,200 ha · reaches Golden
Burges James Gadsden ParkProvincial park · 404 ha · 8.2 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 Golden
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
Burges James Gadsden Park
8.2 km north-west4.0 km²since 1965
National park
Yoho National Park
14 km east1,313 km²since 1886
Nearer still is Burges James Gadsden Park, a provincial park 8.2 km away.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Golden has 59 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
59 km
in and around the town (30.9 km²)
Woodland
45%
about 13.9 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
GoldenTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.9
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
GoldenTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland45%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 81% of Canadian towns. It has more footpath per km² than 55% 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
OpenStreetMap shows no walking route near Golden
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
OpenStreetMap lists no walking route near the town, though paths on the ground may well exist.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Get out in Golden in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Golden (1.1 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) | 8.3 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 16.6 | 16.1 | 14.6 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | -4 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 10 | 1 | -4 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 42 | 23 | 30 | 24 | 36 | 54 | 41 | 39 | 41 | 38 | 51 | 39 |
The yearly snowfall is near 169 cm. Expect 54 mm in June, the wettest month, and 23 mm in February. From -4 °C in December to 25 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. The climate in Golden →
Beaches
A beach within 5 km of Golden
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
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
9 viewpoints near Golden
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Count 9 viewpoints, the biggest group.
Every named place, with directions
Playgrounds 7
Plus 7 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Golden Municipal Campground and RV Parkin town
DirectionsWhispering Spruce Campgroundin town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Golden
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. Distances here run 5–97 km: that is how far the nearest places with figures are from Golden.
Electoral Area A, Columbia-ShuswapImprovement District No. 9 BanffElectoral Area G, East KootenayRevelstokeRadium Hot SpringsGolden
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden | 5.5% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap 4.5 km | 33% | 26 | 26 | 2 |
| Improvement District No. 9 Banff 61 km | 80% | 17 | 20 | 4 |
| Electoral Area G, East Kootenay 88 km | 40% | 23 | 8 | 2 |
| Revelstoke 92 km | 16% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Radium Hot Springs 97 km | 35% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 26. Around Electoral Area A, Columbia-Shuswap, Improvement District No. 9 Banff and Electoral Area G, East Kootenay the protected share is at least double.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- Protected land. CPCAD maps each protected area; the page counts how much of the 10 km around the town they cover, lakes and sea included.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
Questions about the outdoors in Golden
What is the biggest park or reserve near Golden?
It is Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management Area, a wildlife area covering 26,200 ha.
Is Golden near a national park?
Yoho National Park is closest, at 14 km.
Is there protected land near Golden?
Within 10 km, 5.5% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the nearest beach to Golden?
There is an unnamed beach within 5 km.
When is the best time for walking in Golden?
May to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
Is there a provincial park near Golden?
Burges James Gadsden Park, 8.2 km from the edge of town.
Sources
The sources behind Golden’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).