First pick
Thetis Lake Regional Park
Park or garden
926 ha78 km of path
17 h 20 minto walk all 78 km of path
6.1 km southfrom the centre
Bellamy TrailUpper Thetis Lake TrailMcKenzie Creek Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Kiwibirdman · CC BY 3.024%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Highlands · parks, protected land & trails
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve lies 13 km beyond Highlands’ edge
Protected areas take in 41% of the town itself. 24% of the land and water within 10 km is protected (the typical Canadian town: 2.3%). 40 areas within 10 km are protected for nature.
Protected land
24%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
40
within 10 km, 24 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
13 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Goldstream Park
Beaches
18
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Highlands apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyGulf Islands National Park Reserve, 13 km awayProtected land all round24% of the land within 10 km, more than 97% of Canadian townsProtected land in town41% of Highlands itself lies in protected areasMany protected areas24 public areas within 10 km
Out of doors, Highlands leads with Gulf Islands National Park Reserve within easy reach, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
Highlands beside other Canadian towns, figure by figure
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 km24%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town41%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas24Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches18Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Highlands has the 3rd most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (2,719 to 2,785 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
Highlands24%
Towns its size2.9%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Highlands24
Towns its size8
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Highlands0
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Highlands sits near the top of its size group: 2 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tofino BC | 41% | 21% | 14 | 0 | 34 |
| 2 | Victoria County, Subdivision A NS | 33% | 54% | 152 | 3 | 59 |
| 3 | Highlands BC | 24% | 41% | 40 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Waskaganish QC | 24% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Electoral Area E, Peace River BC | 19% | 24% | 25 | 2 | 103 |
| 6 | Holyrood NL | 19% | 3.2% | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel QC | 18% | 23% | 83 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Musquodoboit Harbour NS | 16% | 28% | 50 | 1 | 17 |
| 9 | Little Current ON | 13% | 10% | 36 | 0 | 5 |
| 10 | Waterridge Village ON | 11% | 9.2% | 39 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Maria QC | 9.5% | 1% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Cultus Lake BC | 9.3% | 52% | 14 | 1 | 17 |
| 13 | Marritt ON | 7.2% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Freelton ON | 5.6% | 1.6% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Vernon River PE | 5.1% | 4.5% | 48 | 11 | 3 |
| 16 | Cochrane, Unorganized, North Part ON | 5.1% | 4.9% | 81 | 0 | 28 |
| 17 | Front of Yonge ON | 4.9% | 6% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Vars ON | 3.8% | 1.4% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Bonaventure QC | 3.7% | 1.5% | 7 | 0 | 11 |
| 20 | Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse QC | 3.6% | 0% | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Wakefield NB | 2.2% | 0.8% | 22 | 0 | 13 |
| 22 | Sussex NB | 2.1% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | Division No. 8, Subdivision L NL | 1.9% | 0.2% | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | Woodcroft AB | 1.9% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Gore QC | 1.6% | 2.3% | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | Central River Heights MB | 1.5% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Turner Valley AB | 1.4% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Mathers MB | 1.4% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 29 | Tuxedo Industrial MB | 1.4% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 36 |
| 30 | Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley BC | 1.1% | 3.5% | 28 | 3 | 6 |
| 31 | Upper Mount Royal AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Souris MB | 0.5% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Talbot-Grey MB | 0.5% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Electoral Area I, Central Kootenay BC | 0.2% | 0.1% | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 35 | Rivergrove MB | 0.2% | 4.7% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Wickham QC | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Kameyosek AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 38 | Lee Ridge AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 39 | Kuujjuaq QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | Country Hills Village AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Highlands
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 named parks and woods to walk in near Highlands
Largest first: Thetis Lake Regional Park leads with 926 ha. Numbers match the map.
21 named parks and woods, 1,777 ha in all
Parks & gardens 1,777 ha
Thetis Lake Regional Park and Mount Work Regional Park together hold 95% of it.
Mount Work Regional Park
Park or garden
759 ha76.9 km of path
17 h 5 minto walk all 76.9 km of path
2.4 km eastfrom the centre
Summit TrailRegional TrailHuge Ribbon+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Hazlitt Creek Park
Park or garden
32 ha3.6 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.6 km of path
1.1 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Lone Tree Hill Regional Park
Park or garden
32 ha2 km of path
25 minto walk all 2 km of path
1.8 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Eagles Lake Park
Park or garden
8.4 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
4.9 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Twinflower Park
Park or garden
3.7 ha0.5 km of path
3.0 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Spirit Ridge Park
Park or garden · 60 m outside town
2.1 ha0.5 km of path
6.8 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Players Drive Park
Park or garden · 70 m outside town
2.5 ha0.3 km of path
7.0 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 21 named parks and green spaces
Thetis Lake Regional ParkPark or garden · 926 ha · 78 km of path
DirectionsMount Work Regional ParkPark or garden · 759 ha · 76.9 km of path
DirectionsHazlitt Creek ParkPark or garden · 32 ha · 3.6 km of path
DirectionsLone Tree Hill Regional ParkPark or garden · 32 ha · 2 km of path
DirectionsEagles Lake ParkPark or garden · 8.4 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsTwinflower ParkPark or garden · 3.7 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsSpirit Ridge ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPlayers Drive ParkPark or garden · 2.5 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsChow Nicoll ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha
DirectionsTwinflower Riding RingPark or garden · 1.5 ha
DirectionsCaleb Pike HomesteadPark or garden · 1.4 ha
DirectionsBishop's Gate ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha
DirectionsPike Hill ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsQuails Run ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsNicklaus East ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBear Mountain Parkway ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsNicklaus ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · just outside town
DirectionsHannington ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsSkyline ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsDeerview ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsHannington Stormwater Pond ParkPark or garden · 0.2 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 Highlands, a park is close to every home
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 (100%)Further (0%)
Highlands100%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
A typical Canadian town reaches only 83%.
Protected areas
Protected areas cover 24% of the land near Highlands
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Highlands41%
Within 10 km24%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 40, 24 are public land; the others are privately held. At 20,620 ha, Greater Victoria Water Supply Area is the largest. The count includes 16 areas that are private or not recorded as public; they aren’t named.
Gowlland Tod ParkProvincial park · 1,280 ha · reaches Highlands
Thetis Lake Regional ParkMunicipal park · 923 ha · reaches Highlands
Mount Work Regional ParkMunicipal park · 754 ha · reaches Highlands
Goldstream ParkProvincial park · 477 ha · reaches Highlands
Lone Tree Hill Regional ParkMunicipal park · 31 ha · reaches Highlands
Maltby LakeNature reserve · 77 ha · reaches Highlands
Francis/King Regional ParkMunicipal park · 107 ha · 0.4 km from the edge of town
Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional ParkMunicipal park · 4,120 ha · 1.2 km from the edge of town
Mill Hill Regional ParkMunicipal park · 81 ha · 1.7 km from the edge of town
Mountain Road Forest Regional ParkMunicipal park · 20 ha · 2.0 km from the edge of town
14 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
Parks around Highlands
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
Gowlland Tod Park
At the edge13 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Goldstream Park
At the edge4.8 km²since 1958
Provincial park
Spectacle Lake Park
3.7 km north-west0.7 km²since 1963
Provincial park
Bamberton Park
5.2 km north0.3 km²since 1960
Provincial park
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park
6.3 km north-east1.7 km²since 1921
Provincial park
Sooke Mountain Park
8.7 km south-west4.5 km²since 1928
Within 10 km are 6 provincial parks.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Highlands has 235 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
235 km
in and around the town (71.5 km²)
Woodland
71%
about 50.8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
HighlandsTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths3.3
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
HighlandsTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland71%
0%50%100%
For path density, it beats 75% of Canadian towns. Woods cover more of it than in 92% 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 Highlands
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
There is no mapped walking route within 2 km of the town; a local trail club’s maps may show more.
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 Highlands in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Victoria (Airport) (14 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 |
About 39 cm of snow falls in a year. For dry weather, July is best (20 mm); January gets 155 mm. December brings highs of 7 °C, July highs of 23 °C. The climate in Highlands →
Beaches
Highlands has 18 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Water Ski Beach4.2 km from town
DirectionsGlen Lake South Beach4.5 km from town
DirectionsBeaver Beachsand · 4.9 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap maps 61 km of coastline within 5 km. Unnamed on the map: 15 more. Canada publishes no open register of beach water tests; the local public health unit posts swimming advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Highlands: 51 and 4
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
51Viewpoints17Hills and peaks4Waterfalls3Nature reserves6Picnic sites15Playgrounds1Dog parks2Campsites
Among the peaks, Mount Work is highest at 449 m. Most numerous: viewpoints (51).
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 51
Holmes Peakin town
DirectionsJocelyn Hill Viewpointin town
DirectionsMalahat Viewpointin town
DirectionsSaanich Inlet Viewpointin town
DirectionsSqually Reach Viewpointin town
DirectionsProspector Trail Viewpoint1.4 km from town
DirectionsBog Garden1.9 km from town
DirectionsRose Fountain Viewpoint1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 43 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 17
Holmes Peak329 m · in town
DirectionsJocelyn Hill434 m · in town
DirectionsLone Tree Hill364 m · in town
DirectionsMount Stewart266 m · in town
DirectionsMount Work449 m · in town
DirectionsScafe Hill232 m · in town
DirectionsMount Finlayson416 m · 0.3 km from town
DirectionsMiniskirt311 m · 0.5 km from town
DirectionsPlus 9 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 4
Cascade Fallsin town
DirectionsNiagara Falls1.4 km from town
DirectionsHidden spring falls1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 3
Kindwood Forestin town
DirectionsTLC's Millstream Creek Watershed Propertyin town
DirectionsW̱MÍYEŦEN Nature Sanctuaryin town
DirectionsPicnic sites 6
Plus 6 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 15
Plus 15 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Goldstream Group Campsite - Prospector (Upper) Site1.8 km from town
DirectionsGoldstream Group Campsite - Goldminer (Lower) Site1.9 km from town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Highlands
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Central SaanichLangfordView RoyalEast Saanich 2New Songhees 1AElectoral Area A, Cowichan ValleyHighlands
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands | 24% | 40 | 0 | 18 |
| Central Saanich 7.5 km | 9.2% | 35 | 2 | 29 |
| Langford 9.8 km | 27% | 41 | 7 | 19 |
| View Royal 9.8 km | 21% | 35 | 3 | 20 |
| East Saanich 2 11 km | 9.4% | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| New Songhees 1A 12 km | 14% | 29 | 3 | 16 |
| Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley 12 km | 23% | 58 | 4 | 24 |
For walking routes, Langford leads the area with 7. No place nearby has double Highlands’ share of protected land.
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.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- Walking routes. The list is OpenStreetMap’s, so a missing trail may just be unmapped. The Trans Canada Trail appears where OSM maps it.
- 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.
Questions about the outdoors in Highlands
What is the largest protected area near Highlands?
Greater Victoria Water Supply Area, a protected area of 20,620 ha.
Is Highlands near a national park?
It is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 13 km off.
Are there protected areas near Highlands?
Within 10 km, 24% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the nearest beach to Highlands?
Try Water Ski Beach, 4.2 km from town, first of several.
When is the best time for walking in Highlands?
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 Highlands?
Goldstream Park touches the town.
Sources
Where Highlands’ 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).