First pick
Kenna Cartwright Nature Park
Park or garden
814 ha43.1 km of path
9 h 35 minto walk all 43.1 km of path
4.2 km westfrom the centre
Red-Tailed HawkDeer RunDoc Findlay Loop+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Kiyoteru Awaji · CC BY 4.014%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Kamloops · parks, protected land & trails
More of the land around Kamloops is protected than around 9 in 10 Canadian towns
For a swim, Airport Beach is the nearest of 11 beaches within 5 km. 16 protected areas lie within 10 km. No national park lies within 100 km.
Protected land
14%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
16
within 10 km, 12 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
North Thompson Oxbows Jensen Island Park
Beaches
11
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Kamloops has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round14% of the land within 10 km, more than 92% of Canadian townsA provincial park at the edgeNorth Thompson Oxbows Jensen Island Park reaches the townBeaches11 beaches within 5 km
Kamloops is strongest on protected land around it, with a provincial park at its edge close behind.
Against other towns
Kamloops 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. Outdoors isn’t one of Canada’s graded subjects, so there’s no letter here: each figure is set against other Canadian towns instead.
Protected within 10 km14%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town13%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas12Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches11Beaches 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, Kamloops ranks 5th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (79,371 to 142,450 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
Kamloops14%
Towns its size3%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Kamloops12
Towns its size12
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Kamloops0
Towns its size1
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Kamloops sits near the top of its size group: 4 of 39 have more. For walking routes, though, 27 of 39 are ahead.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort McMurray AB | 34% | 35% | 21 | 1 | 289 |
| 2 | Maple Ridge BC | 26% | 21% | 101 | 1 | 41 |
| 3 | Delta BC | 24% | 17% | 181 | 9 | 19 |
| 4 | North Vancouver BC | 15% | 22% | 18 | 11 | 169 |
| 5 | Kamloops BC | 14% | 13% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 6 | Saint John NB | 14% | 11% | 63 | 3 | 97 |
| 7 | Chilliwack BC | 11% | 7.7% | 36 | 4 | 26 |
| 8 | Saanich BC | 11% | 9.4% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| 9 | Strathcona County AB | 9.4% | 1.4% | 38 | 7 | 6 |
| 10 | Repentigny QC | 8.3% | 1.6% | 41 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Cape Breton NS | 8.2% | 8.6% | 176 | 1 | 74 |
| 12 | New Westminster BC | 8% | 0% | 83 | 4 | 9 |
| 13 | Victoria BC | 8% | 0.9% | 20 | 4 | 34 |
| 14 | Lindsay ON | 7.6% | 9.2% | 60 | 5 | 9 |
| 15 | Pickering ON | 7.6% | 11% | 46 | 1 | 11 |
| 16 | Brossard QC | 5.6% | 9.1% | 31 | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | Ajax ON | 4.9% | 5.8% | 31 | 1 | 8 |
| 18 | Bolton ON | 4.8% | 5.9% | 113 | 11 | 3 |
| 19 | Chomedey QC | 3.9% | 0.1% | 43 | 0 | 2 |
| 20 | Terrebonne QC | 3.8% | 3.6% | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 21 | St. John's NL | 2.2% | 1.2% | 6 | 1 | 41 |
| 22 | Moncton NB | 2.2% | 1.7% | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Nanaimo BC | 1.9% | 6.7% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| 24 | Bowmanville ON | 1.6% | 3% | 25 | 2 | 9 |
| 25 | Sault Ste. Marie ON | 1.6% | 7.5% | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | Newmarket ON | 1.3% | 1.8% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu QC | 1.1% | 1.2% | 18 | 1 | 3 |
| 28 | Niagara Falls ON | 1.1% | 1.7% | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 29 | Saint-Jérôme QC | 1% | 0.1% | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 30 | Chatham ON | 1% | 1% | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 31 | Red Deer AB | 0.7% | 1.2% | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Peterborough ON | 0.6% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 33 | Waterloo ON | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| 34 | Lethbridge AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Brantford ON | 0.3% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 36 | Prince George BC | 0.3% | 0.5% | 5 | 1 | 51 |
| 37 | Sarnia ON | 0.2% | 0.3% | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 38 | Drummondville QC | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Thunder Bay ON | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 40 | Airdrie AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Kamloops
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
Walk in Kamloops: 30 named parks and woods
Kenna Cartwright Nature Park is the largest, at 814 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 2,072 ha in all
Parks & gardens 2,072 ha
Between them, Kenna Cartwright Nature Park and Lac Du Bois ATV Area Recreation Site cover 62%.
Lac Du Bois ATV Area Recreation Site
Park or garden
470 ha
7.4 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Lac du Bois/Batchelor Area - Section 58 Motorized Closure
Park or garden
162 ha
7.2 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Peterson Creek Nature Park
Park or garden
104 ha18.2 km of path
4 h 5 minto walk all 18.2 km of path
2.9 km southfrom the centre
Tom MooreSagebrush LoopMariposa+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Dallas / Barnhartvale Nature Park
Park or garden
98 ha3.7 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.7 km of path
14 km eastfrom the centre
Ranger BobBenchlandsHoodoo+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Mcarthur Island Park
Park or garden
57 ha6.5 km of path
1 h 25 minto walk all 6.5 km of path
2.4 km north-westfrom the centre
McArther Island TrailNative Plant WalkRivers Trail+1 path
Directionsto a point inside
Valleyview Nature Park
Park or garden
41 ha4.7 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.7 km of path
6.5 km eastfrom the centre
Rim LoopSagebrushMeadowlark+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Kenna Cartwright Nature ParkPark or garden · 814 ha · 43.1 km of path
DirectionsLac Du Bois ATV Area Recreation SitePark or garden · 470 ha
DirectionsLac du Bois/Batchelor Area - Section 58 Motorized ClosurePark or garden · 162 ha
DirectionsPeterson Creek Nature ParkPark or garden · 104 ha · 18.2 km of path
DirectionsSlo-pitch CityPark or garden · 115 ha
DirectionsDallas / Barnhartvale Nature ParkPark or garden · 98 ha · 3.7 km of path
DirectionsMcarthur Island ParkPark or garden · 57 ha · 6.5 km of path
DirectionsValleyview Nature ParkPark or garden · 41 ha · 4.7 km of path
DirectionsThe Kamloops Bike RanchPark or garden · 28 ha · 9.1 km of path
DirectionsSahali Terrace (RIH) ParkPark or garden · 29 ha · 5.3 km of path
DirectionsRiverside ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 9.1 km of path
DirectionsRivers Trail Park WestsydePark or garden · 19 ha · 2.8 km of path
DirectionsRose Hill ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsWestsyde Centennial ParkPark or garden · 9.3 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsCapilano ParkPark or garden · 10.0 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsAberdeen Hills Highland ParkPark or garden · 8.9 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsAlbert McGowan ParkPark or garden · 8.0 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsPacific Way ParkPark or garden · 7.0 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsGleneagles ParkPark or garden · 8.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsBatchelor Open Space ParkPark or garden · 8.2 ha
DirectionsOverlanders ParkPark or garden · 4.9 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsWaterfront ParkPark or garden · 3.8 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsDufferin ParkPark or garden · 4.5 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsPineview Valley Linear ParkPark or garden · 4.2 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsStrathcona ParkPark or garden · 6.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsWest Highlands ParkPark or garden · 4.7 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsJuniper ParkPark or garden · 4.8 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsExhibition ParkPark or garden · 5.8 ha
DirectionsIndian Point ParkPark or garden · 4.8 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRivers Trail Park PlacePark or garden · 4.1 ha · 0.8 km of path
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
8 in 10 people in Kamloops live near 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 (79%)Further (21%)
Kamloops79%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
That leaves about 23,000 people more than a short walk away. In the typical Canadian town the share is 83%, higher than here.
Protected areas
16 protected areas around Kamloops
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Kamloops13%
Within 10 km14%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
12 of the 16 belong to a government or an Indigenous nation. Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area is the biggest, 15,820 ha. The figures include 4 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected AreaNature reserve · 15,820 ha · reaches Kamloops
Tranquille Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 253 ha · reaches Kamloops
Mcqueen Creek Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 35 ha · reaches Kamloops
North Thompson Oxbows Jensen Island ParkProvincial park · 30 ha · reaches Kamloops
Buse Lake Protected AreaNature reserve · 228 ha · 2.3 km from the edge of town
Dewdrop-Rosseau Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 4,240 ha · 2.8 km from the edge of town
Tranquille Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 233 ha · 2.8 km from the edge of town
Monte Creek ParkProvincial park · 3.0 ha · 6.5 km from the edge of town
Paul Lake ParkProvincial park · 728 ha · 6.9 km from the edge of town
Mcconnell Lake ParkProvincial park · 102 ha · 9.9 km from the edge of town
2 areas recorded only by their type (provincial layers such as wildlife habitat areas) are 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
From the edge of Kamloops, North Thompson Oxbows Jensen Island Park begins
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
North Thompson Oxbows Jensen Island Park
At the edge0.3 km²since 1996
Provincial park
Monte Creek Park
6.5 km east0.0 km²since 1996
Provincial park
Paul Lake Park
6.9 km east7.3 km²since 1961
Provincial park
Mcconnell Lake Park
9.9 km south-west1.0 km²since 1996
There is no national park within 100 km; for big parks, Kamloops has its province’s. There are 4 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
Kamloops and its edge hold 613 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
613 km
in and around the town (451.3 km²)
Woodland
24%
about 107.2 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
KamloopsTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.4
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
KamloopsTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland24%
0%50%100%
For woods, it beats 70% of Canadian towns. It has fewer paths per km² than 54% 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 Kamloops
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
Walking season in Kamloops: April to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Kamloops, 6.9 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) | 8.4 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| High (°C) | 0 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 22 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 36 | 30 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 26 |
Most rain and snow falls in June, 36 mm; February sees 12 mm. The warmest days come in July (29 °C highs), the coldest in January (0 °C). Winter brings about 63 cm of snow. The climate in Kamloops →
Beaches
11 beaches within 5 km of Kamloops
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Airport Beachsand · in town
DirectionsCooney Bay Beachin town
DirectionsDales Antique Nude Beachsand · in town
DirectionsMission Flatsin town
DirectionsOverlanders Beachin town
DirectionsPioneer Dog Beachin town
DirectionsRabbit Island Beachin town
DirectionsRiverside Beachsand · in town
DirectionsMusicians Beachin town
DirectionsThere are also 2 beaches without a name. 3 are mapped as sand. 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
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Kamloops: 15 and 2
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
15Viewpoints10Hills and peaks2Waterfalls1Nature reserves26Picnic sites103Playgrounds8Dog parks2Campsites4Slipways
Most numerous: playgrounds (103). Among the peaks, Rose Hill is highest at 1,094 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 15
Rivers Trail 0 kmin town
DirectionsTurtle Humpin town
DirectionsView of Kamloopsin town
DirectionsViewpoint platformin town
DirectionsPlus 11 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 10
Aberdeen Hill806 m · in town
DirectionsBatchelor Hill699 m · in town
DirectionsCoal Hill1,070 m · in town
DirectionsDufferin Hill885 m · in town
DirectionsIronmask Hill992 m · in town
DirectionsMitchell Hill713 m · in town
DirectionsRose Hill1,094 m · in town
DirectionsSugarloaf Hill1,083 m · 0.2 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 hills and peaks more.
Nature reserves 1
Lac Du Bois/Batchelor Area - Section 58 Motorized Closurein town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 103
Bogetti Tot Lotin town
DirectionsFitzwater Schoolin town
DirectionsHeffley Creek School Playgroundin town
DirectionsSandpiper Playground #1in town
DirectionsSandpiper Playground #2in town
DirectionsPlus 98 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 8
Aberdeen Hills Dog Parkin town
DirectionsAviation Way Dog Parkin town
DirectionsJuniper Dog Parkin town
DirectionsJuniper West Dog Parkin town
DirectionsMcDonald Park Dog Parkin town
DirectionsOrd Road Dog Parkin town
DirectionsRiver Street Dog Parkin town
DirectionsWestsyde Centennial Dog Parkin town
DirectionsCampsites 2
Silver Sage RV Park & Campgrounds0.1 km from town
DirectionsCopper Quarter Campground0.9 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 4
McArthur Island Boat Launchin town
DirectionsPioneer Park Boat Launchin town
DirectionsValleyview Boat Launchin town
DirectionsPlus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Kamloops
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 5–24 km: that is how far the nearest places with figures are from Kamloops.
Kamloops 1Electoral Area J (Copper Desert Country), Thompson-NicolaElectoral Area P (Rivers and the Peaks), Thompson-NicolaKamloops
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamloops | 14% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| Kamloops 1 4.6 km | 13% | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Electoral Area J (Copper Desert Country), Thompson-Nicola 21 km | 12% | 30 | 1 | 7 |
| Electoral Area P (Rivers and the Peaks), Thompson-Nicola 24 km | 11% | 21 | 0 | 0 |
Its neighbours have no more than twice Kamloops’ protected share.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- 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. National parks are Parks Canada’s; provincial parks are the province’s or territory’s, Québec’s parcs nationaux among them.
- 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.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
Questions about the outdoors in Kamloops
What is the nearest national park to Kamloops?
The nearest national park is more than 100 km from Kamloops.
Where can you swim near Kamloops?
Airport Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
Is there protected land near Kamloops?
Protected areas cover 14% of the land within 10 km.
Is there a provincial park near Kamloops?
North Thompson Oxbows Jensen Island Park begins at the town’s edge.
What is the largest protected area near Kamloops?
It is Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area, a nature reserve covering 15,820 ha.
When should you visit Kamloops for the outdoors?
April to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
Sources
The sources behind Kamloops’ 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).