First pick
Heart/Stocking Lakes Regional Park
Park or garden · 360 m outside town
93 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
3.3 km southfrom the centre
Pappy's Loop
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: A.Davey · CC BY 2.01.4%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Ladysmith · parks, protected land & trails
A national route near Ladysmith: the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail
A drive of 28 km reaches Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, the nearest national park. The closest provincial park is Roberts Memorial Park, 6.4 km from the edge of town. Within 5 km lie 2 beaches, unnamed on the map.
Protected land
1.4%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
16
within 10 km, 7 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
28 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
6.4 km
Roberts Memorial Park
Walking routes
1
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Against other towns
Ladysmith 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 km1.4%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas7Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes1Named 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
Ladysmith has the 18th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (9,787 to 10,075 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
Ladysmith1.4%
Towns its size1.5%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Ladysmith7
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Ladysmith1
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Ladysmith sits near the top of its size group: 15 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electoral Area C (Puntledge - Black Creek), Comox Valley BC | 22% | 12% | 74 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | Shawnigan BC | 22% | 6.4% | 66 | 4 | 8 |
| 3 | Kitimat BC | 20% | 6.6% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Shediac NB | 18% | 5.4% | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Hatchet Lake NS | 14% | 36% | 53 | 4 | 23 |
| 6 | Lac-des-Fées QC | 14% | 33% | 32 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | Amherst NS | 8.7% | 0.2% | 49 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | South Cambie BC | 8.6% | 0% | 13 | 2 | 49 |
| 9 | M-Section (bramalea) ON | 5.4% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Argyle North SK | 4.5% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Elizabethtown-Kitley ON | 4.2% | 1.7% | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | The Valleys of Thornhill ON | 3.8% | 12% | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Acadia AB | 3.8% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 14 | Mono ON | 3.7% | 6.4% | 56 | 7 | 1 |
| 15 | Van Kirk ON | 3.2% | 0% | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Guildwood ON | 2.2% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | Rosenberg ON | 2.2% | 9.1% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Laurentian Hills ON | 1.8% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Blind Bay BC | 1.6% | 1.5% | 15 | 0 | 8 |
| 20 | Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills ON | 1.5% | 3.9% | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| 21 | Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier QC | 1.4% | 0.1% | 27 | 0 | 16 |
| 22 | Wiarton ON | 1.4% | 2.4% | 64 | 3 | 55 |
| 23 | Ladysmith BC | 1.4% | 0% | 16 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 | Vincent ON | 1.3% | 3.1% | 14 | 4 | 7 |
| 25 | Lac-Saint-Charles QC | 1% | 1.6% | 21 | 1 | 4 |
| 26 | Caledonia-Fairbank ON | 0.9% | 0% | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| 27 | Beckwith ON | 0.8% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Willowgrove SK | 0.8% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 29 | Roberval QC | 0.6% | 0.1% | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| 30 | Malahide ON | 0.5% | 0% | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| 31 | Stanley MB | 0.5% | 0.8% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 32 | Maple Leaf ON | 0.5% | 0% | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | Penbrooke Meadows AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Pineridge AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Springbank Hill AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 36 | River Valley Oleskiw AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Devonshire ON | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Bridgewater NS | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Mineola ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 40 | Palmerston ON | 0% | 0.2% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Ladysmith
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 Ladysmith: 15 named parks and woods
Largest first: Heart/Stocking Lakes Regional Park leads with 93 ha. Numbers match the map.
15 named parks and woods, 202 ha in all
Parks & gardens 187 haWoods 15 ha
Heart/Stocking Lakes Regional Park plus Holland Creek Park account for 77% of the green.
Holland Creek Park
Park or garden
62 ha5.4 km of path
1 h 10 minto walk all 5.4 km of path
1.3 km south-eastfrom the centre
Holland Creek Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Stocking Creek Park
Park or garden · 180 m outside town
16 ha2.8 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.8 km of path
4.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Kon TrailHuckleberry TrailCowichan Valley Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Transfer Beach Park
Park or garden
5.9 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
Centralin the middle of Ladysmith
Directionsto a point inside
Forrest Field
Park or garden
2.6 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
2.4 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Trillium Park
Park or garden
1.3 ha0.5 km of path
2.1 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Gourlay-Janes Park
Park or garden
1.1 ha0.5 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.5 km of path
2.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 15 named parks and green spaces
Heart/Stocking Lakes Regional ParkPark or garden · 93 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsHolland Creek ParkPark or garden · 62 ha · 5.4 km of path
DirectionsStocking Creek ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 2.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsTransfer Beach ParkPark or garden · 5.9 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsWoods IslandsWood or forest · 15 ha
DirectionsForrest FieldPark or garden · 2.6 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsTrillium ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsGourlay-Janes ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsAggie FieldsPark or garden · 2.0 ha
DirectionsKinsmen ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsRutti ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsRotary Memorial Peace Garden & CenotaphPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsResolution ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsHarbourview ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsWickham 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
A park is within a short walk for 9 in 10 in Ladysmith
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 (86%)Further (14%)
Ladysmith86%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
Against the typical Canadian town’s 83%, that is high. About 1,400 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
1.4% of the land around Ladysmith 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 Ladysmith0%
Within 10 km1.4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 16, 7 are public land; the others are privately held. Woodley Range Ecological Reserve leads for size with 159 ha. The figures include 9 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Woodley Range Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 159 ha · 0.7 km from the edge of town
Yellow Point Bog Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 137 ha · 4.6 km from the edge of town
Roberts Memorial ParkProvincial park · 14 ha · 6.4 km from the edge of town
Hemer ParkProvincial park · 109 ha · 9.2 km from the edge of town
Eves ParkProvincial park · 19 ha · 9.6 km from the edge of town
Chemainus River ParkProvincial park · 119 ha · 9.9 km from the edge of town
1 area recorded only by its type (a provincial layer such as wildlife habitat areas) is 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
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 28 km away
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
Roberts Memorial Park
6.4 km north0.1 km²since 1980
Provincial park
Hemer Park
9.2 km north1.1 km²since 1981
Provincial park
Eves Park
9.6 km south-east0.2 km²since 1962
Provincial park
Chemainus River Park
9.9 km south1.2 km²since 1959
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
28 km south-east67 km²since 2010
Roberts Memorial Park, a provincial park, is nearer at 6.4 km. 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
Ladysmith and its edge hold 41 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
41 km
in and around the town (40.2 km²)
Woodland
60%
about 24 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
LadysmithTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
LadysmithTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland60%
0%50%100%
For woods, it beats 87% of Canadian towns. For path density, 58% 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
Where to walk from Ladysmith
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
National
Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail127.5 km
17.9 km of the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail runs within 2 km of town; mapped end to end, it is 128 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
The best months for walking in Ladysmith: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Victoria (Airport), 47 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 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.2 |
| 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 |
January is the wettest month (155 mm) and July the driest (20 mm). Daytime highs run from 7 °C in December up to 23 °C in July. Snowfall averages 39 cm a year. The climate in Ladysmith →
Beaches
2 beaches within 5 km of Ladysmith, none named
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
OpenStreetMap maps 58 km of coastline within 5 km. Water quality isn’t shown: there’s no open national record of beach tests. Local health authorities post advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Ladysmith: 5 and 2
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
5Viewpoints2Hills and peaks2Waterfalls1Nature reserves2Picnic sites9Playgrounds1Dog parks1Campsites2Slipways
Among the peaks, Stanton Peak is highest at 467 m. Most numerous: playgrounds (9).
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 2
Arbutus Hill118 m · in town
DirectionsStanton Peak467 m · 0.9 km from town
DirectionsWaterfalls 2
Crystal Fallsin town
DirectionsStocking Creek Falls0.4 km from town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
Bazan Road Beach Access1.2 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 9
Transfer Beach Community Playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 8 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Campers Corner0.0 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 2
Plus 2 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Ladysmith
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Electoral Area H, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area G, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area A, NanaimoLadysmith
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladysmith | 1.4% | 16 | 1 | 2 |
| Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley 4.2 km | 1.1% | 28 | 3 | 6 |
| Electoral Area G, Cowichan Valley 5.5 km | 1.6% | 46 | 1 | 14 |
| Electoral Area A, Nanaimo 13 km | 2.4% | 39 | 2 | 7 |
More routes are mapped around Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley (3). Ladysmith holds its own on protected land: no neighbour has twice its share.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- 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.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- 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 Ladysmith
Are there protected areas near Ladysmith?
Within 10 km, 1.4% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the nearest beach to Ladysmith?
The beaches mapped within 5 km have no names on the map.
Where can you walk near Ladysmith?
OpenStreetMap maps the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail close by.
Is Ladysmith near a national park?
It is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 28 km off.
When is the best time for walking in Ladysmith?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Ladysmith?
Woodley Range Ecological Reserve: 159 ha, a nature reserve.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Ladysmith?
It is Roberts Memorial Park, 6.4 km away.
Sources
The sources behind Ladysmith’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).