First pick
Matsqui Trail Regional Park
Park or garden · 100 m outside town
71 ha15.9 km of path
3 h 30 minto walk all 15.9 km of path
5.8 km eastfrom the centre
Matsqui TrailRiver Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Bernard Samuel Fenn · Public domain19%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Mission · parks, protected land & trails
More of the land around Mission is protected than around 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Swimmers have 33 beaches within 5 km, Cruiser Beach the nearest. Walkers have 3 mapped routes close by, starting with the Hoover Lake Trail and 79 Grind Trail. 60 km separate the town from Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, its nearest national park.
Protected land
19%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
28
within 10 km, 9 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
60 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Golden Ears Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
33
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Mission has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round19% of the land within 10 km, more than 95% of Canadian townsBeaches33 beaches within 5 kmWalking routes3 named routes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeGolden Ears Park reaches the town
Mission’s best card is protected land around it, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Mission 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. There is no Outdoors grade for Canadian towns; the figures stand beside the country’s towns of 2,500+ without a letter.
Protected within 10 km19%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town3.5%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas9Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes3Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches33Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Mission comes 5th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (41,910 to 54,539 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
Mission19%
Towns its size4.9%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Mission9
Towns its size10
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Mission3
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Mission 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 | Dollard-Des Ormeaux QC | 27% | 3.7% | 40 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Shawinigan QC | 24% | 61% | 40 | 16 | 10 |
| 3 | Vaudreuil-Dorion QC | 20% | 0.7% | 73 | 0 | 10 |
| 4 | Châteauguay QC | 19% | 0.8% | 34 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Mission BC | 19% | 3.5% | 28 | 3 | 33 |
| 6 | Sullivan BC | 15% | 5.6% | 190 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | Newton BC | 15% | 7.3% | 174 | 6 | 1 |
| 8 | Sault-Saint-Louis QC | 11% | 10% | 24 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | Rouyn-Noranda QC | 11% | 14% | 90 | 15 | 8 |
| 10 | Saint-Eustache QC | 9.9% | 0% | 42 | 0 | 7 |
| 11 | Pointe-aux-Trembles QC | 9.5% | 7.3% | 38 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Rimouski QC | 8.8% | 3.6% | 43 | 10 | 48 |
| 13 | Salaberry-de-Valleyfield QC | 8.8% | 1.9% | 27 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | West Vancouver BC | 8.6% | 21% | 56 | 10 | 132 |
| 15 | Vernon BC | 8.4% | 1.9% | 17 | 0 | 27 |
| 16 | Whalley BC | 8.2% | 1% | 125 | 5 | 7 |
| 17 | Boucherville QC | 7.1% | 14% | 53 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Anjou QC | 6.5% | 2.4% | 28 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Hagerman's Corners ON | 6.4% | 0% | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | Fabreville QC | 5.8% | 3% | 39 | 0 | 4 |
| 21 | Port-Maurice QC | 4% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Spruce Grove AB | 3.1% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Timmins ON | 2.7% | 1.8% | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 24 | Alliston ON | 2.1% | 0.4% | 36 | 2 | 3 |
| 25 | Charlottetown PE | 2% | 2% | 15 | 25 | 13 |
| 26 | Laval-des-Rapides QC | 1.7% | 0.1% | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Quinte West ON | 1.4% | 0.6% | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| 28 | Bradford ON | 1.1% | 1.3% | 28 | 5 | 1 |
| 29 | East Gwillimbury ON | 0.8% | 0.6% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 30 | Keswick ON | 0.7% | 0.9% | 13 | 1 | 14 |
| 31 | Roseborough ON | 0.7% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Hurontario ON | 0.7% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Rocky View County AB | 0.5% | 0.6% | 20 | 9 | 19 |
| 34 | Paris ON | 0.4% | 0.2% | 26 | 7 | 3 |
| 35 | Lakeshore ON | 0.4% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 36 | Churchill Meadows ON | 0.4% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Innisfil ON | 0.3% | 0.1% | 6 | 1 | 17 |
| 38 | Victoriaville QC | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 39 | St. Thomas ON | 0.2% | 0% | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | Cornwall ON | 0.1% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
The map
Mission on the map: green space, protected land and paths
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
24 named parks and woods to walk in near Mission
The biggest is Matsqui Trail Regional Park, 71 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
24 named parks and woods, 181 ha in all
Parks & gardens 181 ha
Two places, Matsqui Trail Regional Park and Hayward Lake Recreation Area, make up 52% of the total.
Hayward Lake Recreation Area
Park or garden
22 ha2.6 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.6 km of path
8.6 km north-westfrom the centre
Railway TrailHarry's TrailKerl's Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Fraser River Heritage Park
Park or garden
20 ha2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
2.3 km south-eastfrom the centre
Rotary Heritage Walk
Directionsto a point inside
Neilson Regional Park
Park or garden
13 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
4.7 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Mill Pond Park
Park or garden
11 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
5.2 km northfrom the centre
Big Trouble Little ChainringSuper BearPond Access+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Centennial Park
Park or garden
8.9 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
0.9 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 24 named parks and green spaces
Matsqui Trail Regional ParkPark or garden · 71 ha · 15.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsHayward Lake Recreation AreaPark or garden · 22 ha · 2.6 km of path
DirectionsFraser River Heritage ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsNeilson Regional ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsMill Pond ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsMission Rotary Sports ParkPark or garden · 12 ha
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 8.9 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsHatzic ParkPark or garden · 4.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsTunbridge CommonPark or garden · 3.4 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsGriner ParkPark or garden · 3.8 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsWren ParkPark or garden · 2.7 ha
DirectionsRuskin Recreation AreaPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsSilverdale ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsStewart ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha
DirectionsSilverdale Community Hall and FieldPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsJack Poole Harbourside ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsTom Jones ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsDr. Humes Memorial ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsKinsmen Park WestPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsLightburn ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsRuskin ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsBailey ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsKinsmen East ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsJack Wade 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
About 7 in 10 of Mission’s residents are 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 (73%)Further (27%)
Mission73%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
About 13,000 residents live further than 400 m from one. Most towns do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%.
Protected areas
28 protected areas around Mission
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Mission3.5%
Within 10 km19%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 28, 9 are public land; the others are privately held. Biggest of the named areas: Golden Ears Park, 62,539 ha. 19 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Golden Ears ParkProvincial park · 62,539 ha · reaches Mission
Rolley Lake ParkProvincial park · 115 ha · reaches Mission
SilverdaleNature reserve · 46 ha · reaches Mission
Kanaka Creek Regional ParkNature reserve · 475 ha · 1.6 km from the edge of town
Davis Lake ParkProvincial park · 192 ha · 2.0 km from the edge of town
Bert Brink Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 915 ha · 2.8 km from the edge of town
Glen Valley Regional ParkNature reserve · 67 ha · 4.1 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
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 60 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
Golden Ears Park
At the edge625 km²since 1967
Provincial park
Rolley Lake Park
At the edge1.2 km²since 1961
Provincial park
Davis Lake Park
2.0 km north1.9 km²since 1963
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
60 km south-west67 km²since 2010
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
Mission and its edge hold 274 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
274 km
in and around the town (340.9 km²)
Woodland
56%
about 191.3 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
MissionTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.8
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
MissionTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland56%
0%50%100%
For path density, 60% of Canadian towns do better. Woods cover more of it than in 86% 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
Mission has 3 named walking routes
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
LocalOther waymarked
Hoover Lake Trail7.2 km
79 Grind Trail2.5 km
Steelhead Falls Trail1.0 km
Among local routes, the Hoover Lake Trail is longest at 7.2 km. 2 are short walks under 3 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 Mission: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Abbotsford, 14 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) | 8.6 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 6 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 226 | 117 | 146 | 114 | 94 | 70 | 39 | 47 | 78 | 144 | 233 | 197 |
Some 56 cm of snow falls each winter. Summer highs reach 25 °C in August; in December they stay near 6 °C. July is the driest month at 39 mm; November the wettest at 233 mm. The climate in Mission →
Beaches
Mission has 33 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Cruiser Beachsand · in town
DirectionsHayward Lake First Beachsand · in town
DirectionsHayward Lake Main Beachsand · in town
DirectionsHayward Lake Off-Leash Dog Beachsand · in town
DirectionsHayward Lake Second Beachsand · in town
DirectionsRolley Lake Beachsand · in town
DirectionsNorth Beach2.6 km from town
DirectionsP2P Beachgravel · 2.9 km from town
DirectionsCampers Beachmixed · 3.5 km from town
Directions6 are mapped as sand. OpenStreetMap shows 24 more, nameless. 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
Mission has 47 viewpoints and 15 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
47Viewpoints22Hills and peaks15Waterfalls12Nature reserves9Picnic sites39Playgrounds2Dog parks15Campsites2Slipways
47 viewpoints top the list. Mount Gatey, 1,444 m, is the high point nearby.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 47
Hoover Bluffin town
DirectionsLower Lookoutin town
DirectionsRed Mountain Lookoutin town
DirectionsRidgeviewin town
DirectionsRockwell Knob Lookoutin town
DirectionsSouth Viewin town
DirectionsSteelhead Falls Viewing Platformin town
DirectionsUpper Lookoutin town
DirectionsPlus 39 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 22
Bear Mountain543 m · in town
DirectionsHeritage Mountain212 m · in town
DirectionsIron Mountain369 m · in town
DirectionsKenworthy Peak530 m · in town
DirectionsMount Cannell555 m · in town
DirectionsMount Crickmer1,359 m · in town
DirectionsQuirin Peak669 m · in town
DirectionsRed Mountain541 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 14 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 15
Fiddlehead Fallsin town
DirectionsRockwell Fallsin town
DirectionsRocky Point Fallsin town
DirectionsRolley Fallsin town
DirectionsSteelhead Fallsin town
DirectionsUpper Kanaka Falls1.6 km from town
DirectionsLower Kanaka Falls2.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 8 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 12
Florence Lake Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsGenstar Wetlands Conservation Areain town
DirectionsMiller's Islandin town
DirectionsRolley Lake Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsSilverdale Creek Wetlandsin town
DirectionsStave Island Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsGlen Valley Regional Park0.3 km from town
DirectionsWoodlot 00070.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 nature reserves more.
Picnic sites 9
Lower Kearsley Creek Recreation Site Day Use Areain town
DirectionsRocky Point Recreation Site Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsRuskin Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsMission Bridge Picnic Site0.3 km from town
DirectionsPlus 5 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 39
Plus 39 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 2
Plus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 15
Boulder Bay Sitein town
DirectionsLower Kearsley Creek Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsLower Kearsley Creek Recreation Site Equestrian Campsitein town
DirectionsMoyer Creek Marine Campsitein town
DirectionsRock Creek Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsRocky Point Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsRolley Lake Campgroundin town
DirectionsSayres Lake Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsPlus 7 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 2
Lower Kearsley Creek Recreation Site Canoe/Kayak Put-inin 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 Mission
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Electoral Area G, Fraser ValleyElectoral Area F, Fraser ValleyAbbotsfordMission
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission | 19% | 28 | 3 | 33 |
| Electoral Area G, Fraser Valley 7.5 km | 5.1% | 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Electoral Area F, Fraser Valley 11 km | 47% | 62 | 2 | 48 |
| Abbotsford 11 km | 3.9% | 37 | 2 | 10 |
Around Electoral Area F, Fraser Valley the protected share is at least double.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Walking routes. A route counts when 300 m or more of it lies within 2 km of the town. Coverage of trails on OpenStreetMap varies by region.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
Questions about the outdoors in Mission
What is the nearest provincial park to Mission?
Golden Ears Park, which reaches the edge of town.
Are there hiking trails near Mission?
The Hoover Lake Trail, 79 Grind Trail and Steelhead Falls Trail, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
What is the nearest beach to Mission?
Try Cruiser Beach, in town, first of several.
Are there protected areas near Mission?
Protected areas cover 19% of the land within 10 km.
Which is the biggest protected area near Mission?
It is Golden Ears Park, a provincial park covering 62,539 ha.
When should you visit Mission for the outdoors?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
What is the nearest national park to Mission?
The nearest is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 60 km away.
Sources
Where Mission’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).