First pick
Nanaimo River Regional Park
Park or garden
53 ha2.2 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.2 km of path
2.2 km south-westfrom the centre
Nanaimo River TrailResearch Forest Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain2.4%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo · parks, protected land & trails
The The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector runs by Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
For a national park, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 35 km away. CPCAD lists 39 protected areas within 10 km. Within 5 km lie 7 beaches, unnamed on the map.
Protected land
2.4%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
39
within 10 km, 15 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
35 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Morden Colliery Historic Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
7
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Electoral Area A, Nanaimo apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
On a national routeThe The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector passes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeMorden Colliery Historic Park reaches the townBeaches7 beaches within 5 km
For someone who likes to get outside, Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s draw is the The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector, with a provincial park at its edge close behind.
Against other towns
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo 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 km2.4%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town3.8%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas15Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches7Beaches 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, Electoral Area A, Nanaimo ranks 19th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (7,694 to 7,958 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
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo2.4%
Towns its size2.2%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo15
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo2
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo beats most towns its size for public protected areas; 11 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beacon Hill South - Cardinal Heights ON | 13% | 0% | 37 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Kenora, Unorganized ON | 12% | 12% | 98 | 5 | 38 |
| 3 | Baie-Saint-Paul QC | 11% | 0.1% | 18 | 11 | 8 |
| 4 | Dryden ON | 11% | 0.7% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Donnacona QC | 9.6% | 0.1% | 23 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Minden Hills ON | 8.1% | 5.9% | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| 7 | Cypress County AB | 7.9% | 5.9% | 46 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Mountview ON | 7% | 0% | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | La Broquerie MB | 6.6% | 5.1% | 73 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Coteau-du-Lac QC | 4.4% | 0.6% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Dufferin Hill ON | 4.4% | 1.6% | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | La Perle AB | 4.4% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Bienville QC | 4.1% | 0% | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Shefford QC | 3.1% | 1.6% | 34 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Lakeview SK | 2.8% | 0.1% | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 16 | Windsor Park AB | 2.8% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 17 | Whitewater Region ON | 2.5% | 1.3% | 44 | 0 | 12 |
| 18 | Woodbine-Lumsden ON | 2.5% | 5.1% | 13 | 1 | 18 |
| 19 | Electoral Area A, Nanaimo BC | 2.4% | 3.8% | 39 | 2 | 7 |
| 20 | Playter Estates-Danforth ON | 2.3% | 1.5% | 11 | 5 | 18 |
| 21 | Valley Ridge AB | 2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | Cornwall PE | 1.7% | 0% | 14 | 10 | 10 |
| 23 | Pulberry MB | 1.5% | 7.7% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Electoral Area B (Lazo North), Comox Valley BC | 1.3% | 3.1% | 64 | 0 | 3 |
| 25 | Bostwick ON | 1.3% | 0.1% | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Central St. Boniface MB | 1.3% | 2.9% | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| 27 | North Stormont ON | 1.2% | 1.8% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Silver Heights MB | 1.2% | 0.3% | 17 | 1 | 37 |
| 29 | Ambleside AB | 1% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | Newell County AB | 0.9% | 1% | 11 | 0 | 14 |
| 31 | Cardinal ON | 0.8% | 0.9% | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Augusta ON | 0.8% | 0% | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 33 | Chatsworth ON | 0.6% | 0.7% | 45 | 1 | 1 |
| 34 | Killarney/Glengarry AB | 0.6% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Bayham ON | 0.5% | 0.6% | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| 36 | Callingwood South AB | 0.4% | 0% | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 37 | River East MB | 0.2% | 5.2% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Queen Mary Park AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 39 | Acton Vale QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 40 | Harvest Hills AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
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 Electoral Area A, Nanaimo: 18 named parks and woods
Largest first: Nanaimo River Regional Park leads with 53 ha. Numbers match the map.
18 named parks and woods, 139 ha in all
Parks & gardens 139 ha
Two places, Nanaimo River Regional Park and Jack Point and Biggs Park, make up 63% of the total.
Jack Point and Biggs Park
Park or garden · 200 m outside town
34 ha3.5 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.5 km of path
5.8 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Kipp Road Community Park
Park or garden
20 ha0.5 km of path
4.2 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Morden Colliery Regional Trail
Park or garden
8.3 ha2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
Centralin the middle of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Morden Colliery Regional TrailMorden Colliery Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Richards Marsh Park
Park or garden · 170 m outside town
5.4 ha0.4 km of path
4.9 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Cable Bay Trail
Park or garden
3.2 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
4.4 km north-eastfrom the centre
Cable Bay Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Whiting Way Community Park
Park or garden
4.1 ha0.3 km of path
6.3 km south-eastfrom the centre
Whiting Way Community Park
Directionsto a point inside
Morden Colliery Community Park
Park or garden
2.8 ha0.1 km of path
1.2 km northfrom the centre
Morden Colliery Regional Trail
Directionsto a point inside
All 18 named parks and green spaces
Nanaimo River Regional ParkPark or garden · 53 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsJack Point and Biggs ParkPark or garden · 34 ha · 3.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsKipp Road Community ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsMorden Colliery Regional TrailPark or garden · 8.3 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsRichards Marsh ParkPark or garden · 5.4 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsCable Bay TrailPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsWhiting Way Community ParkPark or garden · 4.1 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsMorden Colliery Community ParkPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsWoodridge Road Community ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha
DirectionsMacMillan Road Community ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha
DirectionsSouth Wellington Community ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsHarmac ArboretumPark or garden · 0.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsCedar SkateparkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsGlynneath Road Community ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsAddison Way Community ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsPlecas Community ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsFawcett Road Community ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsHealy Road 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 2 in 10 in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
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 (20%)Further (80%)
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo20%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, above this. Around 6,300 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
Protected areas
Protected areas cover 2.4% of the land near Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Electoral Area A, Nanaimo3.8%
Within 10 km2.4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 15 of the 39. The others are private conservation land. Biggest of the named areas: Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park, 363 ha. 24 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Hemer ParkProvincial park · 109 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Roberts Memorial ParkProvincial park · 14 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Morden Colliery Historic ParkProvincial park · 4.0 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Yellow Point Bog Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 137 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Woodley Range Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 159 ha · 2.6 km from the edge of town
Gabriola Island - Coats DriveNature reserve · 45 ha · 2.6 km from the edge of town
Petroglyph ParkProvincial park · 1.8 ha · 3.4 km from the edge of town
Pirates Cove Marine ParkProvincial park · 32 ha · 4.3 km from the edge of town
Whaleboat Island Marine ParkProvincial park · 11 ha · 5.4 km from the edge of town
Wakes Cove ParkProvincial park · 205 ha · 5.5 km from the edge of town
5 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
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 35 km off
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
Hemer Park
At the edge1.1 km²since 1981
Provincial park
Roberts Memorial Park
At the edge0.1 km²since 1980
Provincial park
Morden Colliery Historic Park
At the edge0.0 km²since 1972
Provincial park
Petroglyph Park
3.4 km north-west0.0 km²since 1948
Provincial park
Pirates Cove Marine Park
4.3 km east0.3 km²since 1968
Provincial park
Whaleboat Island Marine Park
5.4 km east0.1 km²since 1981
There are 7 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
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo has 72 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
72 km
in and around the town (107.3 km²)
Woodland
32%
about 34.7 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area A, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.7
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area A, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland32%
0%50%100%
63% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km². Woods cover more of it than in 75% 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
Trails around Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
National
The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector17.4 km
The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - South9.8 km
The The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector (17 km) keeps within 2 km of town for 10.1 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Electoral Area A, Nanaimo is best on foot in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Vancouver International (Airport) (50 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) | 8.6 | 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 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 7 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 174 | 91 | 106 | 86 | 59 | 51 | 34 | 36 | 52 | 124 | 175 | 172 |
Rain and snow peak in November (175 mm) and ease in July (34 mm). July is the warmest month, with highs around 22 °C; December the coldest, at 7 °C. The climate in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo →
Beaches
7 beaches within 5 km of Electoral Area A, Nanaimo, none named
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
OpenStreetMap maps 131 km of coastline within 5 km. 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
5 viewpoints near Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
8 playgrounds top the list.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 5
Plus 5 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Roberts Memorial Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsYellow Point Park1.5 km from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 8
Plus 8 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Zuiderzee Campsitesin town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
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 B, NanaimoLadysmithNanaimoElectoral Area C, NanaimoElectoral Area G, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area A, Nanaimo
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area A, Nanaimo | 2.4% | 39 | 2 | 7 |
| Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley 8.3 km | 1.1% | 28 | 3 | 6 |
| Electoral Area B, Nanaimo 9.5 km | 2.1% | 38 | 0 | 10 |
| Ladysmith 13 km | 1.4% | 16 | 1 | 2 |
| Nanaimo 14 km | 1.9% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| Electoral Area C, Nanaimo 16 km | 1.5% | 60 | 6 | 47 |
| Electoral Area G, Cowichan Valley 17 km | 1.6% | 46 | 1 | 14 |
Next door, protected shares stay within twice Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’s. Electoral Area C, Nanaimo has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 6.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Walking routes. The list is OpenStreetMap’s, so a missing trail may just be unmapped. The Trans Canada Trail appears where OSM maps it.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo
When is the best time for walking in Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Is Electoral Area A, Nanaimo near a national park?
The nearest is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 35 km away.
Where can you walk near Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?
Try the The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector and The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - South; more are on the map.
Is there a beach near Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?
There are beaches within 5 km, none of them named.
How much land around Electoral Area A, Nanaimo is protected?
Yes: 2.4% of the land within 10 km is protected.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park, a provincial park of 363 ha.
Is there a provincial park near Electoral Area A, Nanaimo?
Morden Colliery Historic Park begins at the town’s edge.
Sources
Where Electoral Area A, Nanaimo’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).