First pick
707 Community Park
Park or garden
458 ha24.4 km of path
5 h 25 minto walk all 24.4 km of path
2.4 km westfrom the centre
Old Centre Road TrailTrail to NowhereHorseshoe Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
2.1%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area B, Nanaimo · parks, protected land & trails
Gabriola Sands Park begins where Electoral Area B, Nanaimo ends
35 km separate the town from Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, its nearest national park. Within 5 km are 10 beaches; Mailbox Beach is the nearest. CPCAD lists 38 protected areas within 10 km.
Protected land
2.1%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
38
within 10 km, 17 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
35 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Gabriola Sands Park
Beaches
10
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Electoral Area B, Nanaimo has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo’s best card is a provincial park at its edge, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Electoral Area B, Nanaimo, set against 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. This page carries no grade, because Canada’s grading doesn’t cover the outdoors; the comparisons are the point.
Protected within 10 km2.1%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town3.2%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas17Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches10Beaches 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 B, Nanaimo ranks 20th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (4,609 to 4,808 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 B, Nanaimo2.1%
Towns its size2.1%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo17
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo0
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Electoral Area B, Nanaimo’s strong point is public protected areas, where 6 of 39 top it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasper AB | 100% | 100% | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2 | Dundas NB | 29% | 1.3% | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Cumberland County, Subdivision D NS | 15% | 7.1% | 69 | 0 | 13 |
| 4 | Château-Richer QC | 12% | 0.3% | 38 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Central Okanagan BC | 11% | 13% | 52 | 1 | 25 |
| 6 | Greenboro East ON | 11% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Qualicum - Redwood ON | 11% | 0% | 25 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | Riverside Park - Mooneys Bay ON | 9.5% | 10% | 35 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Guysborough NS | 8.9% | 15% | 308 | 1 | 56 |
| 10 | Sutton QC | 6.6% | 12% | 47 | 14 | 0 |
| 11 | Saint-Antonin QC | 6.1% | 0.5% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Marmora ON | 5.5% | 8.7% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Cornwallis MB | 5.5% | 3.7% | 26 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Kingsland AB | 3.7% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Britannia Youngstown AB | 3.3% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Shippagan NB | 2.5% | 18% | 26 | 0 | 47 |
| 17 | Amaranth ON | 2.3% | 0.2% | 27 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Canora AB | 2.3% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | Battleford SK | 2.2% | 1.1% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Electoral Area B, Nanaimo BC | 2.1% | 3.2% | 38 | 0 | 10 |
| 21 | Saint-Étienne-des-Grès QC | 2% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 | Woodlands County AB | 1.8% | 1.4% | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Pembina Strip MB | 1.7% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 24 | Carlisle AB | 1.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Riverview MB | 1.4% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Electoral Area D, Fraser-Fort George BC | 0.9% | 0.1% | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 27 | Hampton NB | 0.8% | 0.9% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Iroquois Falls ON | 0.8% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Britannia ON | 0.7% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Rossmere-B MB | 0.3% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Baturyn AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Dutton ON | 0.2% | 0.2% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Macewan Glen AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 34 | Grand Valley ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Kindersley SK | 0.1% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Flin Flon (Part) MB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Barrhead AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Central McDougall AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 40 | Eastwood AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The map
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo on the map: green space, protected land and paths
The town’s parks, woods, protected land and paths, with its named places numbered.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
30 named parks and woods to walk in near Electoral Area B, Nanaimo
Largest first: 707 Community Park leads with 458 ha. Numbers match the map.
30 named parks and woods, 623 ha in all
Parks & gardens 623 ha
Most of it sits in 707 Community Park and Cox Community Park: 83% together.
Cox Community Park
Park or garden
61 ha6.2 km of path
1 h 20 minto walk all 6.2 km of path
5.7 km westfrom the centre
River Place TrailMcConvey TrailMallett Creek Trail+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Coats Marsh Regional Park
Park or garden
45 ha2.4 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.4 km of path
2.6 km south-westfrom the centre
Stump Farm TrailMarsh Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Descanso Bay Regional Park
Park or garden
14 ha2.1 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
5.9 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Gabriola Commons
Park or garden
11 ha1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
4.2 km westfrom the centre
The CommonsCommons Connector
Directionsto a point inside
Joan Point Park
Park or garden · 80 m outside town
9.5 ha1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1 km of path
4.6 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Rollo McClay Community Park
Park or garden
7.7 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
2.5 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
707 Community ParkPark or garden · 458 ha · 24.4 km of path
DirectionsCox Community ParkPark or garden · 61 ha · 6.2 km of path
DirectionsCoats Marsh Regional ParkPark or garden · 45 ha · 2.4 km of path
DirectionsDescanso Bay Regional ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 2.1 km of path
DirectionsGabriola CommonsPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsJoan Point ParkPark or garden · 9.5 ha · 1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRollo McClay Community ParkPark or garden · 7.7 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsLink Bay Community ParkPark or garden · 1.8 ha
DirectionsLink Islet Recreation SitePark or garden · 1.8 ha
DirectionsHyham Road Community ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha
DirectionsBlue Whale Community ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsHummingbird Community ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsQueeQueg Place Community ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsCaptain Ahab's Terrace Community ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsHuxley Community ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsBlue Heron Community ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsJoyce Lockwood Community ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsPequod Crescent Community ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsThe Strand Community ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsSouth Road Community ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsPetroglyph Community TrailPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsTown-Ho End Community ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha
DirectionsDeCourcy Drive Community ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsClamshell Community ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsPaisley Place Community ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsSea Fern Lane Community ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsMalaspina Galleries Community ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsDunlop Lane Community ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsCardale Road Community ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsDodd Narrows Community ParkPark or garden · 0.3 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 B, 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 (22%)Further (78%)
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo22%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
That is below the typical Canadian town (83%). About 3,700 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
Protected areas cover 2.1% of the land near Electoral Area B, 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 B, Nanaimo3.2%
Within 10 km2.1%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 38, 17 are public land; the others are privately held. The largest named one is Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park, at 363 ha. 21 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Drumbeg ParkProvincial park · 56 ha · reaches Electoral Area B, Nanaimo
Gabriola Island - Coats DriveNature reserve · 45 ha · reaches Electoral Area B, Nanaimo
Pirates Cove Marine ParkProvincial park · 32 ha · reaches Electoral Area B, Nanaimo
Sandwell ParkProvincial park · 17 ha · reaches Electoral Area B, Nanaimo
Gabriola Sands ParkProvincial park · 6.0 ha · reaches Electoral Area B, Nanaimo
Wakes Cove ParkProvincial park · 205 ha · 0.1 km from the edge of town
Gabriola Island Glass Sponge Reef Marine RefugeNature reserve · 59 ha · 1.3 km from the edge of town
Whaleboat Island Marine ParkProvincial park · 11 ha · 2.7 km from the edge of town
Hemer ParkProvincial park · 109 ha · 3.4 km from the edge of town
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) ParkProvincial park · 363 ha · 3.5 km from the edge of town
7 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
Drumbeg Park
At the edge0.6 km²since 1971
Provincial park
Pirates Cove Marine Park
At the edge0.3 km²since 1968
Provincial park
Sandwell Park
At the edge0.2 km²since 1988
Provincial park
Gabriola Sands Park
At the edge0.1 km²since 1960
Provincial park
Wakes Cove Park
0.1 km south-east2.1 km²since 2002
Provincial park
Whaleboat Island Marine Park
2.7 km south-east0.1 km²since 1981
Within 10 km are 7 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
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo and its edge hold 128 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
128 km
in and around the town (127.5 km²)
Woodland
39%
about 50 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area B, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area B, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland39%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 79% 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
No named walking route passes Electoral Area B, Nanaimo on the map
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
OpenStreetMap lists no walking route near the town, though paths on the ground may well exist.
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 B, Nanaimo is best on foot in May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Vancouver International (Airport), 44 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 | 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 |
Precipitation runs from 34 mm in July to 175 mm in November. Highs peak near 22 °C in July and fall to 7 °C in December. Snow totals about 37 cm a year. The climate in Electoral Area B, Nanaimo →
Beaches
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo has 10 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Mailbox Beach3.2 km from town
DirectionsSmugglers Beach3.3 km from town
DirectionsThe map adds 8 unnamed stretches of beach. OpenStreetMap maps 205 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 Electoral Area B, Nanaimo: 12 and 2
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
12Viewpoints2Hills and peaks2Waterfalls3Nature reserves2Picnic sites8Playgrounds1Dog parks4Campsites1Slipways
Count 12 viewpoints, the biggest group.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 12
Plus 12 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 2
Plus 2 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 3
Drumbeg Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsElder Cedar Nature Reservein town
DirectionsPirates Cove Marine Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsPicnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 4
Page's Resort & Marina Campgroundin town
DirectionsPirates Cove Campsite (BCMT)in town
DirectionsSouth Kendrick Islet Informal Camp (BCMT)0.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Slipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area B, 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 A, NanaimoNanaimoElectoral Area H, Cowichan ValleyElectoral Area C, NanaimoElectoral Area B, Nanaimo
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area B, Nanaimo | 2.1% | 38 | 0 | 10 |
| Electoral Area A, Nanaimo 9.5 km | 2.4% | 39 | 2 | 7 |
| Nanaimo 14 km | 1.9% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley 16 km | 1.1% | 28 | 3 | 6 |
| Electoral Area C, Nanaimo 18 km | 1.5% | 60 | 6 | 47 |
Electoral Area B, Nanaimo holds its own on protected land: no neighbour has twice its share. More routes are mapped around Electoral Area C, Nanaimo (6).
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. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area B, Nanaimo
Where can you swim near Electoral Area B, Nanaimo?
Try Mailbox Beach, 3.2 km from town, first of several.
What is the nearest provincial park to Electoral Area B, Nanaimo?
Gabriola Sands Park, which reaches the edge of town.
How much land around Electoral Area B, Nanaimo is protected?
Within 10 km, 2.1% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Electoral Area B, Nanaimo?
It is Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park, a provincial park covering 363 ha.
When is the best time for walking in Electoral Area B, Nanaimo?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
What is the nearest national park to Electoral Area B, Nanaimo?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is closest, at 35 km.
Sources
Where Electoral Area B, 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).