First pick
Mount Benson Regional Park
Park or garden
292 ha12.1 km of path
2 h 40 minto walk all 12.1 km of path
3.9 km southfrom the centre
Old Road LoopPink UnicornTe'tuxw'tun Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Gerry Thomasen from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.01.5%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area C, Nanaimo · parks, protected land & trails
The The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector runs by Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Within 10 km are 60 protected areas. Swimmers have 47 beaches within 5 km, A-Frame Beach the nearest. The closest of Canada’s national parks is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, at 31 km.
Protected land
1.5%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
60
within 10 km, 25 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
31 km
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Macmillan Park
Walking routes
6
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
47
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Electoral Area C, Nanaimo, in short
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 kmBeaches47 beaches within 5 kmMany protected areas25 public areas within 10 kmWalking routes6 named routes within 2 km
What Electoral Area C, Nanaimo has most to offer outdoors is the The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Electoral Area C, Nanaimo 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 km1.5%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town1.1%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas25Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes6Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches47Beaches 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 C, Nanaimo ranks 20th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (3,672 to 3,787 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 C, Nanaimo1.5%
Towns its size1.5%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area C, Nanaimo25
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area C, Nanaimo6
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Electoral Area C, Nanaimo sits near the top of its size group: 2 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baie-D'Urfé QC | 49% | 0.1% | 44 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Alnwick NB | 32% | 7.8% | 62 | 0 | 53 |
| 3 | Blind River ON | 21% | 41% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Saint-Sulpice QC | 12% | 5.8% | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Roberts Creek BC | 11% | 17% | 20 | 0 | 26 |
| 6 | Golf Course ON | 7.3% | 3% | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | Saint-Tite QC | 5.8% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Central ON | 5.6% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | Electoral Area A, Fraser-Fort George BC | 4.3% | 8.5% | 11 | 0 | 45 |
| 10 | Cowichan Bay BC | 4.2% | 5.7% | 64 | 2 | 10 |
| 11 | Westville NS | 4.1% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Industrial Sector A and Keith ON | 3.5% | 0.9% | 30 | 0 | 15 |
| 13 | Berrisfield ON | 3.4% | 0% | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | East Hawkesbury ON | 3.3% | 6.2% | 36 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Lake Cowichan BC | 2.8% | 3.3% | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| 16 | Parkview West ON | 2.1% | 2.7% | 26 | 0 | 14 |
| 17 | North Glenora AB | 1.9% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Killarney MB | 1.8% | 2.3% | 61 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Meadowgreen SK | 1.7% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | Electoral Area C, Nanaimo BC | 1.5% | 1.1% | 60 | 6 | 47 |
| 21 | Kensington AB | 1.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Deer Lodge MB | 1.3% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Fifty Point ON | 1.2% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 24 | Pacific Heights SK | 1% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | Alpine Place MB | 0.9% | 2.3% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Cameron Heights AB | 0.9% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | Inkster-Faraday MB | 0.8% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Ascot Corner QC | 0.7% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Flagstaff County AB | 0.4% | 0.3% | 47 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Victoria West MB | 0.4% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Eau Claire AB | 0.4% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | West Kildonan Industrial MB | 0.3% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Greenfield AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Magrath Heights AB | 0.3% | 13% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Cartier MB | 0.2% | 0.5% | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | Dixie ON | 0.2% | 0% | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| 37 | Pleasantview AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Sainte-Claire QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Saint-Michel QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Country Hills AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Electoral Area C, 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 C, Nanaimo: 30 named parks and woods
Largest first: Mount Benson Regional Park leads with 292 ha. Numbers match the map.
30 named parks and woods, 858 ha in all
Parks & gardens 705 haWoods 154 ha
Add Mount Benson Regional Park to Westwood Lake Park and you have 56% of it.
Westwood Lake Park
Park or garden
187 ha20.2 km of path
4 h 30 minto walk all 20.2 km of path
3.3 km south-eastfrom the centre
Westwood Lake TrailWestwood Lake Mountain Bike TrailLower Binx+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Nanaimo Lakes Road Park
Park or garden
98 ha9.6 km of path
2 h 10 minto walk all 9.6 km of path
6.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Trans Canada TrailParkway TrailStringer
Directionsto a point inside
Cathedral Grove
Wood or forest · 180 m outside town
154 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
48 km westfrom the centre
Old Growth TrailLiving Forest TrailBig Tree Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Benson Creek Falls Regional Park
Park or garden
31 ha2.6 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.6 km of path
3.8 km westfrom the centre
Ammonite Falls Regional TrailScout TrailDirt Track
Directionsto a point inside
East Wellington Park
Park or garden
13 ha1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
2.5 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Lotus Pinnatus Park
Park or garden
14 ha0.3 km of path
7.9 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Northfield Rotary Lookout Park
Park or garden
8.7 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
1.6 km eastfrom the centre
Parkway TrailBiglick Trail
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Mount Benson Regional ParkPark or garden · 292 ha · 12.1 km of path
DirectionsWestwood Lake ParkPark or garden · 187 ha · 20.2 km of path
DirectionsNanaimo Lakes Road ParkPark or garden · 98 ha · 9.6 km of path
DirectionsCathedral GroveWood or forest · 154 ha · 1.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBenson Creek Falls Regional ParkPark or garden · 31 ha · 2.6 km of path
DirectionsEast Wellington ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsLotus Pinnatus ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsNorthfield Rotary Lookout ParkPark or garden · 8.7 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsNanaimo River Canyon Community ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsSouthforks Community ParkPark or garden · 9.9 ha
DirectionsCreekside Community ParkPark or garden · 5.5 ha
DirectionsMollys Marsh ParkPark or garden · 5.0 ha
DirectionsNorthfield Marsh ParkPark or garden · 3.8 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsNorthfield Nature ParkPark or garden · 2.5 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsHorth ParkPark or garden · 2.3 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMeadow Drive Community ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsTwilight Way Community ParkPark or garden · 2.5 ha
DirectionsAnders Dorrit Community ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha
DirectionsReservoir ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha
DirectionsExtension PlaygroundPark or garden · 2.0 ha
DirectionsDunbar ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsExtension Miners Community ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha
DirectionsHeather Way Community ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsGreenaway ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsRiverbend Community ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha
DirectionsWexford ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRock Ridge ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsApplegreen ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · just outside town
DirectionsTamara ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha
DirectionsSouthwood ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · just outside town
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
In Electoral Area C, Nanaimo, parks are rarely a short walk away
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 (0%)Further (100%)
Electoral Area C, Nanaimo0%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 3,700 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. The typical Canadian town reaches 83%.
Protected areas
Protected areas cover 1.5% of the land near Electoral Area C, 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 C, Nanaimo1.1%
Within 10 km1.5%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 25 of the 60. Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area leads for size with 1,250 ha. The figures include 24 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Haley Lake Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 888 ha · reaches Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Green Mountain Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 342 ha · reaches Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Hudson Rocks Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 50 ha · reaches Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Macmillan ParkProvincial park · 301 ha · reaches Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Little Qualicum Falls ParkProvincial park · 440 ha · reaches Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Petroglyph ParkProvincial park · 1.8 ha · 0.8 km from the edge of town
Englishman River Falls ParkProvincial park · 97 ha · 1.3 km from the edge of town
West MarshNature reserve · 27 ha · 1.3 km from the edge of town
Morden Colliery Historic ParkProvincial park · 4.0 ha · 1.8 km from the edge of town
Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 1,250 ha · 2.5 km from the edge of town
5 more named areas within 10 km are in the figures.
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
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is 31 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
Little Qualicum Falls Park
At the edge · west4.4 km²since 1940
Provincial park
Macmillan Park
At the edge · west3.0 km²since 1947
Provincial park
Petroglyph Park
0.8 km south-east0.0 km²since 1948
Provincial park
Englishman River Falls Park
1.3 km west1.0 km²since 1940
Provincial park
Morden Colliery Historic Park
1.8 km south-east0.0 km²since 1972
Provincial park
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park
2.5 km east3.6 km²since 1961
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
Paths to walk: 662 km in and around Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
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
662 km
in and around the town (1,362.1 km²)
Woodland
85%
about 1,152.1 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area C, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.5
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area C, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland85%
0%50%100%
For woods, it beats 98% of Canadian towns. Paths are thinner on the ground than in 66% 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
Walks near Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalOther waymarked
Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail127.5 km
The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector17.4 km
The Great Trail - City of Nanaimo12.2 km
The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - North10.4 km
The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - South9.8 km
Judge's Route2.8 km
17.4 km of the The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector runs within 2 km of town; mapped end to end, it is 17 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 Electoral Area C, Nanaimo: May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Vancouver International (Airport) (62 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 | 13.7 | 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 |
Highs peak near 22 °C in July and fall to 7 °C in December. November is the wettest month (175 mm) and July the driest (34 mm). The climate in Electoral Area C, Nanaimo →
Beaches
47 beaches within 5 km of Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
A-Frame Beachin town
DirectionsFirst Beachsand · 0.8 km from town
DirectionsSecond Beachsand · 0.8 km from town
DirectionsBlueback Beachmixed · 2.7 km from town
DirectionsInvermere Beachmixed · 2.9 km from town
DirectionsSaltery Beachsand · 3.2 km from town
DirectionsRock Beach3.9 km from town
DirectionsMailbox Beach4.1 km from town
DirectionsSmugglers Beach4.4 km from town
DirectionsAdd 38 unnamed beaches to the count. Sandy ones: 3. OpenStreetMap maps 124 km of coastline within 5 km. For water quality, look to the local health unit: no open beach-testing data covers Canada.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Electoral Area C, Nanaimo: 58 and 24
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
58Viewpoints82Hills and peaks24Waterfalls6Nature reserves5Picnic sites56Playgrounds3Dog parks9Campsites7Slipways
Top of the list: hills and peaks, 82 of them. Highest of the named peaks: Mount Arrowsmith, 1,819 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 58
Ammonite Fallsin town
DirectionsLake Viewin town
DirectionsPecoe's Pointin town
DirectionsLake View-Point1.6 km from town
DirectionsLong Lake Overlook1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 53 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 82
Buffalo Hump1,016 m · in town
DirectionsButler Peak1,433 m · in town
DirectionsGemini Mountain1,516 m · in town
DirectionsGreen Mountain1,459 m · in town
DirectionsManzanita Ridge Peak479 m · in town
DirectionsMcKay Peak1,264 m · in town
DirectionsMcKinlay Peak1,257 m · in town
DirectionsMount Arrowsmith1,819 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 74 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 24
Ammonite Fallsin town
DirectionsUpper Nanaimo Fallsin town
DirectionsGranny Falls0.5 km from town
DirectionsEnglishman River Upper Falls1.5 km from town
DirectionsBonnel Falls1.6 km from town
DirectionsChristie Falls1.7 km from town
DirectionsEnglishman River Lower Falls1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 17 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 6
Green Mountain Wildlife Management Areain town
DirectionsHaley Lake Ecological Reservein town
DirectionsLabour Day Lake Recreation Sitein town
DirectionsHudson Rocks Ecological Reserve0.1 km from town
DirectionsMorrell Nature Sanctuary0.2 km from town
DirectionsPetroglyph Provincial Park0.9 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 5
Cameron Lake Picnic Area0.9 km from town
DirectionsBeaufort Picnic Area1.2 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 56
Altrusa Venture Park1.1 km from town
DirectionsMcDonald's PlayPlace1.7 km from town
DirectionsJumping Jiminy's1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 53 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 3
Plus 3 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 9
Barsby Lake Camp Sitein town
DirectionsBrannen Lake RV Park & Campsitein town
DirectionsCamp Cailletin town
DirectionsDeadwood Campsitein town
DirectionsMountainaire Campgroundin town
DirectionsOld Mill Campsitein town
DirectionsRiverside Campsitein town
DirectionsWindy Point Campsitein town
DirectionsPlus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Slipways 7
Barsby Lake Canoe Launchin town
DirectionsGreen Lake Boat Ramp0.1 km from town
DirectionsCharlaine Boat Ramp2.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
NanaimoLantzvilleFairwindsElectoral Area A, NanaimoElectoral Area B, NanaimoElectoral Area C, Nanaimo
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area C, Nanaimo | 1.5% | 60 | 6 | 47 |
| Nanaimo 3.4 km | 1.9% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| Lantzville 7.7 km | 1.5% | 19 | 0 | 8 |
| Fairwinds 15 km | 2.2% | 23 | 0 | 15 |
| Electoral Area A, Nanaimo 16 km | 2.4% | 39 | 2 | 7 |
| Electoral Area B, Nanaimo 18 km | 2.1% | 38 | 0 | 10 |
None of its neighbours has twice the protected land around it that Electoral Area C, Nanaimo has.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- 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.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- 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 Electoral Area C, Nanaimo
Which is the biggest protected area near Electoral Area C, Nanaimo?
Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area: 1,250 ha, a wildlife area.
Is Electoral Area C, Nanaimo near a national park?
It is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, 31 km off.
What is the nearest beach to Electoral Area C, Nanaimo?
The nearest is A-Frame Beach, in town.
Are there hiking trails near Electoral Area C, Nanaimo?
OpenStreetMap maps the The Great Trail - Nanaimo River Interim Bypass Connector, The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - North and The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - South close by, with others.
How much land around Electoral Area C, Nanaimo is protected?
Within 10 km, 1.5% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the nearest provincial park to Electoral Area C, Nanaimo?
Macmillan Park touches the town.
When should you visit Electoral Area C, Nanaimo for the outdoors?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Sources
The sources behind Electoral Area C, Nanaimo’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).