First pick
Englishman River Regional Park
Park or garden
207 ha14.6 km of path
3 h 15 minto walk all 14.6 km of path
7.9 km south-eastfrom the centre
Park Service RoadRiver TrailChannel Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: starkerry · CC BY-SA 3.03.2%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area G, Nanaimo · parks, protected land & trails
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo borders Rathtrevor Beach Park
Within 5 km are 13 beaches; North Rathtrevor Beach is the nearest. CPCAD lists 32 protected areas within 10 km. The nearest national park is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, 60 km away.
Protected land
3.2%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
32
within 10 km, 13 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
60 km
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Rathtrevor Beach Park
Beaches
13
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Electoral Area G, Nanaimo apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
What Electoral Area G, Nanaimo has most to offer outdoors is a provincial park at its edge, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Electoral Area G, 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. No letter: the outdoors is described for Canadian towns, not graded.
Protected within 10 km3.2%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town7.5%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas13Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches13Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo has the 17th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (8,302 to 8,523 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 G, Nanaimo3.2%
Towns its size2.8%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo13
Towns its size5
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo0
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo beats most towns its size for public protected areas; 9 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alta Vista ON | 13% | 0.7% | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Old Ottawa East ON | 13% | 4.2% | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| 3 | Britannia ON | 13% | 12% | 31 | 4 | 9 |
| 4 | Upper Cornell ON | 12% | 49% | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | Crestview-Tanglewood ON | 12% | 0% | 28 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Mount Joy ON | 10% | 0% | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Stone Mills ON | 10% | 11% | 58 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Wildfield ON | 9.1% | 14% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Muskoka Lakes ON | 6.3% | 11% | 26 | 1 | 12 |
| 10 | Saint-Vincent-de-Paul QC | 5.6% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Norton Park ON | 5.5% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Trinity Commons ON | 5.3% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Saint-Roch QC | 5.1% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Vaughan Metropolitan Centre ON | 4.7% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Somerset AB | 4.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 16 | Electoral Area A, Comox Valley BC | 4% | 4.1% | 97 | 2 | 19 |
| 17 | Electoral Area G, Nanaimo BC | 3.2% | 7.5% | 32 | 0 | 13 |
| 18 | Brownsburg-Chatham QC | 3.1% | 2% | 35 | 0 | 3 |
| 19 | Ogden AB | 2.9% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 20 | Deer Lake BC | 2.9% | 0% | 22 | 4 | 25 |
| 21 | McNab/Braeside ON | 2.7% | 0.1% | 35 | 0 | 14 |
| 22 | Rocky Ridge AB | 2.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Douro-Dummer ON | 2.3% | 1.4% | 17 | 2 | 3 |
| 24 | Prairie View SK | 2.3% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Goderich ON | 1.5% | 0% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 26 | Drumheller AB | 1% | 4.9% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | St. John's MB | 0.9% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Rosewood SK | 0.9% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Hillhurst AB | 0.6% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | South-West Oxford ON | 0.5% | 0.3% | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| 31 | Bayfield ON | 0.5% | 0.1% | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 32 | Springfield North MB | 0.5% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Clinton ON | 0.4% | 0.3% | 11 | 13 | 6 |
| 34 | Valley Gardens MB | 0.4% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Marlborough Park AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Albert Park/Radisson Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 37 | King Edward Park AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 38 | Garneau AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 39 | Aylmer ON | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Huron-Kinloss ON | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
The map
Where the green is in Electoral Area G, 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
30 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
The biggest is Englishman River Regional Park, 207 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 419 ha in all
Parks & gardens 377 haWoods 42 ha
Add Englishman River Regional Park to Little Qualicum River Regional Park and you have 60% of it.
Little Qualicum River Regional Park
Park or garden
44 ha0.1 km of path
14 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Rivers Edge Community Park
Park or garden
36 ha0.4 km of path
8.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Top Bridge Park
Park or garden
23 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
8.2 km south-eastfrom the centre
Top Bridge Regional Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Nature's Garden Forest
Wood or forest
42 ha3 km of path
40 minto walk all 3 km of path
7.8 km westfrom the centre
Nature's Garden TrailLaburnum Road Connector TrailBuck Rub Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Oakdowne Main Community Park
Park or garden · 350 m outside town
16 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
13 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Ermineskin Park
Park or garden · 80 m outside town
13 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
3.2 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Qualicum Beach Community Park
Park or garden · 390 m outside town
7.3 ha0.2 km of path
6.7 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Englishman River Regional ParkPark or garden · 207 ha · 14.6 km of path
DirectionsLittle Qualicum River Regional ParkPark or garden · 44 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsRivers Edge Community ParkPark or garden · 36 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsTop Bridge ParkPark or garden · 23 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsNature's Garden ForestWood or forest · 42 ha · 3 km of path
DirectionsOakdowne Main Community ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsErmineskin ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsQualicum Beach Community ParkPark or garden · 7.3 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsTop Bridge Community ParkPark or garden · 4.9 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsShelly Creek Park SouthPark or garden · 3.1 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsFoster ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha · just outside town
DirectionsFrench Creek Community ParkPark or garden · 3.1 ha
DirectionsMiller Road Community ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsLee Road Community ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha
DirectionsPark on ChurchPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsCraig's CrossingPark or garden · 1.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsDashwood Community ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha
DirectionsBarclay Crescent Community ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha
DirectionsYambury ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsHumphrey ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMaple Lane Community ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsRenz ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsBridgewater ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha
DirectionsHawthorne Rise Community ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsSaahtlam ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsEagle ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsColumbia Beach Neighbourhod ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsShelly Creek Park WestPark or garden · 0.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsAberdeen ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsOff-leash Dog ParkPark or garden · 0.5 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
A park is within a short walk for 6 in 10 in Electoral Area G, 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 (64%)Further (37%)
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo64%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
That is below the typical Canadian town (83%). Around 3,100 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
Protected areas
3.2% of the land around Electoral Area G, Nanaimo 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 Electoral Area G, Nanaimo7.5%
Within 10 km3.2%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
13 of the 32 are on public land. The largest named one is Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area, at 1,250 ha. 19 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 1,250 ha · reaches Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
Rathtrevor Beach ParkProvincial park · 347 ha · reaches Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
French CreekNature reserve · 8.4 ha · reaches Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
Marshall PropertyNature reserve · 4.6 ha · reaches Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
Little Qualicum Falls ParkProvincial park · 440 ha · 1.2 km from the edge of town
Heritage ForestNature reserve · 19 ha · 1.3 km from the edge of town
Parksville Glass Sponge Reef Marine RefugeNature reserve · 205 ha · 1.9 km from the edge of town
Englishman River Falls ParkProvincial park · 97 ha · 4.3 km from the edge of town
Gerald Island ParkProvincial park · 12 ha · 5.2 km from the edge of town
Spider Lake ParkProvincial park · 65 ha · 5.8 km from the edge of town
2 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, 60 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
Rathtrevor Beach Park
At the edge3.5 km²since 1967
Provincial park
Little Qualicum Falls Park
1.2 km west4.4 km²since 1940
Provincial park
Englishman River Falls Park
4.3 km south1.0 km²since 1940
Provincial park
Gerald Island Park
5.2 km east0.1 km²since 2013
Provincial park
Spider Lake Park
5.8 km west0.6 km²since 1981
Provincial park
Arbutus Grove Park
7.5 km south-east0.2 km²since 1966
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 G, Nanaimo has 183 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
183 km
in and around the town (133.1 km²)
Woodland
40%
about 53.2 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area G, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.4
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area G, NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland40%
0%50%100%
It is more wooded than 79% of Canadian towns. 53% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km².
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
OpenStreetMap shows no walking route near Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
No named walking or hiking route is mapped near the town; local paths may simply not be on OpenStreetMap as routes.
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 G, Nanaimo is best on foot in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Comox (58 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) | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 177 | 112 | 108 | 64 | 40 | 42 | 24 | 31 | 47 | 125 | 189 | 194 |
Highs peak near 23 °C in July and fall to 6 °C in December. Precipitation runs from 24 mm in July to 194 mm in December. The climate in Electoral Area G, Nanaimo →
Beaches
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo has 13 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
North Rathtrevor Beach0.4 km from town
DirectionsColumbia Beach0.6 km from town
DirectionsRathtrevor Beachmixed · 1.0 km from town
DirectionsWall Beach1.0 km from town
DirectionsQualicum Beach1.5 km from town
DirectionsRock Beach2.5 km from town
DirectionsUnnamed on the map: 7 more. Within 5 km is 66 km of coastline. This page can’t show water quality: no open, Canada-wide record of beach testing exists. Check local advisories first.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo has 8 viewpoints and 4 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
8Viewpoints4Hills and peaks4Waterfalls2Nature reserves2Picnic sites11Playgrounds1Dog parks9Campsites
Little Mountain tops the hills nearby, 246 m. Playgrounds lead the count with 11.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 8
Creek Viewpoint0.4 km from town
DirectionsViewing platform0.6 km from town
DirectionsUpper Falls1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 5 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 4
Shaw Hill113 m · 0.8 km from town
DirectionsLittle Mountain246 m · 1.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 4
Little Qualicum Falls1.5 km from town
DirectionsTriple Falls1.6 km from town
DirectionsLower Waterfall1.6 km from town
DirectionsUpper Waterfall1.8 km from town
DirectionsNature reserves 2
Ermineskin Lands0.5 km from town
DirectionsHamilton Marsh Regional Park and Conservation Area0.8 km from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 11
Beach playground0.8 km from town
DirectionsArrowview Elementary School Playground1.0 km from town
DirectionsParksville Lions Club Ventureland Playground1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 8 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Off-leash Dog Park0.2 km from town
DirectionsCampsites 9
Cedar Grove RV Park & Campgroundin town
DirectionsPathfinder Camp Resorts - Parksvillein town
DirectionsHeart Haven RV Family Campground0.1 km from town
DirectionsRathtrevor Beach Campsite0.3 km from town
DirectionsWalk-In Campground0.6 km from town
DirectionsPark Sands Beach Resort RV Park & Campground0.9 km from town
DirectionsLittle Qualicum Falls - Upper Campground1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 campsites without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
ParksvilleQualicum BeachElectoral Area F, NanaimoFairwindsElectoral Area G, Nanaimo
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area G, Nanaimo | 3.2% | 32 | 0 | 13 |
| Parksville 3.5 km | 4.4% | 24 | 0 | 11 |
| Qualicum Beach 5.2 km | 4.4% | 24 | 0 | 7 |
| Electoral Area F, Nanaimo 7.6 km | 2.3% | 36 | 1 | 15 |
| Fairwinds 15 km | 2.2% | 23 | 0 | 15 |
Electoral Area G, Nanaimo 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
- Private land. Land owned by individuals, companies or conservation groups counts toward the figures but is never named: a person’s land isn’t a place to visit.
- 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. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- Protected land. Protected here means in CPCAD, Canada’s official list: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and other conserved land, measured within 10 km of the town’s edge.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area G, Nanaimo
Which is the biggest protected area near Electoral Area G, Nanaimo?
Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area, a wildlife area of 1,250 ha.
When should you visit Electoral Area G, Nanaimo for the outdoors?
May to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Electoral Area G, Nanaimo?
Rathtrevor Beach Park begins at the town’s edge.
What is the nearest beach to Electoral Area G, Nanaimo?
Try North Rathtrevor Beach, 0.4 km from town, first of several.
What is the nearest national park to Electoral Area G, Nanaimo?
The nearest is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, 60 km away.
Is there protected land near Electoral Area G, Nanaimo?
Within 10 km, 3.2% of the land lies in protected areas.
Sources
The sources behind Electoral Area G, 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).