First pick
Mount Benson Regional Park
Park or garden
292 ha12.3 km of path
2 h 45 minto walk all 12.3 km of path
6.3 km south-westfrom the centre
Old Road LoopPink UnicornTe'tuxw'tun Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Gerry Thomasen from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.01.9%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Nanaimo · parks, protected land & trails
A national route near Nanaimo: the The Great Trail - City of Nanaimo
For a swim, First Beach is the nearest of 33 beaches within 5 km. Count 42 protected areas within 10 km of town. A drive of 43 km reaches Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, the nearest national park.
Protected land
1.9%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
42
within 10 km, 18 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
43 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Petroglyph Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
33
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Nanaimo stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
On a national routeThe The Great Trail - City of Nanaimo passes within 2 kmBeaches33 beaches within 5 kmA provincial park at the edgePetroglyph Park reaches the town
Nanaimo’s best card is the The Great Trail - City of Nanaimo, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for 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. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
Protected within 10 km1.9%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town6.7%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas18Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named 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
Nanaimo sits 16th from last of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (81,611 to 151,972 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
Nanaimo1.9%
Towns its size4.4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Nanaimo18
Towns its size13
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Nanaimo2
Towns its size1
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Nanaimo’s strong point is walking routes, where 13 of 39 top it. On protected land nearby it is behind: 24 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort McMurray AB | 34% | 35% | 21 | 1 | 289 |
| 2 | Maple Ridge BC | 26% | 21% | 101 | 1 | 41 |
| 3 | Delta BC | 24% | 17% | 181 | 9 | 19 |
| 4 | North Vancouver BC | 15% | 22% | 18 | 11 | 169 |
| 5 | Kamloops BC | 14% | 13% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 6 | Chilliwack BC | 11% | 7.7% | 36 | 4 | 26 |
| 7 | Saanich BC | 11% | 9.4% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| 8 | Strathcona County AB | 9.4% | 1.4% | 38 | 7 | 6 |
| 9 | Trois-Rivières QC | 8.4% | 1.2% | 44 | 1 | 10 |
| 10 | Repentigny QC | 8.3% | 1.6% | 41 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Cape Breton NS | 8.2% | 8.6% | 176 | 1 | 74 |
| 12 | New Westminster BC | 8% | 0% | 83 | 4 | 9 |
| 13 | Victoria BC | 8% | 0.9% | 20 | 4 | 34 |
| 14 | Lindsay ON | 7.6% | 9.2% | 60 | 5 | 9 |
| 15 | Pickering ON | 7.6% | 11% | 46 | 1 | 11 |
| 16 | Saguenay QC | 6% | 6.1% | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| 17 | Brossard QC | 5.6% | 9.1% | 31 | 0 | 6 |
| 18 | Kingston ON | 5% | 6.2% | 54 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | Ajax ON | 4.9% | 5.8% | 31 | 1 | 8 |
| 20 | Bolton ON | 4.8% | 5.9% | 113 | 11 | 3 |
| 21 | Chomedey QC | 3.9% | 0.1% | 43 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | Terrebonne QC | 3.8% | 3.6% | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | St. John's NL | 2.2% | 1.2% | 6 | 1 | 41 |
| 24 | Moncton NB | 2.2% | 1.7% | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | Nanaimo BC | 1.9% | 6.7% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| 26 | Bowmanville ON | 1.6% | 3% | 25 | 2 | 9 |
| 27 | Newmarket ON | 1.3% | 1.8% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu QC | 1.1% | 1.2% | 18 | 1 | 3 |
| 29 | Niagara Falls ON | 1.1% | 1.7% | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 30 | Saint-Jérôme QC | 1% | 0.1% | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Chatham ON | 1% | 1% | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 32 | Red Deer AB | 0.7% | 1.2% | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 33 | Peterborough ON | 0.6% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 34 | Waterloo ON | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| 35 | Lethbridge AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Brantford ON | 0.3% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Prince George BC | 0.3% | 0.5% | 5 | 1 | 51 |
| 38 | Drummondville QC | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Thunder Bay ON | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 40 | Airdrie AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Nanaimo
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
Walk in Nanaimo: 30 named parks and woods
The biggest is Mount Benson Regional Park, 292 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 1,150 ha in all
Parks & gardens 1,150 ha
42% of the area is in just two places: Mount Benson Regional Park and Westwood Lake Park.
Westwood Lake Park
Park or garden
186 ha20.2 km of path
4 h 30 minto walk all 20.2 km of path
3.7 km south-westfrom the centre
Westwood Lake TrailWestwood Lake Mountain Bike TrailLower Binx+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Nanaimo Lakes Road Park
Park or garden
98 ha9.9 km of path
2 h 10 minto walk all 9.9 km of path
5.8 km southfrom the centre
Trans Canada TrailParkway TrailStringer
Directionsto a point inside
Linley Valley Cottle Lake Park
Park or garden
79 ha11.7 km of path
2 h 35 minto walk all 11.7 km of path
3.3 km northfrom the centre
SerenityLinley Valley Cottle Lake TrailIon+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Linley Valley Park
Park or garden
84 ha5 km of path
1 h 5 minto walk all 5 km of path
3.6 km northfrom the centre
NeutronSerenity
Directionsto a point inside
Beban Park
Park or garden
51 ha6.6 km of path
1 h 25 minto walk all 6.6 km of path
1.0 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Bowen Park
Park or garden
41 ha7.8 km of path
1 h 45 minto walk all 7.8 km of path
2.5 km south-eastfrom the centre
Millstone Interpretive TrailMillstone TrailMillstream Parkway+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Jack Point and Biggs Park
Park or garden
33 ha3.4 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.4 km of path
8.4 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Mount Benson Regional ParkPark or garden · 292 ha · 12.3 km of path
DirectionsWestwood Lake ParkPark or garden · 186 ha · 20.2 km of path
DirectionsNanaimo Lakes Road ParkPark or garden · 98 ha · 9.9 km of path
DirectionsLinley Valley Cottle Lake ParkPark or garden · 79 ha · 11.7 km of path
DirectionsLinley Valley ParkPark or garden · 84 ha · 5 km of path
DirectionsBeban ParkPark or garden · 51 ha · 6.6 km of path
DirectionsBowen ParkPark or garden · 41 ha · 7.8 km of path
DirectionsJack Point and Biggs ParkPark or garden · 33 ha · 3.4 km of path
DirectionsColliery Dam ParkPark or garden · 27 ha · 4.1 km of path
DirectionsWest Marsh ParkPark or garden · 28 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsThird Street ParkPark or garden · 25 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsButtertubs Marsh ParkPark or garden · 23 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsNeck Point ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 3.9 km of path
DirectionsKipp Road Community ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsOliver Woods ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 2.1 km of path
DirectionsEast Wellington ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsLotus Pinnatus ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsPipers Lagoon ParkPark or garden · 8.3 ha · 3.1 km of path
DirectionsMay Richards Bennett Pioneer ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsNorthfield Rotary Lookout ParkPark or garden · 8.5 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsDiver Lake ParkPark or garden · 9.5 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsLinley Point Gyro ParkPark or garden · 9.6 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsJoan Point ParkPark or garden · 9.5 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsMaffeo Sutton ParkPark or garden · 5.9 ha · 2.8 km of path
DirectionsEagle View ParkPark or garden · 10 ha
DirectionsPlanta ParkPark or garden · 7.0 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsLost Lake TrailPark or garden · 8.1 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsHarewood Centennial Park (Sherry Fields)Park or garden · 5.7 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsSealand ParkPark or garden · 5.7 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsBeach Estates ParkPark or garden · 5.0 ha · 0.9 km of path
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
Almost everyone in Nanaimo lives near 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 (95%)Further (5%)
Nanaimo95%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
It is above the typical Canadian town (83%). That leaves about 6,000 people more than a short walk away.
Protected areas
Within 10 km of Nanaimo, 1.9% is protected land
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Nanaimo6.7%
Within 10 km1.9%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Governments hold 18 of the 42, and private owners the rest. At 363 ha, Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park is the largest. 22 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) ParkProvincial park · 363 ha · reaches Nanaimo
West MarshNature reserve · 27 ha · reaches Nanaimo
Petroglyph ParkProvincial park · 1.8 ha · reaches Nanaimo
Hudson Rocks Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 50 ha · 0.6 km from the edge of town
Gabriola Island - Coats DriveNature reserve · 45 ha · 1.6 km from the edge of town
Morden Colliery Historic ParkProvincial park · 4.0 ha · 1.9 km from the edge of town
Hemer ParkProvincial park · 109 ha · 2.5 km from the edge of town
Gabriola Sands ParkProvincial park · 6.0 ha · 3.8 km from the edge of town
Sandwell ParkProvincial park · 17 ha · 5.3 km from the edge of town
Arbutus Grove ParkProvincial park · 22 ha · 6.2 km from the edge of town
7 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
43 km to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
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
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park
At the edge3.6 km²since 1961
Provincial park
Petroglyph Park
At the edge0.0 km²since 1948
Provincial park
Morden Colliery Historic Park
1.9 km south-east0.0 km²since 1972
Provincial park
Hemer Park
2.5 km south-east1.1 km²since 1981
Provincial park
Gabriola Sands Park
3.8 km east0.1 km²since 1960
Provincial park
Sandwell Park
5.3 km east0.2 km²since 1988
7 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
378 km of paths in and around 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
378 km
in and around the town (179.1 km²)
Woodland
18%
about 31.4 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths2.1
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
NanaimoTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland18%
0%50%100%
It has more footpath per km² than 57% of Canadian towns. It is more wooded than 64% 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
Where to walk from 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 - City of Nanaimo12.2 km
The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - North10.4 km
The The Great Trail - City of Nanaimo is 12 km long on the map, and 12.2 km of it lies within 2 km of town.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Walking season in Nanaimo: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Vancouver International (Airport), 58 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 | 13.7 | 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 |
Most rain and snow falls in November, 175 mm; July sees 34 mm. Daytime highs run from 7 °C in December up to 22 °C in July. The climate in Nanaimo →
Beaches
Beaches near Nanaimo: 33 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
First Beachsand · in town
DirectionsInvermere Beachmixed · in town
DirectionsMailbox Beachin town
DirectionsSecond Beachsand · in town
DirectionsSmugglers Beachin town
DirectionsBlueback Beachmixed · in town
DirectionsSaltery Beachsand · 0.1 km from town
DirectionsThe coast is close: 159 km of shoreline within 5 km. OpenStreetMap marks 3 as sandy. There are also 26 beaches without a name. No national or provincial register of beach water quality is published as open data, so check the local health unit before swimming.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Nanaimo has 67 viewpoints and 5 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
67Viewpoints3Hills and peaks5Waterfalls10Nature reserves4Picnic sites119Playgrounds5Dog parks4Campsites7Slipways
The most common are playgrounds: 119 on the map. For a climb, Bald Mountain rises to 325 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 67
Giovando Lookoutin town
DirectionsLong Lake Overlookin town
DirectionsPecoe's Point0.8 km from town
DirectionsLake View1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 63 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 3
Cottle Hill257 m · in town
DirectionsSnowball Hill18 m · in town
DirectionsBald Mountain325 m · 1.9 km from town
DirectionsNature reserves 10
Morrell Nature Sanctuaryin town
DirectionsOsprey Perchin town
DirectionsPainted Turtle Nesting Areain town
DirectionsPetroglyph Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsThatching Ant Hillsin town
DirectionsHudson Rocks Ecological Reserve1.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 nature reserves without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 4
Plus 4 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 119
Altrusa Venture Parkin town
DirectionsBrookwood Park Playgroundin town
DirectionsJumping Jiminy'sin town
DirectionsMaffeo Sutton Inclusive Playgroundin town
DirectionsMcDonald's PlayPlacein town
DirectionsPlus 114 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 5
Plus 5 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 4
Groups Sitein town
DirectionsNewcastle Island Marine Provincial Park Campgroundin town
DirectionsCamp Caillet0.5 km from town
DirectionsBrannen Lake RV Park & Campsite0.8 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 7
Charlaine Boat Rampin town
DirectionsGreen Lake Boat Rampin town
DirectionsPlus 5 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to 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 C, NanaimoLantzvilleElectoral Area A, NanaimoElectoral Area B, NanaimoFairwindsNanaimo
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nanaimo | 1.9% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| Electoral Area C, Nanaimo 3.4 km | 1.5% | 60 | 6 | 47 |
| Lantzville 9.9 km | 1.5% | 19 | 0 | 8 |
| Electoral Area A, Nanaimo 14 km | 2.4% | 39 | 2 | 7 |
| Electoral Area B, Nanaimo 14 km | 2.1% | 38 | 0 | 10 |
| Fairwinds 17 km | 2.2% | 23 | 0 | 15 |
Nanaimo is not outdone two to one on protected land by any neighbour. More routes are mapped around Electoral Area C, Nanaimo (6).
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- National and provincial parks. National parks are Parks Canada’s; provincial parks are the province’s or territory’s, Québec’s parcs nationaux among them.
- 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.
- 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 Nanaimo
What is the nearest provincial park to Nanaimo?
Petroglyph Park, which reaches the edge of town.
How much land around Nanaimo is protected?
Within 10 km, 1.9% of the land lies in protected areas.
Is there a beach near Nanaimo?
Try First Beach, in town, first of several.
What walking routes are near Nanaimo?
The The Great Trail - City of Nanaimo and The Great Trail - Regional District of Nanaimo - North, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Nanaimo?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
What is the largest protected area near Nanaimo?
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park, a provincial park of 363 ha.
How far is Nanaimo from a national park?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is closest, at 43 km.
Sources
Where 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).