First pick
Stoney Hill Regional Park
Park or garden
97 ha3.3 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.3 km of path
9.8 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Blake Handley from Victoria, Canada · CC BY 2.03.9%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in North Cowichan · parks, protected land & trails
A national park 10 km from North Cowichan: Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
7 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail and Blue Trail. For a swim, Bader Beach is the nearest of 10 beaches within 5 km. 72 protected areas lie within 10 km.
Protected land
3.9%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
72
within 10 km, 17 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
10 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Eves Park
Walking routes
7
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
10
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in North Cowichan, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyGulf Islands National Park Reserve, 10 km awayWalking routes7 named routes within 2 kmOn a national routeThe Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail passes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeEves Park reaches the town
North Cowichan’s best card is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve within easy reach, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
North Cowichan 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. Canada’s grades don’t include the outdoors, so this page compares the figures rather than grading them.
Protected within 10 km3.9%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town2.3%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 routes7Named 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
North Cowichan sits 20th from last of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (32,069 to 37,186 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
North Cowichan3.9%
Towns its size4%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
North Cowichan17
Towns its size11
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
North Cowichan7
Towns its size1
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
North Cowichan beats most towns its size for walking routes; 3 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panorama Ridge BC | 23% | 13% | 181 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Strawberry Hill BC | 20% | 0.8% | 158 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Bois-Francs QC | 14% | 1.4% | 39 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Cecil-P.-Newman QC | 14% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Clayton Park West NS | 13% | 0% | 18 | 13 | 7 |
| 6 | Sorel-Tracy QC | 12% | 0% | 75 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Val-d'Or QC | 11% | 19% | 55 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Fairview BC | 8.2% | 0% | 11 | 3 | 68 |
| 9 | Marc-Aurèle-Fortin QC | 7.1% | 0.5% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Sunset BC | 6.9% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 9 |
| 11 | Sainte-Marie QC | 6.3% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Edmonds BC | 6.2% | 0% | 40 | 4 | 8 |
| 13 | Saint-Constant QC | 5.8% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Grande-Prairie QC | 5% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Hastings-Sunrise BC | 4.7% | 0% | 12 | 4 | 27 |
| 16 | Orangeville ON | 4.2% | 3.5% | 38 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Arcola East SK | 4.2% | 8.8% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Mount Pleasant BC | 4.2% | 0% | 12 | 4 | 73 |
| 19 | Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown ON | 4.1% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | Killarney BC | 4% | 3.5% | 14 | 2 | 6 |
| 21 | North Cowichan BC | 3.9% | 2.3% | 72 | 7 | 10 |
| 22 | West Humber-Clairville ON | 3.4% | 0% | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Langley BC | 3.2% | 0% | 95 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | Neufchatel Est—Lebourgneuf QC | 3.2% | 0% | 26 | 1 | 4 |
| 25 | Metrotown BC | 2.5% | 0% | 21 | 3 | 6 |
| 26 | Thorold ON | 1.6% | 4.2% | 16 | 7 | 1 |
| 27 | Parkland County AB | 1.6% | 1.3% | 69 | 15 | 5 |
| 28 | Stratford ON | 1.5% | 0% | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Courtenay BC | 1.4% | 2.9% | 54 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | Leamington ON | 1.3% | 5.5% | 2 | 0 | 16 |
| 31 | Whitehorse YT | 1.3% | 4.5% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 32 | Dieppe NB | 1.2% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | Moose Jaw SK | 0.5% | 3.3% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Central Erin Mills ON | 0.5% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Applewood ON | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 36 | DT Core ON | 0.3% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Okotoks AB | 0.2% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Saint-Georges QC | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 39 | LaSalle ON | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Fergus ON | 0% | 0% | 4 | 8 | 2 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around North Cowichan
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 North Cowichan: 30 named parks and woods
The biggest is Stoney Hill Regional Park, 97 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 305 ha in all
Parks & gardens 305 ha
Most of it sits in Stoney Hill Regional Park and Chemainus Lake Park: 40% together.
Chemainus Lake Park
Park or garden
26 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
12 km northfrom the centre
Overgrown Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Osborne Bay Regional Park
Park or garden
24 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
7.4 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Wul'aam (Echo) Park
Park or garden
20 ha2.8 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.8 km of path
13 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Rotary / McAdam Park
Park or garden
15 ha2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
4.2 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Fuller Lake Arena
Park or garden
14 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
10 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Evans Park
Park or garden
12 ha1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
3.1 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Cowichan Sportsplex Community Park
Park or garden
11 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
3.1 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Stoney Hill Regional ParkPark or garden · 97 ha · 3.3 km of path
DirectionsChemainus Lake ParkPark or garden · 26 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsOsborne Bay Regional ParkPark or garden · 24 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsWul'aam (Echo) ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 2.8 km of path
DirectionsRotary / McAdam ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsFuller Lake ArenaPark or garden · 14 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsEvans ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsCowichan Sportsplex Community ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsCowichan Exhibition GroundsPark or garden · 13 ha
DirectionsGlenora Riverside ParkPark or garden · 9.2 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsProperties ParkPark or garden · 6.5 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsFuller Lake ParkPark or garden · 8.1 ha
DirectionsSherman Road Soccer ParkPark or garden · 4.8 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 4.5 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSomenos Creek ParkPark or garden · 3.9 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsChemainus Ball FieldsPark or garden · 4.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsHerons WoodPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsAskew Creek ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsLakeview ParkPark or garden · 4.2 ha
DirectionsSomenos Marsh Open Air ClassroomPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsCowichan Valley TrailPark or garden · 3.0 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsArt Mann ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha
DirectionsHarmony ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsCrofton Recreation ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha
DirectionsTrumpeter Pointe ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsAverill Creek ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsMum's ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsCrofton SeawalkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsHerd Road ParkPark or garden · 1.7 ha
DirectionsStonehaven ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.4 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
5 in 10 people in North Cowichan live 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 (54%)Further (46%)
North Cowichan54%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
For comparison, the typical Canadian town has 83%. That leaves about 16,000 people more than a short walk away.
Protected areas
3.9% of the country within 10 km of North Cowichan 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 North Cowichan2.3%
Within 10 km3.9%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Governments hold 17 of the 72, and private owners the rest. Cowichan River Park covers 1,418 ha, the most of any named area. 28 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
S'amunu Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 155 ha · reaches North Cowichan
Eves ParkProvincial park · 19 ha · reaches North Cowichan
Mount Tzuhalem Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 18 ha · reaches North Cowichan
Cowichan River ParkProvincial park · 1,418 ha · reaches North Cowichan
Burgoyne Bay ParkProvincial park · 524 ha · 0.8 km from the edge of town
Mount Maxwell Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 418 ha · 0.9 km from the edge of town
Mill Farm Regional Park ReserveMunicipal park · 315 ha · 2.0 km from the edge of town
Mount Erskine ParkProvincial park · 107 ha · 2.4 km from the edge of town
Mt Erskine SummitNature reserve · 41 ha · 2.4 km from the edge of town
Mount Maxwell ParkProvincial park · 231 ha · 2.4 km from the edge of town
1 more named area within 10 km is in the comparison 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
The parks within reach of North Cowichan
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
Cowichan River Park
At the edge · south-west14 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Eves Park
At the edge0.2 km²since 1962
Provincial park
Burgoyne Bay Park
0.8 km east5.2 km²since 2004
Provincial park
Mount Erskine Park
2.4 km east1.1 km²since 2007
Provincial park
Mount Maxwell Park
2.4 km east2.3 km²since 1938
Provincial park
Chemainus River Park
2.4 km west1.2 km²since 1959
There are 6 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
Paths to walk: 303 km in and around North Cowichan
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
303 km
in and around the town (289 km²)
Woodland
55%
about 157.6 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
North CowichanTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
North CowichanTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland55%
0%50%100%
For woods, it beats 85% of Canadian towns. It has fewer paths per km² than 57% 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
The Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail passes North Cowichan
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalRegionalLocalOther waymarked
Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail127.5 km
Vancouver Island Trail742.1 km
Blue Trail5.3 km
Yellow Trail4.2 km
Orange Trail3.4 km
Green Trail1.4 km
Duncan Totem Tour Path1.1 km
The Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail is 128 km long on the map, and 37.3 km of it lies within 2 km of town. The longest of the rest is the Vancouver Island Trail, 742.1 km. For a short stroll, 2 are under 3 km.
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 North Cowichan: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Victoria (Airport), 27 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) | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 155 | 85 | 80 | 48 | 37 | 29 | 20 | 24 | 36 | 96 | 146 | 146 |
Some 39 cm of snow falls each winter. The wettest month, January, brings 155 mm, against 20 mm in July. Summer highs reach 23 °C in July; in December they stay near 7 °C. The climate in North Cowichan →
Beaches
Beaches near North Cowichan: 10 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Bader Beach2.1 km from town
DirectionsBurgoyne Bay Beach3.0 km from town
DirectionsMusgrave Landing Beach3.3 km from town
DirectionsDriftwood Fort Beach3.7 km from town
DirectionsVesuvius Bay Beach3.8 km from town
DirectionsBaker Beach3.8 km from town
DirectionsZadra Beach4.8 km from town
DirectionsUnnamed on the map: 3 more. The shoreline runs 166 km within 5 km of town. No open data on beach water quality covers every province, so check with public health before a swim.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
North Cowichan has 43 viewpoints and 3 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
43Viewpoints8Hills and peaks3Waterfalls1Nature reserves3Picnic sites34Playgrounds4Dog parks1Campsites9Slipways
Mount Prevost tops the hills nearby, 781 m. Viewpoints lead the count with 43.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 43
Jitka's Benchin town
DirectionsMary's Viewin town
DirectionsMt. Richards Viewpointin town
DirectionsSarah's Sightin town
DirectionsTzouhalem Crossin town
DirectionsPlus 38 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 8
Big Sicker Mountain730 m · in town
DirectionsGrouse Hill195 m · in town
DirectionsLittle Sicker Mountain587 m · in town
DirectionsMaple Mountain505 m · in town
DirectionsMount Prevost781 m · in town
DirectionsMount Richards352 m · in town
DirectionsMount Tzouhalem480 m · in town
DirectionsStoney Hill201 m · in town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
Busy Place Creek Park1.1 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 3
Plus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 34
Bev Lashman Playgroundin town
DirectionsDuncan Lions Club Spray Park0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 32 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 4
Maple Bay Dog Parkin town
DirectionsSomenos Creek Dog Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Riverside RV Park & Camping0.6 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 9
Plus 9 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to North Cowichan
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
DuncanCowichanElectoral Area E, Cowichan ValleyCowichan BaySaltspring IslandCobble HillNorth Cowichan
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Cowichan | 3.9% | 72 | 7 | 10 |
| Duncan 3.6 km | 1.9% | 31 | 2 | 1 |
| Cowichan 4.8 km | 5.9% | 58 | 3 | 4 |
| Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley 5.1 km | 2.8% | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| Cowichan Bay 10 km | 4.2% | 64 | 2 | 10 |
| Saltspring Island 14 km | 6.7% | 109 | 3 | 44 |
| Cobble Hill 16 km | 6.6% | 51 | 0 | 6 |
None of the places nearby has twice as much protected land around it as North Cowichan.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- 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.
- Walking routes. A route counts when 300 m or more of it lies within 2 km of the town. Coverage of trails on OpenStreetMap varies by region.
Questions about the outdoors in North Cowichan
What is the nearest national park to North Cowichan?
The nearest is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 10 km away.
When should you visit North Cowichan 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.
Where can you swim near North Cowichan?
Bader Beach, 2.1 km from town, is the nearest mapped beach.
Where can you walk near North Cowichan?
The Trans-Canada Trail - Cowichan Valley Trail, Blue Trail and Vancouver Island Trail, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
What is the largest protected area near North Cowichan?
It is Cowichan River Park, a provincial park covering 1,418 ha.
How much land around North Cowichan is protected?
Within 10 km, 3.9% of the land lies in protected areas.
What is the nearest provincial park to North Cowichan?
Eves Park touches the town.
Sources
Where North Cowichan’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).