First pick
Horth Hill Regional Park
Park or garden
37 ha5.7 km of path
1 h 15 minto walk all 5.7 km of path
2.2 km northfrom the centre
Perimeter TrailPerimeter Trail/Lookout Loop TrailRidge Trail+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Shawn from Airdrie, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.09.2%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in North Saanich · parks, protected land & trails
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve reaches North Saanich
Within 5 km are 24 beaches; Glass Beach is the nearest. 9.2% of the land and water within 10 km is protected (the typical Canadian town: 2.3%). Within 10 km are 37 protected areas.
Protected land
9.2%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
37
within 10 km, 18 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
At the edge
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park
Beaches
24
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in North Saanich, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Next to a national parkGulf Islands National Park Reserve starts at the edge of townProtected land all round9.2% of the land within 10 km, more than 84% of Canadian townsBeaches24 beaches within 5 kmA provincial park at the edgeȽáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park reaches the town
For someone who likes to get outside, North Saanich’s draw is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on its doorstep, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
North Saanich 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 km9.2%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town5.1%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 routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches24Beaches 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, North Saanich ranks 4th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (12,773 to 13,230 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 Saanich9.2%
Towns its size2.5%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
North Saanich18
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
North Saanich0
Towns its size1
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
North Saanich beats most towns its size for public protected areas; 5 of 39 do better. For walking routes, though, 21 of 39 are ahead.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | View Royal BC | 21% | 45% | 35 | 3 | 20 |
| 2 | Westboro ON | 13% | 5.5% | 32 | 3 | 8 |
| 3 | Centre-Ville QC | 11% | 22% | 40 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | North Saanich BC | 9.2% | 5.1% | 37 | 0 | 24 |
| 5 | Quantztown ON | 8.5% | 0% | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Windsor Park NS | 7.6% | 0% | 18 | 4 | 17 |
| 7 | Saint-Jean-Vianney QC | 6.9% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | Prince Rupert BC | 5.5% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Deerfield ON | 5.2% | 6.3% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Madoc ON | 5.1% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Springdale ON | 4.9% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Aloha Estates BC | 4.3% | 2% | 111 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | Carrville Corners ON | 4.1% | 0.5% | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Peel Village ON | 3.8% | 0.9% | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | New Springbrook ON | 3.1% | 2.4% | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Lakeview AB | 2.9% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 17 | New Brighton AB | 2.9% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| 18 | Stratford PE | 2.7% | 0.9% | 19 | 12 | 13 |
| 19 | Albert Park SK | 2.7% | 0% | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 20 | Yonge-St.Clair ON | 2.5% | 0% | 14 | 3 | 4 |
| 21 | Ayr ON | 2.4% | 1.8% | 36 | 8 | 4 |
| 22 | Regent Park ON | 2.3% | 0% | 10 | 8 | 40 |
| 23 | Yonge-Bay Corridor ON | 2.2% | 0% | 11 | 9 | 38 |
| 24 | Erin ON | 2.1% | 0.2% | 48 | 6 | 1 |
| 25 | Palmerston-Little Italy ON | 2.1% | 0% | 11 | 6 | 17 |
| 26 | Rawdon QC | 1.7% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| 27 | Forest ON | 1.7% | 6.7% | 9 | 2 | 18 |
| 28 | Corso Italia-Davenport ON | 1.4% | 0% | 11 | 2 | 8 |
| 29 | Brighton ON | 1.3% | 4.2% | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| 30 | Kincardine ON | 1% | 0.9% | 7 | 0 | 19 |
| 31 | Dakota Crossing MB | 0.8% | 2.1% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Amos QC | 0.5% | 0.2% | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | Lloydminster (Part) SK | 0.5% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Centre-Nord (Montréal-Nord) QC | 0.5% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Rutherford AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 36 | Sainte-Julienne QC | 0.2% | 1.7% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 37 | Huntington Hills AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Downtown AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 39 | Thompson MB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Redstone AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in North Saanich
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 Saanich: 30 named parks and woods
The biggest is Horth Hill Regional Park, 37 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 125 ha in all
Parks & gardens 114 haWoods 11 ha
Its largest place holds only 29%: the rest is spread out.
Blue Heron Park
Park or garden
12 ha1.7 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.7 km of path
0.8 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Cy Hampson Park
Park or garden
6.0 ha2 km of path
25 minto walk all 2 km of path
5.4 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Reay Creek Park
Park or garden
4.9 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
3.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Green Park
Park or garden
3.9 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
2.3 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Eugene Bailin Memorial Trail Park
Park or garden
3.3 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
2.9 km northfrom the centre
Eugene Bailin Memorial Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Coles Bay Regional Park
Park or garden
3.8 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
4.5 km south-westfrom the centre
Nature TrailBeach Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Dominion Brook Park
Park or garden
4.1 ha0.4 km of path
5.0 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Horth Hill Regional ParkPark or garden · 37 ha · 5.7 km of path
DirectionsBlue Heron ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsCy Hampson ParkPark or garden · 6.0 ha · 2 km of path
DirectionsReay Creek ParkPark or garden · 4.9 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsGreen ParkPark or garden · 3.9 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsEugene Bailin Memorial Trail ParkPark or garden · 3.3 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsColes Bay Regional ParkPark or garden · 3.8 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsDominion Brook ParkPark or garden · 4.1 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsRotary ParkPark or garden · 4.6 ha
DirectionsSumac ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsHaldon ParkPark or garden · 4.0 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPeter Grant ParkPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsWain ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsDenham Till ParkPark or garden · 2.9 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsLittlewood ForestWood or forest · 11 ha
DirectionsKanishay ParkPark or garden · 2.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsBrethour ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsQuarry ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsLillian Hoffar ParkPark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsBluebell ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsResthaven ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsReadings ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsPatricia Bay ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsResthaven Linear ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPrentice Pond ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsMelville ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsNorth Saanich Free Ride ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsR.O. Bull ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsSycamore ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsGulf View ParkPark or garden · 1.0 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 7 in 10 in North Saanich
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 (65%)Further (35%)
North Saanich65%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 4,500 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. That is below the typical Canadian town (83%).
Protected areas
Around North Saanich, protected areas make up 9.2%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside North Saanich5.1%
Within 10 km9.2%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 18 of the 37. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve leads for size with 6,731 ha. 19 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Gulf Islands National Park ReserveNational park reserve · 6,731 ha · reaches North Saanich
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean ParkProvincial park · 173 ha · reaches North Saanich
Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird SanctuaryWildlife area · 146 ha · reaches North Saanich
Horth Hill Regional ParkMunicipal park · 36 ha · reaches North Saanich
Coles Bay Regional ParkMunicipal park · 3.6 ha · reaches North Saanich
Satellite Channel Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 340 ha · 0.2 km from the edge of town
Mount Tuam Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 362 ha · 2.4 km from the edge of town
Bamberton ParkProvincial park · 27 ha · 3.3 km from the edge of town
Island View Beach Regional ParkMunicipal park · 53 ha · 3.6 km from the edge of town
Gowlland Tod ParkProvincial park · 1,280 ha · 4.5 km from the edge of town
8 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
The parks within reach of North Saanich
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
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
At the edge67 km²since 2010
Provincial park
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park
At the edge1.7 km²since 1921
Provincial park
Bamberton Park
3.3 km south-west0.3 km²since 1960
Provincial park
Gowlland Tod Park
4.5 km south-west13 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Spectacle Lake Park
7.2 km south-west0.7 km²since 1963
Provincial park
Burgoyne Bay Park
8.1 km north-west5.2 km²since 2004
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: 104 km in and around North Saanich
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
104 km
in and around the town (82.1 km²)
Woodland
13%
about 10.4 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
North SaanichTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.3
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
North SaanichTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland13%
0%50%100%
For woods, it beats 57% of Canadian towns. Paths are thinner on the ground than in 55% 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
OpenStreetMap shows no walking route near North Saanich
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 route shows within 2 km of the town; volunteers map trails unevenly from one region to the next.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
North Saanich is best on foot in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Victoria (Airport) (1.8 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) | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 15.8 | 14.3 | 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 |
A typical year sees 39 cm of snow. Precipitation runs from 20 mm in July to 155 mm in January. In July the typical high is 23 °C; in December, 7 °C. The climate in North Saanich →
Beaches
The beach near North Saanich: Glass Beach, 1.7 km away
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Glass Beach1.7 km from town
DirectionsThere are also 23 beaches without a name. The coast is close: 158 km of shoreline 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
North Saanich has 15 viewpoints within 2 km
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Mount Newton, 305 m, is the high point nearby. 33 playgrounds top the list.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 15
Abraham Collins' Lookoutin town
DirectionsPickles' Bluffin town
DirectionsWest Viewpointin town
DirectionsCy's Viewpoint0.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 11 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 4
Cloake Hill157 m · in town
DirectionsHorth Hill136 m · in town
DirectionsMount Newton305 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 1 peak without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Satellite Channel Ecological Reserve0.8 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 33
Plus 33 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Smonećten (McDonald) Campgroundin town
DirectionsSlipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to North Saanich
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
SidneyEast Saanich 2Electoral Area A, Cowichan ValleyCentral SaanichCobble HillHighlandsNorth Saanich
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Saanich | 9.2% | 37 | 0 | 24 |
| Sidney 2.4 km | 7% | 22 | 0 | 7 |
| East Saanich 2 9.2 km | 9.4% | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley 9.5 km | 23% | 58 | 4 | 24 |
| Central Saanich 10 km | 9.2% | 35 | 2 | 29 |
| Cobble Hill 11 km | 6.6% | 51 | 0 | 6 |
| Highlands 16 km | 24% | 40 | 0 | 18 |
For walking routes, Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley leads the area with 4. Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley and Highlands have at least twice the protected share around them.
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.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- 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.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
Questions about the outdoors in North Saanich
What is the best season to get outdoors in North Saanich?
May to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
What is the biggest park or reserve near North Saanich?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve: 6,731 ha, a national park reserve.
What is the nearest provincial park to North Saanich?
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park, which reaches the edge of town.
How far is North Saanich from a national park?
It is on the doorstep: Gulf Islands National Park Reserve touches North Saanich.
Are there protected areas near North Saanich?
Protected areas cover 9.2% of the land within 10 km.
What is the nearest beach to North Saanich?
Try Glass Beach, 1.7 km from town, first of several.
Sources
Where North Saanich’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).