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Dinsmore Bridge aerialPhoto: Canuckle · CC0
21%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Richmond · parks, protected land & trails

Around Richmond, 21% of the land is set aside for nature

CPCAD lists 73 protected areas within 10 km. Swimmers have 31 beaches within 5 km, Iona Beach the nearest. The nearest national park is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 27 km away.

Protected land
21%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
73
within 10 km, 54 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
27 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
11 km
Apodaca Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
31
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character

The outdoors in Richmond, in short

Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.

Out of doors, Richmond leads with protected land around it, with the number of public protected areas close by close behind.

Against other towns

How Richmond compares with 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. There is no Outdoors grade for Canadian towns; the figures stand beside the country’s towns of 2,500+ without a letter.

Protected within 10 km21%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
040
Protected in town3.2%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
none50
Public protected areas54Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
nonetypical 440+
Walking routes2Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
none12+
Beaches31Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
none40+

CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.

Towns its size

Richmond has the 4th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size

The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (105,925 to 243,107 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.

Richmond 21%
Maple RidgeThunder Bay
014%28%
Protected within 10 km
Richmond21%
Towns its size3.7%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Richmond54
Towns its size15
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Richmond2
Towns its size2
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0

Against towns its size, Richmond does best for protected land nearby: 3 of the other 39 have more.

Every town in the comparison
TownProtected within 10 kmIn townAreasRoutesBeaches
1Maple Ridge BC26%21%101141
2Coquitlam BC25%28%130569
3Delta BC24%17%181919
4Richmond BC21%3.2%73231
5Kamloops BC14%13%16011
6Kelowna BC13%3.8%36042
7Saanich BC11%9.4%43756
8Strathcona County AB9.4%1.4%3876
9Trois-Rivières QC8.4%1.2%44110
10Cape Breton NS8.2%8.6%176174
11Pickering ON7.6%11%46111
12Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury ON6.7%3.5%43518
13Saguenay QC6%6.1%29011
14Kingston ON5%6.2%5425
15Ajax ON4.9%5.8%3118
16Lévis QC4.1%0.6%6218
17Sherbrooke QC4.1%0.8%2323
18Whitby ON3.9%4.7%3713
19Abbotsford BC3.9%0.5%37210
20Terrebonne QC3.8%3.6%6003
21Langley BC3.5%2.9%144810
22Barrie ON2.6%0%908
23Burlington ON2.5%1.6%27217
24Oshawa ON2.4%0.3%3014
25St. John's NL2.2%1.2%6141
26Richmond Hill ON1.9%8.4%5110
27Nanaimo BC1.9%6.7%42233
28Cambridge ON1.7%0.4%33102
29Bowmanville ON1.6%3%2529
30Milton ON1.3%0%38153
31St. Catharines ON1.2%1.7%1547
32Niagara Falls ON1.1%1.7%1534
33Chatham ON1%1%2108
34Guelph ON0.9%3.1%15105
35Oakville ON0.9%4.1%819
36Red Deer AB0.7%1.2%511
37Waterloo ON0.6%0%17121
38Lethbridge AB0.4%0%100
39Brantford ON0.3%0%1530
40Thunder Bay ON0.1%0.4%304
The map

Where the green is in Richmond

The town’s parks, woods, protected land and paths, with its named places numbered.

12345678
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk

30 named parks and woods to walk in near Richmond

Largest first: Pacific Spirit Regional Park leads with 841 ha. Numbers match the map.

30 named parks and woods, 1,459 ha in allPacific Spirit Regional Park841 ha · 56.8 km of pathPacific Spirit Regional Park: 841 ha, 56.8 km of pathIona Bea…106 ha · 12…Iona Beach Regional Park: 106 ha, 12.2 km of pathBurnaby…83 ha · 12…Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park: 83 ha, 12 km of path56 haGarden City Lands: 56 ha, 4.2 km of path46 haRichmond Nature Park: 46 ha, 2.9 km of path44 haRichmond Nature Park East: 44 ha, 1.9 km of path30 haTerra Nova Rural Park: 30 ha, 5.6 km of path26 haMinoru Park: 26 ha, 6.6 km of path23 haLadner Harbour Park: 23 ha, 1.6 km of path21 haSouth Arm Community Park: 21 ha, 4.8 km of path16 haKing George Park: 16 ha, 4.3 km of pathTerra Nova Natural Area Park: 14 ha, 0.9 km of pathSteveston Community Park: 12 ha, 2.9 km of pathGarry Point Park: 12 ha, 2.7 km of pathBlundell Park: 12 ha, 1.7 km of pathWest Dyke Trail: 11 ha, 6.9 km of pathRailway Greenway: 11 ha, 4.7 km of pathGarden City Community Park: 10 ha, 2.1 km of pathHugh Boyd Community Park: 10 ha, 2.4 km of pathFraser River Park: 9.7 ha, 1.8 km of pathWoodwards Slough: 9.7 ha, 1.1 km of pathSteveston London School Park: 9.6 ha, 2.4 km of pathManoah Steves Neighbourhood School Park: 8.3 ha, 0.8 km of pathPalmer/Garden City Neighbourhood School Park: 7.4 ha, 1.5 km of pathMcNair Neighbourhood School Park: 5.9 ha, 1.2 km of pathWestwind Neighbourhood School Park: 5.5 ha, 1.5 km of pathMiddle Arm Waterfront Greenway: 5.4 ha, 3 km of pathHorseshoe Slough: 5.2 ha, 1.4 km of pathMiddle Arm Trail: 4.4 ha, 2.7 km of pathTait Waterfront Park: 4.1 ha, 2 km of path
Parks & gardens 1,459 ha

Add Pacific Spirit Regional Park to Iona Beach Regional Park and you have 65% of it.

First pick

Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Park or garden · 70 m outside town
841 ha56.8 km of path
12 h 35 minto walk all 56.8 km of path
13 km north-westfrom the centre
Salish TrailSword Fern TrailForeshore Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside

Iona Beach Regional Park

Park or garden
106 ha12.2 km of path
2 h 45 minto walk all 12.2 km of path
8.2 km north-westfrom the centre
Jetty RoadTop of Jetty
Directionsto a point inside

Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park

Park or garden · 170 m outside town
83 ha12 km of path
2 h 40 minto walk all 12 km of path
10 km north-eastfrom the centre
Fraser Foreshore Urban TrailGlenylon Urban TrailFraser Foreshore Park Trail+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside

Garden City Lands

Park or garden
56 ha4.2 km of path
55 minto walk all 4.2 km of path
2.0 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Richmond Nature Park

Park or garden
46 ha2.9 km of path
40 minto walk all 2.9 km of path
3.2 km north-eastfrom the centre
Bog Forest TrailQuaking TrailTime Trail+1 path
Directionsto a point inside

Richmond Nature Park East

Park or garden
44 ha1.9 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.9 km of path
4.1 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside

Terra Nova Rural Park

Park or garden
30 ha5.6 km of path
1 h 15 minto walk all 5.6 km of path
4.7 km westfrom the centre
West Dyke TrailMiddle Arm Trail
Directionsto a point inside

Minoru Park

Park or garden
26 ha6.6 km of path
1 h 30 minto walk all 6.6 km of path
1.1 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Pacific Spirit Regional ParkPark or garden · 841 ha · 56.8 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Iona Beach Regional ParkPark or garden · 106 ha · 12.2 km of path
Directions
Burnaby Fraser Foreshore ParkPark or garden · 83 ha · 12 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Garden City LandsPark or garden · 56 ha · 4.2 km of path
Directions
Richmond Nature ParkPark or garden · 46 ha · 2.9 km of path
Directions
Richmond Nature Park EastPark or garden · 44 ha · 1.9 km of path
Directions
Terra Nova Rural ParkPark or garden · 30 ha · 5.6 km of path
Directions
Minoru ParkPark or garden · 26 ha · 6.6 km of path
Directions
South Arm Community ParkPark or garden · 21 ha · 4.8 km of path
Directions
Ladner Harbour ParkPark or garden · 23 ha · 1.6 km of path · just outside town
Directions
West Dyke TrailPark or garden · 11 ha · 6.9 km of path
Directions
King George ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 4.3 km of path
Directions
Railway GreenwayPark or garden · 11 ha · 4.7 km of path
Directions
Steveston Community ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 2.9 km of path
Directions
Garry Point ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 2.7 km of path
Directions
Terra Nova Natural Area ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 0.9 km of path
Directions
Blundell ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 1.7 km of path
Directions
Hugh Boyd Community ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 2.4 km of path
Directions
Garden City Community ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 2.1 km of path
Directions
Steveston London School ParkPark or garden · 9.6 ha · 2.4 km of path
Directions
Fraser River ParkPark or garden · 9.7 ha · 1.8 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Woodwards SloughPark or garden · 9.7 ha · 1.1 km of path
Directions
Middle Arm Waterfront GreenwayPark or garden · 5.4 ha · 3 km of path
Directions
Palmer/Garden City Neighbourhood School ParkPark or garden · 7.4 ha · 1.5 km of path
Directions
Manoah Steves Neighbourhood School ParkPark or garden · 8.3 ha · 0.8 km of path
Directions
Middle Arm TrailPark or garden · 4.4 ha · 2.7 km of path
Directions
Westwind Neighbourhood School ParkPark or garden · 5.5 ha · 1.5 km of path
Directions
McNair Neighbourhood School ParkPark or garden · 5.9 ha · 1.2 km of path
Directions
Horseshoe SloughPark or garden · 5.2 ha · 1.4 km of path
Directions
Tait Waterfront ParkPark or garden · 4.1 ha · 2 km of path
Directions

Source: 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 9 in 10 in Richmond

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 (94%)Further (6.5%)
Richmond94%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%

Few do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%. Around 16,000 residents are further than 400 m from a park.

Protected areas

The 73 protected areas near Richmond

Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.

Inside Richmond3.2%
Within 10 km21%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%

On public land: 54 of the 73. The others are private conservation land. The largest named one is Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area, at 11,770 ha. The count includes 19 areas that are private or not recorded as public; they aren’t named.

Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 7,775 ha · reaches Richmond
South Arm Marshes Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 235 ha · reaches Richmond
Fraser Islands Regional Park ReserveNature reserve · 198 ha · reaches Richmond
Sea Island Conservation AreaNature reserve · 141 ha · reaches Richmond
GrauerNature reserve · 50 ha · reaches Richmond
Iona Beach Regional ParkNature reserve · 2.3 ha · reaches Richmond
Pacific Spirit Regional ParkNature reserve · 648 ha · 0.3 km from the edge of town
Everett Crowley ParkMunicipal park · 21 ha · 0.7 km from the edge of town
Roberts Bank Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 8,770 ha · 0.7 km from the edge of town
Alaksen National Wildlife AreaWildlife area · 342 ha · 0.8 km from the edge of town

11 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

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 27 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.

10 km20 km30 km40 kmNApodaca Park11 km north-westApodaca Park: 11 km north-west · 0.1 km²Gulf Islands National Park Reserve27 km southGulf Islands National Park Reserve: 27 km south · 67 km²Richmond
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park

Apodaca Park

11 km north-west0.1 km²since 1954
National park reserve

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

27 km south67 km²since 2010

Nearer still is Apodaca Park, a provincial park 11 km away.

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: 455 km in and around Richmond

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
455 km
in and around the town (225.8 km²)
Woodland
3.6%
about 8 km² of mapped woods

Footpaths · km per km²

RichmondTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths2
01.53 km per km²

Share of the land · mapped woods and forest

RichmondTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland3.6%
0%50%100%

67% of Canadian towns are more wooded. Paths are denser here than in 56% 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

2 mapped routes to walk from Richmond

Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.

RegionalLocal
BC Parkway29.8 km
Iva Mann Loop Walk17.2 km

The longest of the rest is the BC Parkway, 29.8 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 Richmond: May to September

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Vancouver International (Airport) (4.8 km), and daylight at the town’s latitude. Good months: 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15–30 °C, little rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daylight (h)8.610.111.713.615.316.215.814.412.510.79.08.2
High (°C)78101317202222191497
Rain & snow (mm)17491106865951343652124175172

The yearly snowfall is near 37 cm. From 7 °C in December to 22 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. July is the driest month at 34 mm; November the wettest at 175 mm. The climate in Richmond →

Beaches

Beaches near Richmond: 31 within 5 km

Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.

Iona Beachsand · 0.1 km from town
Directions
Wreck Beachsand · 0.3 km from town
Directions
Gay Beach0.7 km from town
Directions
Tower Beachstone · 0.9 km from town
Directions
Acada Beach (Wreck Beach portion)gravel · 2.7 km from town
Directions
Acada Beachgravel · 2.8 km from town
Directions
Spanish Banks Beachsand · 3.7 km from town
Directions
Locarno Beachsand · 4.4 km from town
Directions

Within 5 km is 78 km of coastline. Unnamed on the map: 23 more. OpenStreetMap marks 4 as sandy. 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

61 viewpoints near Richmond

Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.

The highest named peak nearby is Mount Everett, at 77 m. There are 363 playgrounds, more than of anything else.

Every named place, with directions

Viewpoints 61

26R Spotting Locationin town
Directions
Iona Terminusin town
Directions
Pumphouse Towerin town
Directions
South Terminal Viewing Platformin town
Directions
Dover Beach0.0 km from town
Directions
No 2 Road Pier0.1 km from town
Directions
Chung Chuck Lookout0.3 km from town
Directions
Ladner Harbour Point Viewing Stand0.3 km from town
Directions

Plus 53 viewpoints without a name on the map.

Hills and peaks 2

Mount Everett77 m · 1.0 km from town
Directions

Plus 1 peak without a name on the map.

Nature reserves 2

Purfleet Point Park Reserve0.4 km from town
Directions
Ecological Reserve #741.9 km from town
Directions

Picnic sites 12

Plus 12 picnic sites without a name on the map.

Playgrounds 363

Artistic Court Playgroundin town
Directions
Blundell Elementary School Playgroundin town
Directions
Granville Greene Playgroundin town
Directions
Hampton Gate Playgroundin town
Directions
Jade Playgroundin town
Directions
JelloLand Playgroundin town
Directions
Little Wings Outdoor Areain town
Directions
Mohali Playgroundin town
Directions

Plus 355 playgrounds without a name on the map.

Dog parks 16

Aberdeen Neighbourhood Dog Off-Leash Areain town
Directions
Animal Relief Areain town
Directions
London/Steveston Dog Parkin town
Directions
No. 3 Road Bark Parkin town
Directions
Woodwards Slough Dog Parkin town
Directions
Queensborough Off-leash Dog Park1.1 km from town
Directions
Westside Dog Off Leash Area1.2 km from town
Directions
Dog Off Leash Area2.0 km from town
Directions

Plus 8 dog parks without a name on the map.

Campsites 2

Woodward's Landing Campgroundin town
Directions
Muskrat Meadows0.8 km from town
Directions

Slipways 6

Plus 6 slipways without a name on the map.

Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Gardens to visit

6 gardens and historic parks to visit near Richmond

Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.

Nitobe Memorial GardenGarden or park · 0.9 km from town
Directions
Central ParkGarden or park · 3.2 km from town
Directions
VanDusen Botanical GardenGarden or park · 3.8 km from town
Directions
Queen Elizabeth ParkGarden or park · 4.2 km from town
Directions
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese GardenGarden or park · 8.3 km from town
Directions
Stanley ParkNational Historic Site · 9.8 km from town
Its page

A National Historic Site is among them.

Sources: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, and Wikidata (CC0), as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic places from Parks Canada’s Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel.

Next door

Next to Richmond

The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.

MarpoleOakridgeSunsetKerrisdaleVictoria-FraserviewMusqueam 2Richmond
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
TownProtected within 10 kmAreasRoutesBeaches
Richmond21%73231
Marpole 6.0 km17%1305
Oakridge 7.8 km13%11023
Sunset 7.8 km6.9%1509
Kerrisdale 8.0 km18%11033
Victoria-Fraserview 8.7 km3.1%1524
Musqueam 2 9.3 km21%8125

None of its neighbours has twice the protected land around it that Richmond has.

How to read these numbers

What this data can and can’t tell you

  • Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
  • Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
  • National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
  • 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.
  • Protected land. Measured on CPCAD’s outlines: the part of a 10 km band around the town that lies in a protected or conserved area, water included.

Questions about the outdoors in Richmond

How far is Richmond from a national park?

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 27 km from the edge of town.

Is there protected land near Richmond?

Protected areas cover 21% of the land within 10 km.

What is the nearest beach to Richmond?

Try Iona Beach, 0.1 km from town, first of several.

Are there hiking trails near Richmond?

OpenStreetMap maps the BC Parkway and Iva Mann Loop Walk close by, with others.

What is the best season to get outdoors in Richmond?

May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.

What is the biggest park or reserve near Richmond?

Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area: 11,770 ha, a wildlife area.

What is the nearest provincial park to Richmond?

Apodaca Park, 11 km away.

Sources

Where Richmond’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.

Gardens: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden) and Wikidata gardens within 15 km, as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic gardens and parks from Canada’s heritage registers (Parks Canada DFHD, the Canadian Register of Historic Places, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel).

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).