First pick
Musgrave Green Belt
Park or garden
37 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
13 km southfrom the centre
Musgrave Coast Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.06.7%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Saltspring Island · parks, protected land & trails
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve reaches Saltspring Island
The 10 km around town hold 109 protected areas. Swimmers have 44 beaches within 5 km, Arbutus Beach the nearest. The protected share within 10 km is 6.7%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%.
Protected land
6.7%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
109
within 10 km, 30 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
At the edge
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Mount Maxwell Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
44
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Saltspring Island apart outdoors
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 townBeaches44 beaches within 5 kmMany protected areas30 public areas within 10 kmProtected land all round6.7% of the land within 10 km, more than 77% of Canadian towns
For someone who likes to get outside, Saltspring Island’s draw is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on its doorstep, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Saltspring Island beside other Canadian towns, figure by figure
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 km6.7%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town17%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas30Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes3Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches44Beaches 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, Saltspring Island ranks 7th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (12,194 to 12,706 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
Saltspring Island6.7%
Towns its size1.9%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Saltspring Island30
Towns its size4
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Saltspring Island3
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Saltspring Island tops all 39 other towns its size.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cantley QC | 21% | 1.2% | 32 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Elliot Lake ON | 18% | 7.2% | 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Orleans Village - Chateauneuf ON | 14% | 0% | 35 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Summerland BC | 11% | 7.5% | 25 | 0 | 45 |
| 5 | Bridlewood AB | 7.7% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine QC | 7.3% | 6.1% | 46 | 0 | 94 |
| 7 | Saltspring Island BC | 6.7% | 17% | 109 | 3 | 44 |
| 8 | Rothesay NB | 5.5% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 37 |
| 9 | Saint-Hippolyte QC | 4.2% | 6.9% | 21 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Humber Summit ON | 3.6% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Highland Creek ON | 3.5% | 0.6% | 14 | 0 | 5 |
| 12 | Moncton NB | 3.4% | 1.4% | 27 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Chaparral AB | 3.2% | 9.8% | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 14 | Carignan QC | 2.7% | 2.1% | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Yonge-Eglinton ON | 2.6% | 0% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 16 | Grenet QC | 2.5% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Spring Valley ON | 2.4% | 8.4% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Woodbine Corridor ON | 2.3% | 0% | 13 | 3 | 34 |
| 19 | Bromont QC | 2.2% | 2% | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| 20 | Dovercourt Village ON | 2.1% | 0% | 11 | 3 | 13 |
| 21 | Kings County, Subdivision B NS | 1.7% | 5.9% | 19 | 2 | 9 |
| 22 | Bayview Woods-Steeles ON | 1.7% | 17% | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Forest Hill North ON | 1.5% | 0% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 24 | Royal Oak AB | 1.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | Highland West ON | 1.3% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Winchester ON | 1.2% | 0.6% | 28 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Meaford ON | 1.1% | 2.1% | 70 | 4 | 21 |
| 28 | River Park South MB | 1.1% | 2.1% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Tyndall Park MB | 1.1% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Wellesley ON | 1% | 0% | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 31 | Windsor Park MB | 0.8% | 0.2% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Blackfalds AB | 0.6% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Chalmers MB | 0.6% | 0% | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | Lac Ste. Anne County AB | 0.5% | 0.4% | 33 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | Alderwood ON | 0.3% | 0% | 5 | 1 | 12 |
| 36 | Uptown ON | 0.3% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Varsity AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 38 | Norwich ON | 0.2% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 39 | Etobicoke West Mall ON | 0.2% | 0% | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 40 | DT Hospital ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
The map
The green map of Saltspring Island
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 Saltspring Island: 30 named parks and woods
The biggest is Musgrave Green Belt, 37 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 146 ha in all
Parks & gardens 146 ha
Between them, Musgrave Green Belt and Bryant Hill Park cover 47%.
Bryant Hill Park
Park or garden
32 ha2.3 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.3 km of path
7.9 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Mouat Park
Park or garden
25 ha3.2 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.2 km of path
0.9 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Duck Creek Park
Park or garden
13 ha2.4 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.4 km of path
4.7 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Peter Arnell Park
Park or garden
13 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
8.2 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Bryant Hill Linear Park
Park or garden
2.4 ha1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
7.6 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Dunbabin Park
Park or garden
2.8 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
2.7 km northfrom the centre
Dunbabin Trail
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Musgrave Green BeltPark or garden · 37 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsBryant Hill ParkPark or garden · 32 ha · 2.3 km of path
DirectionsMouat ParkPark or garden · 25 ha · 3.2 km of path
DirectionsDuck Creek ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 2.4 km of path
DirectionsPeter Arnell ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsBryant Hill Linear ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsPortlock ParkPark or garden · 4.0 ha
DirectionsDunbabin ParkPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsRainbow Road Recreation CentrePark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsHighbridge Village Park (Channel Ridge)Park or garden · 2.3 ha
DirectionsGladys Pringle Linear ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsLyonesse Linear ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsFulford BallparkPark or garden · 1.6 ha
DirectionsWelbury Bay ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsChurchill Road Linear ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsTrincomali Heights Linear ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha
DirectionsBeddis Road ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsBullock Lake Linear Park No. 1Park or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsCudmore Height Park and Wilkie WayPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsWebster Drive Park ReservePark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsDrummond ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsBullock Lake Linear Park No. 2Park or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsIdol IslandPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsRotary ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsKanaka Road Skateboard ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsSalt Spring Lions Commemorative Bike ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsDuck Bay Island ParksPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsMusgrave IslandPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsFulford Tennis CourtPark or garden · 0.3 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 3 in 10 in Saltspring Island
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 (31%)Further (69%)
Saltspring Island31%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town reaches 83%. Around 8,600 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
Protected areas
6.7% of the land around Saltspring Island 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 Saltspring Island17%
Within 10 km6.7%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
30 of the 109 are on public land. The largest named one is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, at 6,731 ha. The figures include 28 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Gulf Islands National Park ReserveNational park reserve · 6,731 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Ruckle ParkProvincial park · 529 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Burgoyne Bay ParkProvincial park · 524 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Mount Maxwell Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 418 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Mount Tuam Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 362 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Mill Farm Regional Park ReserveMunicipal park · 315 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Mount Maxwell ParkProvincial park · 231 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Mount Erskine ParkProvincial park · 107 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Mt Erskine SummitNature reserve · 41 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
Beaver Point ParkProvincial park · 16 ha · reaches Saltspring Island
2 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
Parks around Saltspring Island
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
Ruckle Park
At the edge5.3 km²since 1974
Provincial park
Burgoyne Bay Park
At the edge5.2 km²since 2004
Provincial park
Mount Maxwell Park
At the edge2.3 km²since 1938
Provincial park
Mount Erskine Park
At the edge1.1 km²since 2007
Provincial park
Beaver Point Park
At the edge0.2 km²since 1949
6 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
Saltspring Island has 230 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
230 km
in and around the town (285.5 km²)
Woodland
56%
about 159.4 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Saltspring IslandTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.8
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Saltspring IslandTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland56%
0%50%100%
It is more wooded than 86% of Canadian towns. 60% 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
3 walking routes near Saltspring Island
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
LocalOther waymarked
Blue Trail5.3 km
Yellow Trail4.2 km
Armand Trail2.6 km
At 5.3 km, the Blue Trail is the longest local route.
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 Saltspring Island: May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Victoria (Airport) (24 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 | 16.2 | 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 |
January is the wettest month (155 mm) and July the driest (20 mm). In July the typical high is 23 °C; in December, 7 °C. A typical year sees 39 cm of snow. The climate in Saltspring Island →
Beaches
Saltspring Island has 44 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Arbutus Beachrock · in town
DirectionsBader Beachin town
DirectionsBaker Beachin town
DirectionsBeachside Drive Beachin town
DirectionsChocolate Beachin town
DirectionsCusheon Lake Beachin town
DirectionsDrummond Park Beachin town
DirectionsGrantville Street Beachin town
DirectionsIsabella Point Road Beachin town
DirectionsJack Foster Beach Eastin town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap shows 13 more, nameless. The shoreline runs 393 km within 5 km of town. 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
Saltspring Island has 30 viewpoints and 6 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
30Viewpoints9Hills and peaks6Waterfalls28Nature reserves2Picnic sites15Playgrounds1Dog parks9Campsites8Slipways
Most numerous: viewpoints (30). Among the peaks, Bruce Peak is highest at 709 m.
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 9
Baynes Peak602 m · in town
DirectionsBruce Peak709 m · in town
DirectionsHope Hill625 m · in town
DirectionsMount Belcher399 m · in town
DirectionsMount Erskine448 m · in town
DirectionsMount Sulivan609 m · in town
DirectionsMount Tuam606 m · in town
DirectionsStoney Hill201 m · 1.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 peak more.
Nature reserves 28
Alvin Indridson Nature Reservein town
DirectionsAndreas Vogt Nature Reservein town
DirectionsBader's Beach Ravine Park Reservein town
DirectionsBlackburn Lake Nature Reservein town
DirectionsBlackburn Road Park Reservein town
DirectionsBuhlman Road Park Reservein town
DirectionsCormorant Crescent Park Reservein town
DirectionsCreekside Nature Reservein town
DirectionsPlus 20 nature reserves more.
Picnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 15
Plus 15 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 9
Garden Fairein town
DirectionsGroup Campsitein town
DirectionsMowhinna Creek Campgroundin town
DirectionsRuckle Park, Walk-in Campingin town
DirectionsConovoer Cove Campsite (BCMT)1.6 km from town
DirectionsCabin Bay Campsite (BCMT)1.7 km from town
DirectionsChivers Point Campsite (BCMT)1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 8
Plus 8 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Saltspring Island
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
North CowichanCowichan BayCowichanDuncanSouthern Gulf IslandsElectoral Area E, Cowichan ValleySaltspring Island
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saltspring Island | 6.7% | 109 | 3 | 44 |
| North Cowichan 14 km | 3.9% | 72 | 7 | 10 |
| Cowichan Bay 16 km | 4.2% | 64 | 2 | 10 |
| Cowichan 17 km | 5.9% | 58 | 3 | 4 |
| Duncan 17 km | 1.9% | 31 | 2 | 1 |
| Southern Gulf Islands 17 km | 6.2% | 115 | 0 | 83 |
| Electoral Area E, Cowichan Valley 18 km | 2.8% | 42 | 3 | 2 |
None of its neighbours has twice the protected land around it that Saltspring Island has. North Cowichan has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 7.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- 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.
- 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.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
Questions about the outdoors in Saltspring Island
Is there protected land near Saltspring Island?
Yes: 6.7% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Are there hiking trails near Saltspring Island?
Try the Armand Trail, Blue Trail and Yellow Trail; more are on the map.
Is there a beach near Saltspring Island?
Arbutus Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
How far is Saltspring Island from a national park?
Yes: Gulf Islands National Park Reserve reaches the edge of Saltspring Island.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Saltspring Island?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve: 6,731 ha, a national park reserve.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Saltspring Island?
Mount Maxwell Park touches the town.
When is the best time for walking in Saltspring Island?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Sources
Sources for this page on Saltspring Island
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).