First pick
Vanguard Bay Recreation Site
Park or garden
597 ha
13 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain16%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast · parks, protected land & trails
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast has more protected land around it than 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Within 5 km are 37 beaches; Baker Beach is the nearest. The 10 km around town hold 27 protected areas. Within its own boundary, 11% of the town is protected.
Protected land
16%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
27
within 10 km, 20 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
87 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Skookumchuck Narrows Park
Beaches
37
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round16% of the land within 10 km, more than 93% of Canadian townsBeaches37 beaches within 5 kmMany protected areas20 public areas within 10 kmA provincial park at the edgeSkookumchuck Narrows Park reaches the town
For someone who likes to get outside, Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s draw is protected land around it, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast, 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. This page carries no grade, because Canada’s grading doesn’t cover the outdoors; the comparisons are the point.
Protected within 10 km16%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town11%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas20Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches37Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast comes 3rd of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (3,201 to 3,307 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
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast16%
Towns its size1.8%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast20
Towns its size3
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast0
Towns its size1
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s strong point is protected land nearby, where 2 of 39 top it. For walking routes, though, 22 of 39 are ahead.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis County, Subdivision D NS | 25% | 31% | 135 | 5 | 5 |
| 2 | Pictou NS | 24% | 0.5% | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast BC | 16% | 11% | 27 | 0 | 37 |
| 4 | Dalhousie NB | 13% | 0.2% | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | North Cypress-Langford MB | 9.8% | 6.1% | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Saint-André-d'Argenteuil QC | 7.4% | 7.4% | 46 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Central Okanagan West BC | 6.7% | 5.4% | 49 | 1 | 35 |
| 8 | Enderby BC | 5.7% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Greeningdon ON | 5.4% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Adstock QC | 5% | 8.3% | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | Hill Park ON | 4.9% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Marathon ON | 4.6% | 3% | 4 | 1 | 30 |
| 13 | St. Clair ON | 4.5% | 0% | 23 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Pilot Butte SK | 3.8% | 0% | 4 | 12 | 0 |
| 15 | Hampton NB | 3.7% | 1% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 16 | Lake City BC | 3.7% | 1.2% | 33 | 2 | 27 |
| 17 | Val-Morin QC | 2.5% | 5.7% | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| 18 | Normanhurst ON | 2% | 0% | 15 | 1 | 7 |
| 19 | Athlone AB | 2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Greater Madawaska ON | 1.8% | 1.6% | 10 | 1 | 8 |
| 21 | North Algona Wilberforce ON | 1.8% | 4.6% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 | Point Road MB | 1.5% | 0.2% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Erlton AB | 1.2% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 24 | Jasper Park AB | 1.1% | 0% | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Sturgeon Creek MB | 1% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 37 |
| 26 | Canossa AB | 0.9% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Bonavista NL | 0.7% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 28 | Seven Oaks MB | 0.4% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Rosslyn AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Stoke QC | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 31 | Bulyea Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | Miller AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Weinlos AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 34 | Hazeldean AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | Saint-Christophe-d'Arthabaska QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Sainte-Clotilde QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Coalhurst AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Beverly Heights AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | Holyrood AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 40 | Westwood AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The map
The green map of Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
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 Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast: 3 named parks and woods
Largest first: Vanguard Bay Recreation Site leads with 597 ha. Numbers match the map.
Klein Lake Recreation Site
Park or garden
132 ha
13 km northfrom the centre
Suncoaster Trail
Directionsto a point inside
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
Most of Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast is more than a short walk from 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 (0%)Further (100%)
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast0%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
About 3,300 residents live further than 400 m from one. The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, above this.
Protected areas
The 27 protected areas near Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast11%
Within 10 km16%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 27, 20 are public land; the others are privately held. Clendinning Park leads for size with 30,330 ha. 7 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Spipiyus ParkProvincial park · 2,979 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Princess Louisa Marine ParkProvincial park · 964 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Ambrose Lake Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 295 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Garden Bay Marine ParkProvincial park · 163 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Skookumchuck Narrows ParkProvincial park · 123 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Francis Point ParkProvincial park · 83 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Harmony Islands Marine ParkProvincial park · 46 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Francis Point Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 17 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Hardy Island Marine ParkProvincial park · 14 ha · reaches Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Saltery Bay ParkProvincial park · 69 ha · 2.7 km from the edge of town
7 more named areas within 10 km are in the figures.
3 areas recorded only by their type (provincial layers such as wildlife habitat areas) are 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
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 87 km off
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
Spipiyus Park
At the edge30 km²since 1999
Provincial park
Princess Louisa Marine Park
At the edge9.6 km²since 1965
Provincial park
Garden Bay Marine Park
At the edge1.6 km²since 1969
Provincial park
Skookumchuck Narrows Park
At the edge1.2 km²since 1957
Provincial park
Francis Point Park
At the edge0.8 km²since 2004
Provincial park
Harmony Islands Marine Park
At the edge0.5 km²since 1992
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
Paths to walk: 214 km in and around Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
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
214 km
in and around the town (2,426.4 km²)
Woodland
62%
about 1,514.8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Electoral Area A, Sunshine CoastTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Electoral Area A, Sunshine CoastTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland62%
0%50%100%
For path density, 87% of Canadian towns do better. It is more wooded than 88% 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 Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
The map shows no named route near the town. That says more about OpenStreetMap’s coverage than about the paths on the ground.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast is best on foot in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Comox (64 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) | 8.6 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.3 | 16.3 | 15.9 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| High (°C) | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 177 | 112 | 108 | 64 | 40 | 42 | 24 | 31 | 47 | 125 | 189 | 194 |
Rain and snow peak in December (194 mm) and ease in July (24 mm). The warmest days come in July (23 °C highs), the coldest in December (6 °C). The climate in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast →
Beaches
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast has 37 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Baker Beachgravel · in town
DirectionsHarry's Beachmixed · in town
DirectionsBackhouse Road Beachgravel · 1.1 km from town
DirectionsRose Beach2.9 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap maps 588 km of coastline within 5 km. Another 33 have no name on the map. 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
Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast has 26 viewpoints and 18 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
26Viewpoints78Hills and peaks18Waterfalls14Nature reserves1Picnic sites1Playgrounds16Campsites2Slipways
For a climb, Mount Albert rises to 2,540 m. The most common are hills and peaks: 78 on the map.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 26
Inspiration Pointin town
DirectionsSakinaw Bluffin town
DirectionsGood View0.3 km from town
DirectionsEdge of the World1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 22 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 78
Ashdown Peak1,711 m · in town
DirectionsBarkshack Peak1,971 m · in town
DirectionsBurh Peak1,753 m · in town
DirectionsCastor Peak1,457 m · in town
DirectionsCecil Hill439 m · in town
DirectionsChickwat Peak1,937 m · in town
DirectionsCulloden Peak1,488 m · in town
DirectionsDeserted Peak2,159 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 70 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 18
Albert Fallsin town
DirectionsChatterbox Fallsin town
DirectionsFreil Lake Fallsin town
DirectionsHarmony Fallsin town
DirectionsJames Bruce Fallsin town
DirectionsOne Eye Fallsin town
DirectionsSnake Fallsin town
DirectionsSoda Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsPlus 10 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 14
Ambrose Lake Ecological Reservein town
DirectionsDan Bosch Parkin town
DirectionsJohn Daly Parkin town
DirectionsNelson Island Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsOyster Bay Nature Reservein town
DirectionsPender Hill Parkin town
DirectionsSakinaw Lake-e. Arm Recreation Reservein town
DirectionsSpipiyus Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 6 nature reserves more.
Picnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 1
Plus 1 playground without a name on the map.
Campsites 16
Camp Burleyin town
DirectionsCockburn Roberts Homesitein town
DirectionsCrapapple Creek Campsitein town
DirectionsGarden Bay RV Resort / Park & Campgroundin town
DirectionsJurrasic Park Campsitein town
DirectionsKlein Lake Camgroundin town
DirectionsSweetwater Springin town
DirectionsWillies Cove Campsitein town
DirectionsPlus 8 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 2
Plus 2 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. No closer places have figures: these lie 16–37 km from Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast.
Welcome BeachSecheltElectoral Area C, qathetElectoral Area D, qathetRoberts CreekElectoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast | 16% | 27 | 0 | 37 |
| Welcome Beach 16 km | 15% | 37 | 0 | 60 |
| Sechelt 25 km | 7.5% | 17 | 0 | 24 |
| Electoral Area C, qathet 30 km | 5.9% | 9 | 18 | 12 |
| Electoral Area D, qathet 32 km | 2.5% | 23 | 0 | 7 |
| Roberts Creek 37 km | 11% | 20 | 0 | 26 |
More routes are mapped around Electoral Area C, qathet (18). For protected land, no neighbour of Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast doubles its share.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- 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.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
Questions about the outdoors in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast
How far is the nearest provincial park from Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast?
Skookumchuck Narrows Park touches the town.
Which is the biggest protected area near Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast?
It is Clendinning Park, a provincial park covering 30,330 ha.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Is Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast near a national park?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is closest, at 87 km.
Where can you swim near Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast?
Try Baker Beach, in town, first of several.
How much land around Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast is protected?
Within 10 km, 16% of the land lies in protected areas.
Sources
The sources behind Electoral Area A, Sunshine Coast’s outdoors figures
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).