First pick
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Park or garden
22 ha9.1 km of path
2 hto walk all 9.1 km of path
0.6 km south-eastfrom the centre
Laburnum Walk
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Wpcpey · CC BY-SA 4.013%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Shaughnessy · parks, protected land & trails
Few places match Shaughnessy for protected land nearby: more than 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Within 5 km are 55 beaches; Kitsilano Beach is the nearest. For a national park, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 41 km away. Cypress Park is the closest provincial park, at 12 km.
Protected land
13%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
12
within 10 km, 10 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
41 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
12 km
Cypress Park
Walking routes
1
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
55
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Shaughnessy, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round13% of the land within 10 km, more than 91% of Canadian townsBeaches55 beaches within 5 kmOn a national routeThe The Trans Canada Trail passes within 2 km
What Shaughnessy has most to offer outdoors is protected land around it, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Shaughnessy, 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. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
Protected within 10 km13%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas10Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes1Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches55Beaches 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, Shaughnessy ranks 4th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (7,910 to 8,158 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
Shaughnessy13%
Towns its size1.6%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Shaughnessy10
Towns its size3
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Shaughnessy1
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Shaughnessy’s strong point is protected land nearby, where 3 of 39 top it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaubassin East / Beaubassin-est NB | 27% | 2% | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | Morgan Creek BC | 17% | 1% | 157 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | Elmvale - Canterbury ON | 14% | 0% | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Shaughnessy BC | 13% | 0% | 12 | 1 | 55 |
| 5 | Clare NS | 11% | 5.8% | 43 | 0 | 19 |
| 6 | Lincoln NB | 6.8% | 3.8% | 26 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Kirkland Lake ON | 5% | 9.5% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Holdom BC | 4.9% | 0% | 19 | 2 | 48 |
| 9 | Woodbine AB | 4.6% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Dufferin Hill ON | 4.4% | 1.6% | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Al Ritchie SK | 4.4% | 39% | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | Haliburton Village ON | 4.1% | 2.6% | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 13 | Drayton Valley AB | 3.3% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Legacy AB | 3.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Rocky Mountain House AB | 2.9% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Broadview BC | 2.6% | 0% | 14 | 4 | 25 |
| 17 | Woodbine-Lumsden ON | 2.5% | 5.1% | 13 | 1 | 18 |
| 18 | Langstaff ON | 2.3% | 0% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Cornwall PE | 1.7% | 0% | 14 | 10 | 10 |
| 20 | Jackson ON | 1.6% | 3.2% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Talbot ON | 1.6% | 4.3% | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | Scenic Acres AB | 1.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Wolseley MB | 1.5% | 0% | 27 | 4 | 0 |
| 24 | Labrador City NL | 1.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | North Stormont ON | 1.2% | 1.8% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Cardinal ON | 0.8% | 0.9% | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | Otonabee-South Monaghan ON | 0.7% | 0.7% | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 28 | Lawson Heights SK | 0.7% | 8.1% | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 29 | Silverwood Heights SK | 0.6% | 1.6% | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 30 | Killarney/Glengarry AB | 0.6% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Bayham ON | 0.5% | 0.6% | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| 32 | Allard AB | 0.4% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | Lambton Baby Point ON | 0.3% | 7.1% | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| 34 | Charlesworth AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 35 | Queen Mary Park AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 36 | Acton Vale QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 37 | Taber AB | 0% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Harvest Hills AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Sage Hill AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Ottewell AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The map
Where the green is in Shaughnessy
The neighbourhood’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 Shaughnessy: 16 named parks and woods
VanDusen Botanical Garden is the largest, at 22 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
16 named parks and woods, 63 ha in all
Parks & gardens 63 ha
Add VanDusen Botanical Garden to Quilchena Park and you have 48% of it.
Quilchena Park
Park or garden
8.5 ha2.1 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
1.0 km westfrom the centre
Arbutus Greenway
Directionsto a point inside
Oak Meadows Park
Park or garden
4.7 ha1.3 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
1.1 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Douglas Park
Park or garden · 210 m outside town
5.3 ha0.4 km of path
1.3 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Montgomery Park
Park or garden · 200 m outside town
4.3 ha
1.5 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Prince of Wales Park
Park or garden · 340 m outside town
3.0 ha
1.5 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Arbutus Village Park
Park or garden · 210 m outside town
1.4 ha0.6 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
1.5 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 16 named parks and green spaces
VanDusen Botanical GardenPark or garden · 22 ha · 9.1 km of path
DirectionsQuilchena ParkPark or garden · 8.5 ha · 2.1 km of path
DirectionsOak Meadows ParkPark or garden · 4.7 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsDouglas ParkPark or garden · 5.3 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMontgomery ParkPark or garden · 4.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsPrince of Wales ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha · just outside town
DirectionsKerrisdale ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha
DirectionsArbutus Village ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGranville ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsKerrisdale Centennial ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDevonshire ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha
DirectionsRavine ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsShaughnessy ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsHeather ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBraemar ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsAngus ParkPark or garden · 0.9 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
9 in 10 people in Shaughnessy 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 (94%)Further (6.1%)
Shaughnessy94%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 500 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. The typical Canadian town manages 83%, so this is better.
Protected areas
The 12 protected areas near Shaughnessy
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Shaughnessy0%
Within 10 km13%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public bodies own 10 of the 12; land trusts and private owners hold the others. Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area leads for size with 7,775 ha. 2 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Sea Island Conservation AreaNature reserve · 141 ha · 2.5 km from the edge of town
Pacific Spirit Regional ParkNature reserve · 648 ha · 3.0 km from the edge of town
Stanley ParkProtected area · 302 ha · 3.6 km from the edge of town
Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 7,775 ha · 4.0 km from the edge of town
Iona Beach Regional ParkNature reserve · 2.3 ha · 4.6 km from the edge of town
Renfrew Ravine ParkMunicipal park · 4.6 ha · 6.0 km from the edge of town
Everett Crowley ParkMunicipal park · 21 ha · 6.8 km from the edge of town
Captain Cook ParkMunicipal park · 3.7 ha · 7.0 km from the edge of town
GrauerNature reserve · 50 ha · 7.9 km from the edge of town
Capilano River Regional ParkNature reserve · 100 ha · 7.9 km from the edge of town
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, 41 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
Cypress Park
12 km north30 km²since 1975
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
41 km south67 km²since 2010
A provincial park is closer: Cypress Park, at 12 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: 46 km in and around Shaughnessy
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
46 km
in and around the town (16.7 km²)
Woodland
0.5%
about 0.1 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
ShaughnessyTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths2.8
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
ShaughnessyTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland0.5%
0%50%100%
It has more footpath per km² than 68% of Canadian towns. For woods, 86% of Canadian towns have more.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
Shaughnessy is on the The Trans Canada Trail
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
National
The Trans Canada Trail195.9 km
The The Trans Canada Trail (196 km) keeps within 2 km of town for 4.6 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Shaughnessy is best on foot in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Vancouver (Harbour) (6.3 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 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 237 | 117 | 163 | 118 | 73 | 66 | 44 | 49 | 71 | 157 | 245 | 200 |
The yearly snowfall is near 37 cm. Precipitation runs from 44 mm in July to 245 mm in November. From 7 °C in December to 23 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. The climate in Shaughnessy →
Beaches
55 beaches within 5 km of Shaughnessy
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Kitsilano Beachsand · 2.1 km from town
DirectionsSecret Beachsand · 2.1 km from town
DirectionsSunset Beachsand · 2.3 km from town
DirectionsHadden Beachsand · 2.3 km from town
DirectionsEnglish Bay Beachsand · 3.2 km from town
DirectionsJericho Beachsand · 3.8 km from town
DirectionsSecond Beachsand · 4.1 km from town
DirectionsLocarno Beachsand · 4.7 km from town
DirectionsTrout Lake Beachsand · 4.8 km from town
DirectionsIona Beachsand · 4.8 km from town
DirectionsThe shoreline runs 40 km within 5 km of town. Sandy ones: 10. 45 more are mapped without a name. 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
Shaughnessy has 7 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.
The most common are playgrounds: 138 on the map. For a climb, Little Mountain rises to 152 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 7
Plus 7 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 2
Little Mountain152 m · 1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 peak without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 3
Plus 3 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Plus 1 nature reserve without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 138
Ecole Bilingue Small Playground0.1 km from town
DirectionsEcole Bilingue Big Playground0.2 km from town
DirectionsVancouver General Hospital Playground0.5 km from town
DirectionsMay Aacomachie Playground0.9 km from town
DirectionsThe Adventure Zone1.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 133 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 7
Off-Leash Dog Park for Small and Shy Dogs0.1 km from town
DirectionsOff-Leash Dog Park0.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 5 dog parks without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
Near Shaughnessy: 5 gardens and parks to visit
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
VanDusen Botanical GardenGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsQueen Elizabeth ParkGarden or park · 0.9 km from town
DirectionsDr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese GardenGarden or park · 3.0 km from town
DirectionsStanley ParkNational Historic Site · 4.7 km from town
Its pageNitobe Memorial GardenGarden or park · 8.0 km from town
DirectionsParks Canada lists one as a National Historic Site.
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 Shaughnessy
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
South CambieArbutus RidgeOakridgeFairviewRiley ParkKerrisdaleShaughnessy
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaughnessy | 13% | 12 | 1 | 55 |
| South Cambie 1.4 km | 8.6% | 13 | 2 | 49 |
| Arbutus Ridge 1.9 km | 15% | 12 | 2 | 62 |
| Oakridge 2.1 km | 13% | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| Fairview 2.2 km | 8.2% | 11 | 3 | 68 |
| Riley Park 2.3 km | 6.2% | 14 | 2 | 48 |
| Kerrisdale 2.4 km | 18% | 11 | 0 | 33 |
For protected land, no neighbour of Shaughnessy doubles its share. Fairview has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 3.
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.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- 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. 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. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
Questions about the outdoors in Shaughnessy
Is there protected land near Shaughnessy?
Yes: 13% of the land within 10 km is protected.
What walking routes are near Shaughnessy?
Try the The Trans Canada Trail.
What is the nearest beach to Shaughnessy?
Kitsilano Beach, 2.1 km from town, is the nearest mapped beach.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Shaughnessy?
Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area, a wildlife area of 7,775 ha.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Shaughnessy?
Cypress Park, 12 km from the edge of town.
When is the best time for walking in Shaughnessy?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Is Shaughnessy near a national park?
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is closest, at 41 km.
Sources
Sources for this page on Shaughnessy
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).