First pick
Oak Lake Sand Hills
Wood or forest · 50 m outside town
526 ha2.9 km of path
40 minto walk all 2.9 km of path
18 km westfrom the centre
Snoman Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Words in the Wind · CC BY-SA 4.00.5%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Souris · parks, protected land & trails
From Souris, Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Park is the nearest provincial park (32 km)
The largest named area nearby is Brandon Hills Wildlife Management Area, 762 ha, 9.9 km away. Within 10 km of the town, 0.5% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. The nearest national park is Riding Mountain National Park, 92 km away.
Protected land
0.5%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
13
within 10 km, 2 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
92 km
Riding Mountain National Park
Nearest provincial park
32 km
Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Park
Against other towns
How Souris 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 km0.5%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 areas2Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Souris has the 10th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (2,703 to 2,770 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
Souris0.5%
Towns its size2.4%
Towns in Manitoba1.1%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Souris2
Towns its size7
Towns in Manitoba12
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Souris0
Towns its size0
Towns in Manitoba0
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Souris lags towns its size: 30 of 39 are ahead.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria County, Subdivision A NS | 33% | 54% | 152 | 3 | 59 |
| 2 | Highlands BC | 24% | 41% | 40 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Waskaganish QC | 24% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Electoral Area E, Peace River BC | 19% | 24% | 25 | 2 | 103 |
| 5 | Holyrood NL | 19% | 3.2% | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel QC | 18% | 23% | 83 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Musquodoboit Harbour NS | 16% | 28% | 50 | 1 | 17 |
| 8 | Meadow Lake No. 588 SK | 13% | 15% | 25 | 3 | 4 |
| 9 | Little Current ON | 13% | 10% | 36 | 0 | 5 |
| 10 | Eastman QC | 11% | 7.4% | 49 | 5 | 7 |
| 11 | Waterridge Village ON | 11% | 9.2% | 39 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Maria QC | 9.5% | 1% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Marritt ON | 7.2% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Freelton ON | 5.6% | 1.6% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Cochrane, Unorganized, North Part ON | 5.1% | 4.9% | 81 | 0 | 28 |
| 16 | Russell MB | 4.9% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Vars ON | 3.8% | 1.4% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Bonaventure QC | 3.7% | 1.5% | 7 | 0 | 11 |
| 19 | Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse QC | 3.6% | 0% | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Trinity ON | 2.6% | 2.8% | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| 21 | Wakefield NB | 2.2% | 0.8% | 22 | 0 | 13 |
| 22 | Sussex NB | 2.1% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | Division No. 8, Subdivision L NL | 1.9% | 0.2% | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | Woodcroft AB | 1.9% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Gore QC | 1.6% | 2.3% | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | Eastdale ON | 1.6% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 8 |
| 27 | Central River Heights MB | 1.5% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Tuxedo Industrial MB | 1.4% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 36 |
| 29 | Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley BC | 1.1% | 3.5% | 28 | 3 | 6 |
| 30 | Upper Mount Royal AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 31 | Souris MB | 0.5% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Talbot-Grey MB | 0.5% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Electoral Area I, Central Kootenay BC | 0.2% | 0.1% | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 34 | Rivergrove MB | 0.2% | 4.7% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Wickham QC | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 36 | Kameyosek AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 37 | Lee Ridge AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 38 | Plessisville QC | 0% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| 39 | Kuujjuaq QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | Country Hills Village AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in Souris
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
2 named parks and woods to walk in near Souris
Oak Lake Sand Hills is the largest, at 526 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
Souris & Glenwood Agricultural Society
Park or garden
13 ha
1.3 km south-eastfrom the centre
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
A park is within a short walk for 3 in 10 in Souris
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 (26%)Further (74%)
Souris26%
Towns in Manitoba97%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town reaches 83%. About 2,000 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
Souris has 13 protected areas within 10 km
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Souris0%
Within 10 km0.5%
Towns in Manitoba1.1%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 13, 2 are public land; the others are privately held. The largest named one is Brandon Hills Wildlife Management Area, at 762 ha. Another 11 are privately owned conservation land; they count in the figures but aren’t named, as private land isn’t a place to visit.
Riverside Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 85 ha · 3.9 km from the edge of town
Brandon Hills Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 762 ha · 9.9 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
Riding Mountain National Park is 92 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.
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park
Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Park
32 km east1.3 km²since 2004
National park
Riding Mountain National Park
92 km north2,968 km²since 1929
Closer to home, Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Park is 32 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: 32 km in and around Souris
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
32 km
in and around the town (684.3 km²)
Woodland
5.6%
about 38.3 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
SourisTowns in ManitobaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
SourisTowns in ManitobaTypical Canadian town
Woodland5.6%
0%50%100%
For woods, 59% of Canadian towns have more. For path density, 93% of Canadian towns do better.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
No named walking route passes Souris on the map
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
OpenStreetMap has no named walking route within 2 km of the town. Trails may exist without being mapped as routes.
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 Souris: May, August and September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Brandon (39 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) | -11 | -9 | -2 | 10 | 17 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 0 | -9 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 18 | 14 | 24 | 27 | 65 | 98 | 72 | 56 | 43 | 32 | 20 | 22 |
The yearly snowfall is near 128 cm. June is the wettest month (98 mm) and February the driest (14 mm). From -11 °C in January to 25 °C in August: that is the range of daytime highs. The climate in Souris →
Things to do
8 things to do outdoors near Souris
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
There are 3 hills and peaks, more than of anything else.
Every named place, with directions
Picnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 1
Elks Playgroundin town
DirectionsCampsites 1
Victoria Park Campgroundin town
DirectionsSlipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Souris
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. The nearest places to Souris with figures are 21–30 km away.
WhiteheadGrasslandSioux Valley Dakota NationSouris
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Souris | 0.5% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Whitehead 21 km | 0.7% | 22 | 0 | 3 |
| Grassland 25 km | 1.2% | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Sioux Valley Dakota Nation 30 km | 1.3% | 14 | 0 | 1 |
For protected land, Grassland and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation have twice as much or more.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- 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. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
Questions about the outdoors in Souris
How far is Souris from a national park?
Riding Mountain National Park, 92 km from the edge of town.
Are there protected areas near Souris?
Protected areas cover 0.5% of the land within 10 km.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Souris?
It is Brandon Hills Wildlife Management Area, a wildlife area covering 762 ha.
When is the best time for walking in Souris?
May, August and September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
What is the nearest provincial park to Souris?
Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Park, 32 km away.
Sources
Sources for this page on Souris
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).