First pick
Elgin Eco Park
Park or garden
1.3 ha0.1 km of path
3.8 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain13%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Elgin · parks, protected land & trails
The boundary of Fundy National Park runs along Elgin
32 areas within 10 km are protected for nature. Protected areas cover 13% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. OpenStreetMap shows 2 walking routes nearby, including the Dobson Trail and East Branch Trail.
Protected land
13%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
32
within 10 km, 26 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
At the edge
Fundy National Park
Nearest provincial park
30 km
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Elgin, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Next to a national parkFundy National Park starts at the edge of townProtected land all round13% of the land within 10 km, more than 91% of Canadian townsMany protected areas26 public areas within 10 km
For someone who likes to get outside, Elgin’s draw is Fundy National Park on its doorstep, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
Elgin 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 km13%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town3.2%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas26Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches2Beaches 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, Elgin ranks 5th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (1,255 to 2,587 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
Elgin13%
Towns its size1.6%
Towns in New Brunswick6%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Elgin26
Towns its size4
Towns in New Brunswick7
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Elgin2
Towns its size0
Towns in New Brunswick0
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Elgin sits near the top of its size group: 4 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anmore BC | 22% | 47% | 16 | 5 | 98 |
| 2 | Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska QC | 19% | 0% | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Gracefield QC | 19% | 19% | 34 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | East Preston NS | 16% | 6.3% | 20 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Elgin NB | 13% | 3.2% | 32 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | Clearwater BC | 7.7% | 4.1% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Roberval QC | 6.1% | 1.2% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague QC | 5.8% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | North Frontenac ON | 5.7% | 5.2% | 13 | 6 | 4 |
| 10 | Cap-Chat QC | 5.3% | 0.4% | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| 11 | Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards ON | 4.4% | 1.5% | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Saint-Polycarpe QC | 4.2% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Macassa ON | 4.1% | 0% | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Saint-Damien QC | 4% | 3.2% | 22 | 1 | 9 |
| 15 | Unity SK | 3.4% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sherwood ON | 3.4% | 0% | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | McNab SK | 2.6% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Mandeville QC | 2.5% | 1.8% | 19 | 4 | 7 |
| 19 | Esterhazy SK | 1.8% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | City Commercial Core ON | 1.8% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Caswell Hill SK | 1.4% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | Fossambault-sur-le-Lac QC | 1.3% | 7.8% | 15 | 0 | 14 |
| 23 | Pembina MB | 1.1% | 1.8% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Burrows-Keewatin MB | 1% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Elmwood AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | Hatley QC | 0.7% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 27 | Munroe West MB | 0.4% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Brooke-Alvinston ON | 0.3% | 0.2% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Rosedale AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Minchau AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Lunenburg NS | 0.1% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| 32 | Salisbury NB | 0.1% | 2.1% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Dufferin MB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Ekota AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 35 | Satoo AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Magrath AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Nanton AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Rimbey AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Sexsmith AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in Elgin
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
One park or wood to walk in, in or near Elgin
Elgin Eco Park is the largest, at 1.3 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
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
Few people in Elgin 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 (0%)Further (100%)
Elgin0%
Towns in New Brunswick8.3%
Typical Canadian town83%
A median Canadian town manages 83%. Around 1,300 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
Protected areas
Around Elgin, protected areas make up 13%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Elgin3.2%
Within 10 km13%
Towns in New Brunswick6%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 26 of the 32. The others are private conservation land. Fundy National Park is the biggest, 20,590 ha. The figures include 6 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Fundy National ParkNational park · 20,590 ha · reaches Elgin
4038100Nature reserve · 517 ha · reaches Elgin
4005200Nature reserve · 373 ha · reaches Elgin
4037900Nature reserve · 359 ha · reaches Elgin
4038000Nature reserve · 252 ha · reaches Elgin
4038600Nature reserve · 174 ha · reaches Elgin
Mount TomNature reserve · 152 ha · reaches Elgin
Lewis MountainNature reserve · 133 ha · reaches Elgin
4038500Nature reserve · 78 ha · reaches Elgin
Cat RoadNature reserve · 58 ha · reaches Elgin
16 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
The parks within reach of Elgin
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
Fundy National Park
At the edge206 km²since 1948
Provincial park
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
30 km south42 km²since 1998
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: 67 km in and around Elgin
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
67 km
in and around the town (639.4 km²)
Woodland
82%
about 522.5 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
ElginTowns in New BrunswickTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
ElginTowns in New BrunswickTypical Canadian town
Woodland82%
0%50%100%
85% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km². More of it is wooded than in 96% 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
Elgin has 2 named walking routes
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalOther waymarked
Dobson Trail62.2 km
East Branch Trail4.9 km
The Dobson Trail is the big one locally: 62.2 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Get out in Elgin in June to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Alma/Fundy Park (28 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) | 9.0 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°C) | -2 | -1 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 146 | 108 | 147 | 116 | 118 | 123 | 105 | 84 | 129 | 155 | 145 | 153 |
Winter brings about 248 cm of snow. The warmest days come in August (23 °C highs), the coldest in January (-2 °C). For dry weather, August is best (84 mm); October gets 155 mm. The climate in Elgin →
Beaches
2 unnamed beaches near Elgin
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
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
Elgin has 3 viewpoints and 4 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Highest of the named peaks: Hayward Pinnacle, 399 m. Top of the list: hills and peaks, 19 of them.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 3
Plus 3 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 19
Boyd Mountainin town
DirectionsCarty Mountainin town
DirectionsCollier Mountainin town
DirectionsFlint Hillin town
DirectionsGarland Mountainin town
DirectionsGowland Mountainin town
DirectionsHarrison Mountainin town
DirectionsHayward Pinnacle399 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 11 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 4
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Mapleton Acadian Forest Nature Preservein town
DirectionsMcManus Hill Protected Natural Area1.9 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Campsites 4
Camp Whisong - Girl Guidesin town
DirectionsGrassy Lake Campsitein town
DirectionsLakeview Campground0.3 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Elgin
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. Distances here run 14–29 km: that is how far the nearest places with figures are from Elgin.
PetitcodiacCardwellSalisburySalisburyCoverdaleElgin
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin | 13% | 32 | 2 | 2 |
| Petitcodiac 14 km | 0.7% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cardwell 21 km | 2.7% | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| Salisbury 21 km | 11% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Salisbury 23 km | 0.1% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Coverdale 29 km | 1.9% | 17 | 1 | 0 |
No place nearby has double Elgin’s share of protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- 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.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
Questions about the outdoors in Elgin
What is the nearest beach to Elgin?
The beaches mapped within 5 km have no names on the map.
What walking routes are near Elgin?
The Dobson Trail and East Branch Trail, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
Is there a provincial park near Elgin?
It is Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, 30 km away.
How much land around Elgin is protected?
Within 10 km, 13% of the land lies in protected areas.
Is Elgin near a national park?
Yes: Fundy National Park reaches the edge of Elgin.
Which is the biggest protected area near Elgin?
Fundy National Park, a national park of 20,590 ha.
When should you visit Elgin for the outdoors?
June to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
Sources
Sources for this page on Elgin
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).