First pick
Beaver Mountain Provincial Park
Park or garden
138 ha5.5 km of path
1 h 15 minto walk all 5.5 km of path
12 km south-westfrom the centre
Long Loop
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain11%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Antigonish County, Subdivision A · parks, protected land & trails
Few places match Antigonish County, Subdivision A for protected land nearby: more than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns
CPCAD lists 128 protected areas within 10 km. For a swim, Cribbons Beach is the nearest of 17 beaches within 5 km. For walks, the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) runs within 2 km.
Protected land
11%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
128
within 10 km, 125 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
82 km
Prince Edward Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Arisaig Provincial Park
Walking routes
1
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
17
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Antigonish County, Subdivision A has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round11% of the land within 10 km, more than 87% of Canadian townsMany protected areas125 public areas within 10 kmBeaches17 beaches within 5 kmOn a national routeThe International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) passes within 2 km
Out of doors, Antigonish County, Subdivision A leads with protected land around it, with the number of public protected areas close by close behind.
Against other towns
How Antigonish County, Subdivision A 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 km11%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town9.3%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas125Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes1Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches17Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Antigonish County, Subdivision A comes 6th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (9,465 to 9,903 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Electoral Area C (Puntledge - Black Creek), Comox ValleyOlds
012%24%
Protected within 10 km
Antigonish County, Subdivision A11%
Towns its size2.2%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Antigonish County, Subdivision A125
Towns its size4
Towns in Nova Scotia24
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Antigonish County, Subdivision A1
Towns its size0
Towns in Nova Scotia2
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Antigonish County, Subdivision A tops all 39 other towns its size.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electoral Area C (Puntledge - Black Creek), Comox Valley BC | 22% | 12% | 74 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | Shawnigan BC | 22% | 6.4% | 66 | 4 | 8 |
| 3 | Shediac NB | 18% | 5.4% | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Lac-Deschênes QC | 14% | 49% | 32 | 3 | 10 |
| 5 | Manor Park ON | 11% | 4.1% | 41 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | Antigonish County, Subdivision A NS | 11% | 9.3% | 128 | 1 | 17 |
| 7 | South Cambie BC | 8.6% | 0% | 13 | 2 | 49 |
| 8 | Castlegar BC | 6% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | M-Section (bramalea) ON | 5.4% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Lakelands Village ON | 5.2% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Silverado AB | 4.7% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 12 | Qualicum Beach BC | 4.4% | 1.2% | 24 | 0 | 7 |
| 13 | Elizabethtown-Kitley ON | 4.2% | 1.7% | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Glastonbury AB | 4.2% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Charlesbourg QC | 3.9% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 6 |
| 16 | Northeast SK | 3.7% | 0% | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 17 | Shawnessy AB | 3.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| 18 | Richmond ON | 2.5% | 0.2% | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| 19 | Laurentian Valley ON | 2.4% | 0.9% | 21 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Guildwood ON | 2.2% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 6 |
| 21 | Rosenberg ON | 2.2% | 9.1% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | North London ON | 1.9% | 0% | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Steeles Corners ON | 1.8% | 0% | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Lorraine QC | 1.6% | 0.2% | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Avalon SK | 1.6% | 0.7% | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | Daniel McIntyre MB | 1.5% | 0% | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| 27 | Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier QC | 1.4% | 0.1% | 27 | 0 | 16 |
| 28 | Wiarton ON | 1.4% | 2.4% | 64 | 3 | 55 |
| 29 | Notre-Dame-des-Prairies QC | 1.2% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Willowgrove SK | 0.8% | 0% | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 31 | Roberval QC | 0.6% | 0.1% | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| 32 | Thamesford ON | 0.5% | 0.4% | 15 | 4 | 0 |
| 33 | Rustic ON | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | Aspen Woods AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 35 | Plympton-Wyoming ON | 0.2% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Devonshire ON | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Mineola ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 38 | Saint-Rémi QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Coaldale AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Olds AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Antigonish County, Subdivision A
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
5 named parks and woods to walk in near Antigonish County, Subdivision A
The biggest is Beaver Mountain Provincial Park, 138 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
5 named parks and woods, 173 ha in all
Parks & gardens 173 ha
Two places, Beaver Mountain Provincial Park and Arisaig Provincial Park, make up 96% of the total.
Arisaig Provincial Park
Park or garden
29 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
18 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Columbus Field Dog Park
Park or garden · 120 m outside town
0.3 ha
4.6 km 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
Most of Antigonish County, Subdivision A 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%)
Antigonish County, Subdivision A0%
Towns in Nova Scotia18%
Typical Canadian town83%
In the typical Canadian town the share is 83%, higher than here. About 9,700 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
128 protected areas around Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Antigonish County, Subdivision A9.3%
Within 10 km11%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of those 128, 125 are public and the remainder private. At 4,132 ha, Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness Area is the largest.
Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 4,132 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 2,177 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 1,334 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 245 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Beaver Mountain Provincial ParkProvincial park · 136 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 70 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Cape George Provincial ParkProvincial park · 55 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 40 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 32 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 31 ha · reaches Antigonish County, Subdivision A
30 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
82 km to Prince Edward Island National Park
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
Beaver Mountain Provincial Park
At the edge1.4 km²since 1972
Provincial park
Cape George Provincial Park
At the edge0.6 km²since 2024
Provincial park
Arisaig Provincial Park
At the edge0.3 km²since 1982
National park
Prince Edward Island National Park
82 km north-west27 km²since 1937
3 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
Antigonish County, Subdivision A and its edge hold 40 km of footpath
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
40 km
in and around the town (1,117.5 km²)
Woodland
69%
about 775.8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Antigonish County, Subdivision ATowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Antigonish County, Subdivision ATowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland69%
0%50%100%
For path density, 94% of Canadian towns do better. More of it is wooded than in 91% 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
Antigonish County, Subdivision A is on the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia)
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
National
International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia)495.5 km
The International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) is 496 km long on the map, and 93.4 km of it lies within 2 km of town.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Walking season in Antigonish County, Subdivision A: May to August
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Collegeville (16 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) | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°C) | -1 | -1 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 2 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 81 | 83 | 83 | 60 | 78 | 86 | 80 | 96 | 106 | 134 | 130 | 105 |
July is the warmest month, with highs around 25 °C; January the coldest, at -1 °C. Most rain and snow falls in October, 134 mm; April sees 60 mm. Expect around 162 cm of snow over a winter. The climate in Antigonish County, Subdivision A →
Beaches
Beaches near Antigonish County, Subdivision A: 17 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Cribbons Beachin town
DirectionsMacDonalds Beachin town
DirectionsMahoneys Beachin town
DirectionsSeabright Beachin town
DirectionsBallantyne's Cove Beachin town
DirectionsDunns Beach0.8 km from town
DirectionsThe shoreline runs 166 km within 5 km of town. 11 more are mapped without a name. Whether the water is fit for a swim isn’t in any open national dataset; public health posts the local advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Antigonish County, Subdivision A: 3 and 1
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
3Viewpoints7Hills and peaks1Waterfalls2Nature reserves6Picnic sites5Playgrounds1Dog parks2Campsites2Slipways
The tallest named summit close by is Eigg Mountain (323 m). The map shows 7 hills and peaks, ahead of the rest.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 3
Benchin town
DirectionsMarsh Road Lookoffin town
DirectionsPlus 1 viewpoint without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 7
Beaver Mountainin town
DirectionsBrowns Mountain308 m · in town
DirectionsEigg Mountain323 m · in town
DirectionsGraham Hill105 m · in town
DirectionsMount MacDonaldin town
DirectionsSugarloaf Hill180 m · in town
DirectionsThe Keppochin town
DirectionsWaterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Beaver Mountain Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 1 nature reserve without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 6
Arisaig Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 5 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 5
Plus 5 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Columbus Field Dog Park0.2 km from town
DirectionsCampsites 2
Whidden Park Campground & Cottages0.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 campsite 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 Antigonish County, Subdivision A
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 Antigonish County, Subdivision A with figures are 4–47 km away.
AntigonishAntigonish County, Subdivision BPictou County, Subdivision CTrentonNew GlasgowAntigonish County, Subdivision A
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigonish County, Subdivision A | 11% | 128 | 1 | 17 |
| Antigonish 3.7 km | 7.6% | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Antigonish County, Subdivision B 22 km | 11% | 103 | 1 | 35 |
| Pictou County, Subdivision C 41 km | 10% | 218 | 7 | 16 |
| Trenton 46 km | 18% | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| New Glasgow 47 km | 9.2% | 5 | 1 | 0 |
More routes are mapped around Pictou County, Subdivision C (7). Its neighbours have no more than twice Antigonish County, Subdivision A’s protected share.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- National and provincial parks. National parks are Parks Canada’s; provincial parks are the province’s or territory’s, Québec’s parcs nationaux among them.
- Walking routes. The list is OpenStreetMap’s, so a missing trail may just be unmapped. The Trans Canada Trail appears where OSM maps it.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- 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.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
Questions about the outdoors in Antigonish County, Subdivision A
Are there protected areas near Antigonish County, Subdivision A?
Within 10 km, 11% of the land lies in protected areas.
Where can you walk near Antigonish County, Subdivision A?
Try the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia).
What is the nearest provincial park to Antigonish County, Subdivision A?
Arisaig Provincial Park begins at the town’s edge.
Is there a beach near Antigonish County, Subdivision A?
Cribbons Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
Which is the biggest protected area near Antigonish County, Subdivision A?
Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness Area, a nature reserve of 4,132 ha.
Is Antigonish County, Subdivision A near a national park?
Prince Edward Island National Park, 82 km from the edge of town.
When is the best time for walking in Antigonish County, Subdivision A?
May to August: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Sources
The sources behind Antigonish County, Subdivision A’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).