First pick
Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park
Park or garden
60 ha2.4 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.4 km of path
25 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain1.7%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Colchester County, Subdivision C · parks, protected land & trails
Within 10 km of Colchester County, Subdivision C: 117 public protected areas
The closest provincial park is Mount William Provincial Park, 4.2 km from the edge of town. 5 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the Cobequid Trail and Reservoir Loop. No national park lies within 100 km.
Protected land
1.7%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
125
within 10 km, 117 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
4.2 km
Mount William Provincial Park
Walking routes
5
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
1
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Colchester County, Subdivision C stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Colchester County, Subdivision C is strongest on the number of public protected areas close by, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
How Colchester County, Subdivision C 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. Canada’s grades don’t include the outdoors, so this page compares the figures rather than grading them.
Protected within 10 km1.7%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town1.8%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas117Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes5Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches1Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Colchester County, Subdivision C sits 11th from last of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (13,940 to 14,477 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
Colchester County, Subdivision C1.7%
Towns its size2.5%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Colchester County, Subdivision C117
Towns its size6
Towns in Nova Scotia24
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Colchester County, Subdivision C5
Towns its size0
Towns in Nova Scotia2
Typical Canadian town0
Colchester County, Subdivision C leads its size group for public protected areas: none of the other 39 has more. For protected land nearby, though, 29 of 39 are ahead.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kerrisdale BC | 18% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 33 |
| 2 | Riverview ON | 15% | 1.9% | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Oakridge BC | 13% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| 4 | Convent Glen - Orleans Woods ON | 13% | 0% | 35 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Chapel Hill South ON | 12% | 0% | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Matane QC | 11% | 0.1% | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | Findlay Creek ON | 8.2% | 2.5% | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Rideaucrest - Davidson Heights ON | 6.8% | 11% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Maricourt QC | 6.5% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Glen Cairn ON | 5.5% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Manor Park NS | 5.3% | 0% | 22 | 6 | 21 |
| 12 | Vieux-Limoilou QC | 4.9% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 7 |
| 13 | Sillery QC | 4.8% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | Val-des-Monts QC | 4.4% | 2.6% | 55 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Saint-Amable QC | 4.3% | 0% | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Plateau QC | 4.1% | 0% | 18 | 2 | 4 |
| 17 | Bourg-Royal QC | 4.1% | 0.5% | 19 | 0 | 8 |
| 18 | Tiny ON | 3.9% | 7.9% | 23 | 0 | 61 |
| 19 | Louis-Hébert QC | 2.5% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | Southcrest ON | 2.5% | 7.8% | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Copperfield AB | 2.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 22 | South Glengarry ON | 2.3% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 6 |
| 23 | Ridgehill / Armbro Heights ON | 2.3% | 9.7% | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | Greenwood-Coxwell ON | 2.2% | 0% | 12 | 3 | 38 |
| 25 | Harbour Landing SK | 2.2% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 | Prévost QC | 2.1% | 3.5% | 18 | 2 | 2 |
| 27 | Humewood-Cedarvale ON | 2% | 0% | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| 28 | Parkwoods-O'Connor Hills ON | 1.9% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Rosemère QC | 1.8% | 2.4% | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | Colchester County, Subdivision C NS | 1.7% | 1.8% | 125 | 5 | 1 |
| 31 | Hickory Woods ON | 1.6% | 0% | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | Forest Heights ON | 1.6% | 0% | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Durham ON | 0.3% | 0.2% | 19 | 0 | 2 |
| 34 | Junction Area ON | 0.3% | 0% | 8 | 4 | 10 |
| 35 | Warman SK | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | River West ON | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Martindale AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Mount Forest ON | 0.1% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Sandwich ON | 0.1% | 2.9% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | Skyview Ranch AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Colchester County, Subdivision C
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
10 named parks and woods to walk in near Colchester County, Subdivision C
The biggest is Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park, 60 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
10 named parks and woods, 116 ha in all
Parks & gardens 116 ha
Two places, Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park and Fundy Discovery Site, make up 68% of the total.
Brookfield Wetland and Nature Trail
Park or garden
18 ha1.7 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.7 km of path
5.8 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Fundy Discovery Site
Park or garden
19 ha1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1 km of path
11 km north-westfrom the centre
Bike/Hiking Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Bible Hill Recreation Park
Park or garden · 70 m outside town
7.5 ha0.5 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.5 km of path
8.9 km northfrom the centre
Cobequid Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Princton Heights Park
Park or garden
6.0 ha0.5 km of path
7.6 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Shubie River Park
Park or garden · 50 m outside town
1.8 ha0.3 km of path
26 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Rex McCoul Park
Park or garden · 200 m outside town
0.6 ha0.2 km of path
26 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 10 named parks and green spaces
Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife ParkPark or garden · 60 ha · 2.4 km of path
DirectionsBrookfield Wetland and Nature TrailPark or garden · 18 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsFundy Discovery SitePark or garden · 19 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsBible Hill Recreation ParkPark or garden · 7.5 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPrincton Heights ParkPark or garden · 6.0 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsShubie River ParkPark or garden · 1.8 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsNancy Avenue ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha
DirectionsRex McCoul ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsStephen Avenue Park and ballfieldPark or garden · 0.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsCaddell Rapids Lookoff Provincial ParkPark or garden · 0.4 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
About 1 in 10 of Colchester County, Subdivision C’s residents are 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 (12%)Further (88%)
Colchester County, Subdivision C12%
Towns in Nova Scotia18%
Typical Canadian town83%
For comparison, the typical Canadian town has 83%. That leaves about 12,500 people more than a short walk away.
Protected areas
1.7% of the land around Colchester County, Subdivision C is protected
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Colchester County, Subdivision C1.8%
Within 10 km1.7%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
117 of the 125 belong to a government or an Indigenous nation. Calvary River Wilderness Area covers 1,174 ha, the most of any named area.
Calvary River Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 1,174 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Big Meadow Brook Nature ReserveNature reserve · 284 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 108 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 106 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 104 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 71 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 63 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 60 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 25 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 23 ha · reaches Colchester County, Subdivision C
31 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
4.2 km to Mount William Provincial 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
Mount William Provincial Park
4.2 km south-east0.3 km²since 2025
There is no national park within 100 km; for big parks, Colchester County, Subdivision C has its province’s.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
128 km of paths in and around Colchester County, Subdivision C
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
128 km
in and around the town (1,730 km²)
Woodland
64%
about 1,111 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Colchester County, Subdivision CTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Colchester County, Subdivision CTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland64%
0%50%100%
It has fewer paths per km² than 89% of Canadian towns. More of it is wooded than in 89% 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
5 walking routes near Colchester County, Subdivision C
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
Other waymarked
Cobequid Trail22.9 km
Reservoir Loop6.4 km
Mastodon Greenway4.4 km
Vibert Trail1.9 km
Hemlock Trail1.5 km
At 22.9 km, the Cobequid Trail is the longest local route. 2 of them are under 3 km, good for a short outing.
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 Colchester County, Subdivision C: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Upper Stewiacke, 16 km away). Good months: long days, highs of 15–30 °C, light rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.9 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°C) | -1 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 116 | 100 | 107 | 92 | 95 | 97 | 88 | 95 | 106 | 125 | 123 | 133 |
From -1 °C in January to 25 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. The wettest month, December, brings 133 mm, against 88 mm in July. The yearly snowfall is near 187 cm. The climate in Colchester County, Subdivision C →
Beaches
One unnamed beach near Colchester County, Subdivision C
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
The shoreline runs 64 km within 5 km of town. No national or provincial register of beach water quality is published as open data, so check the local health unit before swimming.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Colchester County, Subdivision C has 8 viewpoints and 5 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
There are 34 playgrounds, more than of anything else.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 8
Fundy Tidal Viewpoint0.2 km from town
DirectionsWood Street Look Offf0.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 6 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 4
Beech Hillin town
DirectionsKincaid Mountainin town
DirectionsWilson Mountainin town
DirectionsHalf Moon Hill1.6 km from town
DirectionsWaterfalls 5
Waddell Falls1.4 km from town
DirectionsJoe Howe Falls1.4 km from town
DirectionsGleason Brook Falls1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 8
Plus 8 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 34
Kent Street Playgroundin town
DirectionsHerb Peppard Park0.6 km from town
DirectionsVictoria Park Playground1.3 km from town
DirectionsPoplar Drive park1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 30 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 8
Scotia Pine Campgroundin town
DirectionsWild Nature Campgroundin town
DirectionsWhispering Winds Family Campground0.4 km from town
DirectionsEagle Ridge RV Park0.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 campsites without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Colchester County, Subdivision C
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Millbrook 27TruroColchester County, Subdivision BColchester County, Subdivision C
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester County, Subdivision C | 1.7% | 125 | 5 | 1 |
| Millbrook 27 6.5 km | 0.1% | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Truro 8.0 km | 0.1% | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Colchester County, Subdivision B 17 km | 9% | 84 | 10 | 5 |
For protected land, Colchester County, Subdivision B has twice as much or more. More routes are mapped around Colchester County, Subdivision B (10).
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- 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.
- 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. 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 Colchester County, Subdivision C
Are there protected areas near Colchester County, Subdivision C?
Within 10 km, 1.7% of the land lies in protected areas.
What walking routes are near Colchester County, Subdivision C?
The Cobequid Trail, Reservoir Loop and Vibert Trail, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
Where can you swim near Colchester County, Subdivision C?
There is an unnamed beach within 5 km.
How far is Colchester County, Subdivision C from a national park?
No national park lies within 100 km of Colchester County, Subdivision C.
Is there a provincial park near Colchester County, Subdivision C?
Mount William Provincial Park, 4.2 km away.
When is the best time for walking in Colchester County, Subdivision C?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
What is the largest protected area near Colchester County, Subdivision C?
Calvary River Wilderness Area, a nature reserve of 1,174 ha.
Sources
Sources for this page on Colchester County, Subdivision C
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).