First pick
Sandy Lake Park
Park or garden
545 ha11.3 km of path
2 h 30 minto walk all 11.3 km of path
2.1 km northfrom the centre
The CliffwalkCrest LoopStream Path+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Robert Alfers · Public domain15%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Bedford · parks, protected land & trails
Bedford has more protected land around it than 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Named trails close by number 11, the Hemlock Ravine Park Trail System and Ash Lake Loop among them. 29 areas within 10 km are protected for nature. A provincial park, Sackville Lakes Provincial Park, lies 0.5 km away.
Protected land
15%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
29
within 10 km, 26 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
0.5 km
Sackville Lakes Provincial Park
Walking routes
11
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
5
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Bedford, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round15% of the land within 10 km, more than 93% of Canadian townsWalking routes11 named routes within 2 kmMany protected areas26 public areas within 10 kmBeaches5 beaches within 5 km
Out of doors, Bedford leads with protected land around it, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
Bedford against 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. This page carries no grade, because Canada’s grading doesn’t cover the outdoors; the comparisons are the point.
Protected within 10 km15%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town2.3%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 routes11Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches5Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Bedford has the 4th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (27,429 to 30,304 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
Bedford15%
Towns its size2.7%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Bedford26
Towns its size7
Towns in Nova Scotia24
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Bedford11
Towns its size0
Towns in Nova Scotia2
Typical Canadian town0
Bedford beats most towns its size for protected land nearby; 3 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squamish BC | 30% | 21% | 20 | 3 | 20 |
| 2 | Du Plateau QC | 22% | 25% | 48 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | Marpole BC | 17% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | Bedford NS | 15% | 2.3% | 29 | 11 | 5 |
| 5 | Portobello South ON | 12% | 0% | 41 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Austinville NS | 11% | 0% | 27 | 7 | 17 |
| 7 | Verdun-Centre QC | 8.2% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | René-Lévesque QC | 8.1% | 0% | 23 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | Montagne QC | 7.7% | 42% | 20 | 1 | 5 |
| 10 | Stonebridge - Half Moon Bay ON | 5% | 0.8% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Marie-Victorin QC | 4.7% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Alloa ON | 4.2% | 8.7% | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | King ON | 4.1% | 2.7% | 94 | 6 | 1 |
| 14 | Collingwood ON | 3.9% | 0.2% | 15 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Vieux-Rosemont QC | 3.7% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Conception Bay South NL | 3.6% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 23 |
| 17 | Grandview-Woodland BC | 3.5% | 0% | 12 | 4 | 51 |
| 18 | Agincourt North ON | 3.3% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Wasaga Beach ON | 3% | 21% | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| 20 | Clairlea-Birchmount ON | 2.7% | 2.4% | 15 | 0 | 12 |
| 21 | Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn ON | 2.7% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | York University Heights ON | 2.7% | 1.2% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | West Hill ON | 2.4% | 15% | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| 24 | Boisbriand QC | 2.3% | 0.2% | 35 | 2 | 1 |
| 25 | Harbourfront-CityPlace ON | 2.2% | 0% | 12 | 7 | 42 |
| 26 | Tam O'Shanter-Sullivan ON | 2.2% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Wexford/Maryvale ON | 2% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 5 |
| 28 | Crémazie QC | 1.8% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Val-Bélair QC | 1.7% | 2.9% | 27 | 2 | 12 |
| 30 | Parc-Extension QC | 1.6% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Banbury-Don Mills ON | 1.6% | 2.4% | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | Glenfield-Jane Heights ON | 1.6% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Picton ON | 1.5% | 3.6% | 31 | 1 | 13 |
| 34 | South Riverdale ON | 1.5% | 16% | 12 | 9 | 49 |
| 35 | Argyle ON | 1.5% | 0.3% | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | Auteuil QC | 1.4% | 0% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Nouveau-Bordeaux QC | 1.4% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Beamsville ON | 1.2% | 1.3% | 26 | 5 | 9 |
| 39 | Meadowvale Village ON | 0.9% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Amherstburg ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
The map
The green map of Bedford
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the neighbourhood; 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
Walk in Bedford: 30 named parks and woods
Sandy Lake Park is the largest, at 545 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 791 ha in all
Parks & gardens 791 ha
Most of it sits in Sandy Lake Park and McDonald Sports Park: 76% together.
McDonald Sports Park
Park or garden · 230 m outside town
53 ha6.8 km of path
1 h 30 minto walk all 6.8 km of path
10 km north-eastfrom the centre
Shirley AnneBig Paul's LoopAnnie Blois+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Admirals Cove Park
Park or garden
30 ha2.4 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.4 km of path
2.3 km eastfrom the centre
Ridge RunAdmiral Cove Shore LoopRock n' Roll+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Unnamed Park
Park or garden
19 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
3.9 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Old Coach Road Trail Park
Park or garden
14 ha1.7 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.7 km of path
1.4 km south-eastfrom the centre
Old Coach Road Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Bedford Barrens
Park or garden
13 ha0.4 km of path
1.8 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Starboard Drive Park
Park or garden
11 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
2.1 km southfrom the centre
Fleetview Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Bud Bremner Park
Park or garden
9.5 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
3.2 km north-eastfrom the centre
Bedford Sackville Greenway ConnectorFort Sackville Walkway
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Sandy Lake ParkPark or garden · 545 ha · 11.3 km of path
DirectionsMcDonald Sports ParkPark or garden · 53 ha · 6.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsAdmirals Cove ParkPark or garden · 30 ha · 2.4 km of path
DirectionsUnnamed ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsOld Coach Road Trail ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsBedford BarrensPark or garden · 13 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsStarboard Drive ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsBud Bremner ParkPark or garden · 9.5 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsLarry Uteck Boulevard Community ParkPark or garden · 8.1 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsBlue Mountain Drive ParkPark or garden · 7.1 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsAbbington Avenue Community ParkPark or garden · 6.3 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsEcole Secondaire Du Sommet ParkPark or garden · 7.2 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsStonington ParkPark or garden · 6.6 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsGary Martin Drive ParkPark or garden · 6.9 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsUnnamed Park 27Park or garden · 6.1 ha
DirectionsRocky Lake Junior High School ParkPark or garden · 5.7 ha
DirectionsBosun Run ParkPark or garden · 5.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsUnnamed Park 3Park or garden · 3.7 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsBedford South School ParkPark or garden · 5.0 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsDr. Gerald J. Lebrun Memorial Centre ParkPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsMeadowbrook ParkPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsBedford Junior High School ParkPark or garden · 3.4 ha
DirectionsAmesbury Gate Community ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsEaglewood Elementary School ParkPark or garden · 2.9 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsNine Mile Drive Community ParkPark or garden · 2.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsGolf Links ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsTyler Sampson ParkPark or garden · 2.3 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsAdmiral Harry Dewolf ParkPark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsBeechcrest Drive ParkPark or garden · 2.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsBasinview Drive Community School ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.1 km of path
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
In Bedford, nearly every home is close to 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 (97%)Further (3.3%)
Bedford97%
Towns in Nova Scotia18%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town manages 83%, so this is better. About 1,000 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
The 29 protected areas near Bedford
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Bedford2.3%
Within 10 km15%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 29, 26 are public land; the others are privately held. Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area leads for size with 8,626 ha. 3 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 1,317 ha · reaches Bedford
Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 15 ha · 0.1 km from the edge of town
Sackville Lakes Provincial ParkProvincial park · 292 ha · 0.5 km from the edge of town
Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 451 ha · 1.4 km from the edge of town
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 11 ha · 1.7 km from the edge of town
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 24 ha · 2.0 km from the edge of town
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 56 ha · 2.1 km from the edge of town
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 23 ha · 2.3 km from the edge of town
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 178 ha · 2.9 km from the edge of town
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 5.3 ha · 3.1 km from the edge of town
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
Sackville Lakes Provincial Park, 0.5 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
Sackville Lakes Provincial Park
0.5 km north2.9 km²since 2013
Provincial park
Long Lake Provincial Park
7.5 km south17 km²since 1984
Provincial park
Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park
8.5 km west0.7 km²since 2024
Provincial park
Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park
8.9 km west1.4 km²since 2024
For a national park, people in Bedford travel more than 100 km. Within 10 km are 4 provincial parks.
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: 111 km in and around Bedford
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
111 km
in and around the town (100.8 km²)
Woodland
39%
about 39.8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
BedfordTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
BedfordTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland39%
0%50%100%
For path density, 57% of Canadian towns do better. More of it is wooded than in 79% 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
11 walking routes near Bedford
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
LocalOther waymarked
Hemlock Ravine Park Trail System5.1 km
Ash Lake Loop3.6 km
Great Oaks Loop2.4 km
Cabin Lake and Fleetview Trails2.2 km
Maskwa Trails1.8 km
Hobsons Lake Loop1.7 km
Old Coach Road Trail1.3 km
Whicky-Whack loop1.1 km
Charlies Lake Loop0.9 km
Fox Lake Trail0.7 km
Mike's Trail0.7 km
For a longer outing, the Hemlock Ravine Park Trail System runs 5.1 km. 9 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
Bedford is best on foot in June to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Shearwater (17 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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°C) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 9 | 4 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 124 | 114 | 120 | 108 | 115 | 107 | 95 | 94 | 107 | 141 | 135 | 156 |
From 0 °C in January to 23 °C in August: that is the range of daytime highs. Precipitation runs from 94 mm in August to 156 mm in December. The yearly snowfall is near 215 cm. The climate in Bedford →
Beaches
Bedford has 5 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Kearney Lake Beach1.0 km from town
DirectionsKinsmen Park Beach3.3 km from town
DirectionsAlbro Lake Beachsand · 4.1 km from town
DirectionsShubie Beach4.2 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap maps 43 km of coastline within 5 km. Another beach has no name on the map. 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
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Bedford: 22 and 1
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Playgrounds lead the count with 60. Shaffebough Hill tops the hills nearby, 90 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 22
Eagle Rockin town
DirectionsEagle's Nestin town
DirectionsFlat Rockin town
DirectionsHobsons Lake Look-offin town
DirectionsPaddlers' Ridgein town
DirectionsFox Lake Look-off0.5 km from town
DirectionsPlus 16 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 5
Shaffebough Hill90 m · in town
DirectionsBlue Mountain Hill0.6 km from town
DirectionsLaidlaw Hill0.9 km from town
DirectionsAmerican Hill1.0 km from town
DirectionsMount Portobello1.6 km from town
DirectionsWaterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 3
Nellie's Brook0.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 60
Ecole secondaire du Sommet Park Playgroundin town
DirectionsHappy Kidsin town
DirectionsIce Patch Hollowin town
DirectionsWaverley Memorial Playground0.7 km from town
DirectionsWaverley Memorial Playground 20.8 km from town
DirectionsJudy Anne Court Park Playground1.2 km from town
DirectionsCastle Hill Park Tennis Court1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 53 playgrounds 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.
Gardens to visit
The garden near Bedford: Halifax Public Gardens, 7.6 km off
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Halifax Public GardensNational Historic Site · 7.6 km from town
Its pageParks 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 Bedford
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Clayton Park WestLower SackvilleFairviewMount RoyaleTimberleaMiddle SackvilleBedford
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 15% | 29 | 11 | 5 |
| Clayton Park West 5.0 km | 13% | 18 | 13 | 7 |
| Lower Sackville 5.7 km | 8.5% | 25 | 1 | 3 |
| Fairview 7.7 km | 14% | 16 | 4 | 13 |
| Mount Royale 7.9 km | 15% | 18 | 5 | 14 |
| Timberlea 8.1 km | 19% | 22 | 12 | 7 |
| Middle Sackville 8.2 km | 6.4% | 25 | 0 | 2 |
For protected land, no neighbour of Bedford doubles its share. Clayton Park West has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 13.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- 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.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
Questions about the outdoors in Bedford
What is the best season to get outdoors in Bedford?
On the normals, June to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Bedford?
Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area, a nature reserve of 8,626 ha.
Is there a provincial park near Bedford?
The closest is Sackville Lakes Provincial Park, at 0.5 km.
How far is Bedford from a national park?
The nearest national park is more than 100 km from Bedford.
Are there protected areas near Bedford?
Protected areas cover 15% of the land within 10 km.
What is the nearest beach to Bedford?
Kearney Lake Beach, 1.0 km from town, is the nearest mapped beach.
Where can you walk near Bedford?
Try the Hemlock Ravine Park Trail System, Ash Lake Loop and Cabin Lake and Fleetview Trails; more are on the map.
Sources
The sources behind Bedford’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.
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).