First pick
Long Lake Provincial Park
Park or garden
1,920 ha28.5 km of path
6 h 20 minto walk all 28.5 km of path
5.4 km southfrom the centre
Old St. Margaret's Bay RoadLong Lake Wilderness TrailLakeview Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: A Disappearing Act · CC BY-SA 4.015%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Mount Royale · parks, protected land & trails
More of the land around Mount Royale is protected than around 9 in 10 Canadian towns
14 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Chocolate Lake Beach. 5 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the Fleming Park Trail System and Belchers Marsh Park Trail System. Within its own boundary, 24% of the neighbourhood is protected.
Protected land
15%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
18
within 10 km, 8 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Long Lake Provincial Park
Walking routes
5
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
14
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Mount Royale, 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 townsProtected land in town24% of Mount Royale itself lies in protected areasWalking routes5 named routes within 2 kmBeaches14 beaches within 5 km
What Mount Royale has most to offer outdoors is protected land around it, with protected land inside its own boundary close behind.
Against other towns
Mount Royale 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. 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 town24%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas8Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes5Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches14Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Mount Royale comes 4th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (9,167 to 9,491 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
Mount Royale15%
Towns its size3.4%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Mount Royale8
Towns its size5
Towns in Nova Scotia24
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Mount Royale5
Towns its size0
Towns in Nova Scotia2
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Mount Royale sits near the top of its size group: 3 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Three Rivers PE | 31% | 4.4% | 64 | 14 | 42 |
| 2 | La Pêche QC | 19% | 8.3% | 33 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | Revelstoke BC | 16% | 0.3% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Mount Royale NS | 15% | 24% | 18 | 5 | 14 |
| 5 | Braemar Park-Belair Heights-Copeland Park ON | 13% | 1.7% | 30 | 2 | 7 |
| 6 | Fall River NS | 11% | 2.9% | 26 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Manor Park ON | 11% | 4.1% | 41 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | Centrepointe - Briargreen ON | 11% | 0% | 26 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | Burnaby Mountain BC | 8.1% | 0% | 36 | 2 | 84 |
| 10 | Saint-Robert QC | 7.8% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Oromocto NB | 6.6% | 3.8% | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| 12 | Castlegar BC | 6% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Strathcona ON | 6% | 13% | 26 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Boischatel QC | 5.9% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 6 |
| 15 | Vankleek Hill ON | 5.2% | 0.1% | 19 | 0 | 4 |
| 16 | Saint-Apollinaire QC | 5.1% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Sulphur Springs ON | 5.1% | 36% | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| 18 | Otterburn Park QC | 5% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 3 |
| 19 | L'Épiphanie QC | 4% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Walsh Acres/Lakeridge/Garden Ridge SK | 3.6% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Thistletown-Beaumond Heights ON | 3.2% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Riverbend AB | 3.1% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 23 | Fletchers Meadow South ON | 2.7% | 11% | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | Old East York ON | 2.4% | 4.6% | 13 | 3 | 15 |
| 25 | Stony Mountain MB | 2.3% | 2.3% | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| 26 | Danforth ON | 2.3% | 0% | 13 | 4 | 24 |
| 27 | Elms-Old Rexdale ON | 1.9% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Steeles Corners ON | 1.8% | 0% | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Avalon SK | 1.6% | 0.7% | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | Portugal Cove-St. Philip's NL | 1.5% | 0% | 3 | 2 | 35 |
| 31 | Stoney Creek ON | 1.3% | 0% | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | University Heights Urban Centre SK | 0.9% | 0% | 12 | 1 | 3 |
| 33 | Barbertown ON | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Hawkwood AB | 0.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | La Salle MB | 0.4% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 1 |
| 36 | Downtown Commercial Core AB | 0.4% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | Amber Trails MB | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Mount Pleasant AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | Silver Berry AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 40 | Cooksville NHD (East) ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
The map
Where the green is in Mount Royale
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
26 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Mount Royale
Long Lake Provincial Park is the largest, at 1,920 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
26 named parks and woods, 2,149 ha in all
Parks & gardens 2,149 ha
Long Lake Provincial Park plus Mcintosh Run Regional Park account for 94% of the green.
Mcintosh Run Regional Park
Park or garden · 210 m outside town
93 ha12.7 km of path
2 h 50 minto walk all 12.7 km of path
7.5 km south-eastfrom the centre
The AtticTime FliesMcIntosh Run AT Greenway+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Mainland Commons
Park or garden
62 ha4.4 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.4 km of path
1.0 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Chain of Lakes Trail Park
Park or garden · 60 m outside town
20 ha7.5 km of path
1 h 40 minto walk all 7.5 km of path
1.7 km south-eastfrom the centre
Chain of Lakes TrailJoseph Howe Greenway
Directionsto a point inside
Linear Park
Park or garden
13 ha5.7 km of path
1 h 15 minto walk all 5.7 km of path
1.9 km north-westfrom the centre
Mainland North Linear Parkway
Directionsto a point inside
Hail Pond Park
Park or garden
4.8 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
2.4 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Mount Royale Park
Park or garden
3.1 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
Centralin the middle of Mount Royale
Directionsto a point inside
J. Albert Walker Park
Park or garden · 220 m outside town
4.3 ha
3.4 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 26 named parks and green spaces
Long Lake Provincial ParkPark or garden · 1,920 ha · 28.5 km of path
DirectionsMcintosh Run Regional ParkPark or garden · 93 ha · 12.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMainland CommonsPark or garden · 62 ha · 4.4 km of path
DirectionsChain of Lakes Trail ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 7.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsLinear ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 5.7 km of path
DirectionsHail Pond ParkPark or garden · 4.8 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsMount Royale ParkPark or garden · 3.1 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsJ. Albert Walker ParkPark or garden · 4.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsMary Clayton MemorialPark or garden · 3.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsGreenpark Close ParkPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsFairview Heights Elementary/Junior High ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsChain Lake ParkPark or garden · 3.4 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsGlenforest ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha · 0.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBI-HI ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsChebucto Heights Elementary School ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · just outside town
DirectionsStanley ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha
DirectionsW. D. Piercey ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha
DirectionsBurton Ettinger School ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsSolutions Drive ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha
DirectionsWillett Street ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsBurton Ettinger Sports FieldPark or garden · 0.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsHadley Crescent Neighbourhood ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsAshburn ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsC. A. Beckett ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsFairview Heights Annex Elementary ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsLeo Lanigan ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha · just outside town
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 Mount Royale, a park is close to every home
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 (100%)Further (0%)
Mount Royale100%
Towns in Nova Scotia18%
Typical Canadian town83%
A typical Canadian town reaches only 83%.
Protected areas
18 protected areas around Mount Royale
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Mount Royale24%
Within 10 km15%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 18, 8 are public land; the others are privately held. Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area covers 8,626 ha, the most of any named area. The figures include 10 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Long Lake Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,723 ha · reaches Mount Royale
Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 1,317 ha · 1.0 km from the edge of town
Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 15 ha · 4.6 km from the edge of town
Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 8,626 ha · 5.7 km from the edge of town
Terence Bay Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 4,429 ha · 5.8 km from the edge of town
Herring Cove Provincial ParkProvincial park · 20 ha · 7.2 km from the edge of town
Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 451 ha · 7.4 km from the edge of town
McNabs & Lawlor Island Provincial ParkProvincial park · 58 ha · 9.5 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
Long Lake Provincial Park starts at the edge of Mount Royale
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
Long Lake Provincial Park
At the edge17 km²since 1984
Provincial park
Herring Cove Provincial Park
7.2 km south-east0.2 km²since 2024
Provincial park
McNabs & Lawlor Island Provincial Park
9.5 km south-east0.6 km²since 2002
For a national park, people in Mount Royale travel more than 100 km. There are 3 provincial parks 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
Paths to walk: 74 km in and around Mount Royale
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
74 km
in and around the town (27.4 km²)
Woodland
29%
about 8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Mount RoyaleTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths2.7
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Mount RoyaleTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland29%
0%50%100%
For path density, it beats 67% of Canadian towns. Woods cover more of it than in 73% 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
Mount Royale has 5 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.
LocalOther waymarked
Fleming Park Trail System4.5 km
Colpitt Lake Trail3.7 km
The McIntosh Run Community Trail3.0 km
Belchers Marsh Park Trail System2.5 km
Freda Wales Trail1.2 km
For a longer outing, the Fleming Park Trail System runs 4.5 km. 2 are short walks under 3 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 Mount Royale in June to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Shearwater (12 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 | 15.5 | 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 |
A typical year sees 215 cm of snow. For dry weather, August is best (94 mm); December gets 156 mm. In August the typical high is 23 °C; in January, 0 °C. The climate in Mount Royale →
Beaches
14 beaches within 5 km of Mount Royale
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Chocolate Lake Beach1.0 km from town
DirectionsCunard Beach1.7 km from town
DirectionsPublic beach and boat launchgravel · 2.4 km from town
DirectionsKearney Lake Beach4.0 km from town
DirectionsBlack Rock Beach4.7 km from town
DirectionsThe coast is close: 50 km of shoreline within 5 km. The map adds 9 unnamed stretches of beach. 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
Mount Royale has 6 viewpoints and 1 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Top of the list: playgrounds, 53 of them.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 6
Plus 6 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 1
Geizer Hillin town
DirectionsWaterfalls 1
Beaverdam Brook Falls0.2 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 53
Stratford Way Park Playground0.7 km from town
DirectionsWestwood Park Splashpad1.0 km from town
DirectionsWestmount Playground1.3 km from town
DirectionsSpryfield Lions Arena Playground1.4 km from town
DirectionsTurnmill Drive Park Playground1.5 km from town
DirectionsMontgomery Court Playground1.8 km from town
DirectionsTremont Plateau Park Playground1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 46 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Plus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Slipways 3
Jubilee Road Launching Ramp2.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 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 Mount Royale: Halifax Public Gardens, 4.0 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 · 4.0 km from town
Its pageOne is 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 Mount Royale
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
FairviewClayton Park WestWestmountWindsor ParkNorth EndSouth EndMount Royale
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Royale | 15% | 18 | 5 | 14 |
| Fairview 1.5 km | 14% | 16 | 4 | 13 |
| Clayton Park West 2.9 km | 13% | 18 | 13 | 7 |
| Westmount 3.0 km | 11% | 16 | 6 | 18 |
| Windsor Park 3.4 km | 7.6% | 18 | 4 | 17 |
| North End 4.7 km | 7% | 14 | 5 | 18 |
| South End 5.3 km | 11% | 19 | 6 | 22 |
Mount Royale is not outdone two to one on protected land by any neighbour. For walking routes, Clayton Park West leads the area with 13.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- 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.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Walking routes. A route counts when 300 m or more of it lies within 2 km of the town. Coverage of trails on OpenStreetMap varies by region.
Questions about the outdoors in Mount Royale
Are there hiking trails near Mount Royale?
OpenStreetMap maps the Fleming Park Trail System, Belchers Marsh Park Trail System and The McIntosh Run Community Trail close by, with others.
What is the nearest beach to Mount Royale?
Chocolate Lake Beach, 1.0 km from town, is the nearest mapped beach.
How much land around Mount Royale is protected?
Yes: 15% of the land within 10 km is protected.
What is the largest protected area near Mount Royale?
It is Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area, a nature reserve covering 8,626 ha.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Mount Royale?
Long Lake Provincial Park touches the town.
When should you visit Mount Royale for the outdoors?
On the normals, June to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
How far is Mount Royale from a national park?
None within 100 km of Mount Royale.
Sources
Sources for this page on Mount Royale
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).