First pick
West Mabou Beach Provincial Park
Park or garden
281 ha
7.4 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.013%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Inverness · parks, protected land & trails
Inverness has more protected land around it than 9 in 10 Canadian towns
The 10 km around town hold 141 protected areas. 20 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Breakwater Beach. OpenStreetMap shows 4 walking routes nearby, including the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) and Scout Trail.
Protected land
13%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
141
within 10 km, 80 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
50 km
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Port Hood Station Provincial Park
Walking routes
4
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
20
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Inverness, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round13% of the land within 10 km, more than 90% of Canadian townsMany protected areas80 public areas within 10 kmBeaches20 beaches within 5 kmWalking routes4 named routes within 2 km
For someone who likes to get outside, Inverness’ draw is protected land around it, with the number of public protected areas close by close behind.
Against other towns
Inverness 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 km13%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town5.1%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas80Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes4Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches20Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Inverness comes 7th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (5,063 to 5,215 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
Inverness13%
Towns its size1.9%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Inverness80
Towns its size10
Towns in Nova Scotia24
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Inverness4
Towns its size1
Towns in Nova Scotia2
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Inverness tops all 39 other towns its size.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint-Donat QC | 41% | 6.7% | 21 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Grand Bay-Westfield NB | 29% | 1% | 21 | 1 | 39 |
| 3 | Electoral Area A, Cowichan Valley BC | 23% | 0.9% | 58 | 4 | 24 |
| 4 | Electoral Area D, Peace River BC | 19% | 18% | 56 | 3 | 123 |
| 5 | Metchosin BC | 18% | 9.6% | 31 | 2 | 22 |
| 6 | Montréal-Ouest QC | 16% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Inverness NS | 13% | 5.1% | 141 | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac QC | 11% | 1% | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| 9 | Starlight Village NB | 9.2% | 3.1% | 23 | 0 | 11 |
| 10 | Montréal-Est QC | 7.7% | 0.4% | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Antigonish NS | 7.6% | 0% | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | Cobble Hill BC | 6.6% | 4.5% | 51 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | Heritage SK | 4% | 0% | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 14 | Annapolis County, Subdivision B NS | 3.9% | 0.9% | 44 | 0 | 4 |
| 15 | Rushdale ON | 3.9% | 0% | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Crown Point East ON | 3.1% | 0% | 23 | 1 | 6 |
| 17 | Gibsons BC | 2.7% | 4.8% | 43 | 0 | 57 |
| 18 | Centre Hastings ON | 2.5% | 1.4% | 30 | 2 | 3 |
| 19 | Morin-Heights QC | 2.2% | 0.9% | 23 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Coverdale NB | 1.9% | 4.4% | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Big Lakes County AB | 1.8% | 1.9% | 20 | 0 | 12 |
| 22 | Bridgwater Forest MB | 1.7% | 4.1% | 20 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | Mt. Hope Huron Park ON | 1.5% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | River-Osborne MB | 1.5% | 0% | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | Earl Grey MB | 1.4% | 0% | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| 26 | Lord Roberts MB | 1.4% | 0% | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | West Alexander MB | 1.4% | 0% | 19 | 4 | 0 |
| 28 | Kneehill County AB | 1.3% | 1.1% | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Shaughnessy Park MB | 1.1% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Robertson MB | 0.7% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Marystown NL | 0.6% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 32 | Kildonan Drive MB | 0.3% | 1.3% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Bannerman AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 34 | Bearspaw AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | Twin Brooks AB | 0.3% | 0.4% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 36 | Queen Alexandra AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 37 | Ritchie AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 38 | Tweddle Place AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 39 | Didsbury AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Rundle Heights AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in Inverness
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
5 named parks and woods to walk in near Inverness
West Mabou Beach Provincial Park is the largest, at 281 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
5 named parks and woods, 499 ha in all
Parks & gardens 499 ha
The bulk, 96%, is West Mabou Beach Provincial Park and Whycocomagh Provincial Park.
Whycocomagh Provincial Park
Park or garden
198 ha5 km of path
1 h 5 minto walk all 5 km of path
31 km south-eastfrom the centre
Scout TrailSalt Mountain TrailThe Highlander
Directionsto a point inside
Port Hood Station Provincial Park
Park or garden
17 ha
17 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Mabou Provincial Park
Park or garden
2.5 ha
6.8 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Ceilidh Trail Community Park
Park or garden
0.2 ha
14 km north-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
1 in 10 people in Inverness 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 (8.6%)Further (91%)
Inverness8.6%
Towns in Nova Scotia18%
Typical Canadian town83%
Around 4,700 residents are further than 400 m from a park. The typical Canadian town does better, at 83%.
Protected areas
141 protected areas around Inverness
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Inverness5.1%
Within 10 km13%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 80 of the 141. The others are private conservation land. Humes River Wilderness Area is the biggest, 3,625 ha. 33 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Humes River Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 3,625 ha · reaches Inverness
Cape Mabou Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 1,458 ha · reaches Inverness
Glendyer Nature ReserveNature reserve · 276 ha · reaches Inverness
Black River Bog Nature ReserveNature reserve · 109 ha · reaches Inverness
Southwest Mabou River Nature ReserveNature reserve · 93 ha · reaches Inverness
Port Hood Station Provincial ParkProvincial park · 17 ha · reaches Inverness
MacFarlane Woods Nature ReserveNature reserve · 13 ha · reaches Inverness
MacFarlane Woods Nature ReserveNature reserve · 12 ha · reaches Inverness
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 nearest big park: Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 50 km away
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
Port Hood Station Provincial Park
At the edge · south-west0.2 km²since 2014
National park
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
50 km north-east948 km²since 1936
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: 150 km in and around Inverness
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
150 km
in and around the town (970.5 km²)
Woodland
64%
about 620.7 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
InvernessTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.2
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
InvernessTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland64%
0%50%100%
For woods, it beats 89% of Canadian towns. 80% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km².
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
The International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) passes Inverness
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalRegional
International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia)495.5 km
Scout Trail1.8 km
Salt Mountain Trail1.3 km
The Highlander0.9 km
Of the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia)’s 496 km, 67.0 km passes close to town. 3 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
Get out in Inverness in June to August
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Cheticamp (68 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 | 8.6 |
| High (°C) | -2 | -2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 2 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 113 | 101 | 93 | 88 | 82 | 88 | 93 | 103 | 127 | 136 | 135 | 144 |
In August the typical high is 24 °C; in February, -2 °C. Expect 144 mm in December, the wettest month, and 82 mm in May. The climate in Inverness →
Beaches
20 beaches within 5 km of Inverness
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Breakwater Beachin town
DirectionsFrasers Beachin town
DirectionsMacQuarries Beachin town
DirectionsParks Beachin town
DirectionsSunset Beachin town
DirectionsInverness0.1 km from town
DirectionsThe Flats0.2 km from town
DirectionsKennedys Shore3.6 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap shows 12 more, nameless. OpenStreetMap maps 205 km of coastline within 5 km. 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 Inverness: 8 and 2
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Hills and peaks lead the count with 12.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 8
Plus 5 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 12
Beinn Bhiorachin town
DirectionsGreen Hillin town
DirectionsLewis Mountainin town
DirectionsMabou Harbour Mountainin town
DirectionsMabou Mountainin town
DirectionsSalt Mountainin town
DirectionsThe Big Ridgein town
DirectionsThe Sand Dunesin town
DirectionsPlus 4 hills and peaks more.
Nature reserves 1
Whycocomagh Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsPicnic sites 5
Plus 5 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 1
Plus 1 playground without a name on the map.
Campsites 8
Inverness Beach Villagein town
DirectionsWhycocomagh Campgroundin town
DirectionsAinslie Village Campground0.3 km from town
DirectionsMacKinnons Campground0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 5
Plus 5 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Inverness
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. No closer places have figures: these lie 40–63 km from Inverness.
Inverness County, Subdivision CInverness County, Subdivision AVictoria County, Subdivision BPort HawkesburyRichmond County, Subdivision AInverness
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverness | 13% | 141 | 4 | 20 |
| Inverness County, Subdivision C 40 km | 8.2% | 181 | 3 | 13 |
| Inverness County, Subdivision A 49 km | 29% | 156 | 2 | 35 |
| Victoria County, Subdivision B 52 km | 12% | 244 | 1 | 21 |
| Port Hawkesbury 58 km | 5.1% | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Richmond County, Subdivision A 63 km | 2.7% | 149 | 0 | 27 |
Inverness County, Subdivision A has at least twice the protected share around it.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- 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.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
Questions about the outdoors in Inverness
Which is the biggest protected area near Inverness?
Humes River Wilderness Area, a nature reserve of 3,625 ha.
How much land around Inverness is protected?
Yes: 13% of the land within 10 km is protected.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Inverness?
Port Hood Station Provincial Park, which reaches the edge of town.
Is there a beach near Inverness?
Breakwater Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
Are there hiking trails near Inverness?
Try the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia), Scout Trail and Salt Mountain Trail; more are on the map.
Is Inverness near a national park?
The nearest is Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 50 km away.
When should you visit Inverness for the outdoors?
June to August: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Sources
Sources for this page on Inverness
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).