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
31 km eastfrom the centre
Long Loop
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain10%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Pictou County, Subdivision C · parks, protected land & trails
Pictou County, Subdivision C has more protected land around it than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns
218 areas within 10 km are protected for nature. Named trails close by number 7, the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) and Smelt Brook Trail among them. 16 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Big Island Beach.
Protected land
10%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
218
within 10 km, 212 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
84 km
Prince Edward Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Beaver Mountain Provincial Park
Walking routes
7
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
16
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Pictou County, Subdivision C stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round10% of the land within 10 km, more than 86% of Canadian townsMany protected areas212 public areas within 10 kmWalking routes7 named routes within 2 kmOn a national routeThe International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) passes within 2 km
Pictou County, Subdivision C is strongest on protected land around it, with the number of public protected areas close by close behind.
Against other towns
Pictou County, Subdivision C 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 km10%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town2.2%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas212Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes7Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches16Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Pictou County, Subdivision C comes 6th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (8,674 to 9,037 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
Pictou County, Subdivision C10%
Towns its size2.4%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Pictou County, Subdivision C212
Towns its size9
Towns in Nova Scotia24
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Pictou County, Subdivision C7
Towns its size0
Towns in Nova Scotia2
Typical Canadian town0
None of the other 39 towns its size has more public protected areas than Pictou County, Subdivision C.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea QC | 27% | 65% | 55 | 6 | 7 |
| 2 | Crescent Heights BC | 27% | 13% | 132 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | Queenswood Heights ON | 14% | 0% | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Nicolet QC | 11% | 8.5% | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Craig Henry - Manordale ON | 10% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Pictou County, Subdivision C NS | 10% | 2.2% | 218 | 7 | 16 |
| 7 | Blossom Park - Timbermill ON | 9.6% | 12% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Delson QC | 6.1% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | South Slope BC | 5.8% | 0% | 39 | 2 | 10 |
| 10 | Corktown ON | 5.6% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 3 |
| 11 | Grande Cache AB | 5.5% | 2.2% | 26 | 0 | 50 |
| 12 | Clayton Heights BC | 5.4% | 2.3% | 131 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | Saint-Jean-Baptiste QC | 5.3% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Drummond/North Elmsley ON | 4.9% | 5.4% | 22 | 4 | 5 |
| 15 | Rosewood Park BC | 4.5% | 0% | 130 | 5 | 0 |
| 16 | Saint-Philippe QC | 4.2% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Buckingham Heights BC | 4.2% | 1.4% | 34 | 3 | 8 |
| 18 | Manotick ON | 2.9% | 6.1% | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| 19 | Pioneer Park ON | 2.5% | 0.4% | 23 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | Stanley Park ON | 2.5% | 5.9% | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Electoral Area F, Nanaimo BC | 2.3% | 3.7% | 36 | 1 | 15 |
| 22 | Renfrew ON | 1.9% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Kimberley BC | 1.5% | 1.2% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Uplands ON | 1.5% | 0% | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | Camrose County AB | 1.4% | 1.3% | 148 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | Booth MB | 0.9% | 1% | 20 | 1 | 37 |
| 27 | Kings County, Subdivision C NS | 0.6% | 0% | 20 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 | Munroe East MB | 0.5% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Coaticook QC | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Edson AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Kingsway South ON | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| 32 | Canterbury Park MB | 0.3% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Marlborough AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 34 | Strathcona Park AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | Tavistock ON | 0.2% | 0% | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| 36 | St. Adolphe MB | 0.2% | 0.2% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Hanover ON | 0.1% | 1.1% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Innisfail AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 39 | DT Cooksville ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | Kapuskasing ON | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Pictou County, Subdivision C
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 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Pictou County, Subdivision C
The biggest is Beaver Mountain Provincial Park, 138 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
5 named parks and woods, 321 ha in all
Parks & gardens 321 ha
Most of it sits in Beaver Mountain Provincial Park and Melmerby Beach Provincial Park: 79% together.
Melmerby Beach Provincial Park
Park or garden
117 ha4.3 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.3 km of path
9.6 km northfrom the centre
Roy Island Loop
Directionsto a point inside
Trenton Park
Park or garden
39 ha3.2 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.2 km of path
6.6 km north-westfrom the centre
Vetrans WayFounders Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Powells Point Provincial Park
Park or garden
27 ha
8.3 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Their Light Shall Always Shine Memorial Park
Park or garden
0.5 ha
5.2 km westfrom 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
In Pictou County, Subdivision C, parks are rarely a short walk away
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%)
Pictou County, Subdivision C0%
Towns in Nova Scotia18%
Typical Canadian town83%
About 8,800 residents live further than 400 m from one. The typical Canadian town does better, at 83%.
Protected areas
The 218 protected areas near Pictou County, Subdivision C
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Pictou County, Subdivision C2.2%
Within 10 km10%
Towns in Nova Scotia8.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of those 218, 212 are public and the remainder private. Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness Area covers 2,177 ha, the most of any named area.
Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness AreaNature reserve · 2,177 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Barneys River Nature ReserveNature reserve · 567 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 245 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Beaver Mountain Provincial ParkProvincial park · 136 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Melmerby Beach Provincial ParkProvincial park · 113 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 47 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 36 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Powells Point Provincial ParkProvincial park · 26 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 22 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
Old Growth Forest LandsNature reserve · 21 ha · reaches Pictou County, Subdivision C
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
The nearest big park: Prince Edward Island National Park, 84 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
Beaver Mountain Provincial Park
At the edge1.4 km²since 1972
Provincial park
Melmerby Beach Provincial Park
At the edge1.1 km²since 1977
Provincial park
Powells Point Provincial Park
At the edge0.3 km²since 1974
Provincial park
Merigomish Harbour Provincial Park
At the edge0.2 km²since 2024
National park
Prince Edward Island National Park
84 km north27 km²since 1937
There are 4 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
70 km of paths in and around Pictou 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
70 km
in and around the town (1,520.9 km²)
Woodland
83%
about 1,257.5 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Pictou County, Subdivision CTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Pictou County, Subdivision CTowns in Nova ScotiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland83%
0%50%100%
For path density, 93% of Canadian towns do better. It is more wooded than 97% 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
The International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia) passes Pictou 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.
NationalLocal
International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia)495.5 km
Smelt Brook Trail3.6 km
Morash Trail1.5 km
Vetrans Way1.5 km
Tree-O-Trail1.2 km
Founders Trail0.9 km
Druhan Trail0.5 km
Of the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia)’s 496 km, 67.4 km passes close to town. For a short stroll, 5 are 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 Pictou County, Subdivision C in June to August
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Collegeville, 44 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 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°C) | -1 | -2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 81 | 83 | 83 | 60 | 78 | 86 | 80 | 96 | 106 | 134 | 130 | 105 |
Expect 134 mm in October, the wettest month, and 60 mm in April. In July the typical high is 23 °C; in February, -2 °C. A typical year sees 162 cm of snow. The climate in Pictou County, Subdivision C →
Beaches
16 beaches within 5 km of Pictou County, Subdivision C
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Big Island Beachin town
DirectionsBig Island Beachin town
DirectionsChance Harbour Beachin town
DirectionsJames Beachin town
DirectionsLighthouse Beachin town
DirectionsSinclairs Island Beachin town
DirectionsChisholms Beach0.2 km from town
DirectionsMelmerby Beach0.3 km from town
DirectionsLowdens Beach0.5 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap maps 254 km of coastline within 5 km. 7 more are mapped without a name. 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
2 waterfalls near Pictou County, Subdivision C
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
12 hills and peaks top the list. Aulds Mountain, 295 m, is the high point nearby.
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 12
Anderson Mountain100 m · in town
DirectionsAulds Mountain295 m · in town
DirectionsBlue Mountain226 m · in town
DirectionsFrasers Mountainin town
DirectionsGermaines Mountain224 m · in town
DirectionsIrish Mountainin town
DirectionsMcGregor Mountain177 m · in town
DirectionsMcLellans Mountain246 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 4 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 2
Plus 2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Beaver Mountain Provincial Park0.5 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 3
Plus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 12
Havill Family Park0.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 11 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 8
Camp Geddiein town
DirectionsHarbour Light Campground0.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 6 campsites 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 Pictou 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.
TrentonNew GlasgowStellartonWestvillePictou County, Subdivision BPictouPictou County, Subdivision C
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pictou County, Subdivision C | 10% | 218 | 7 | 16 |
| Trenton 6.5 km | 18% | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| New Glasgow 6.6 km | 9.2% | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Stellarton 7.9 km | 3.1% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Westville 12 km | 4.1% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Pictou County, Subdivision B 15 km | 4.8% | 165 | 3 | 0 |
| Pictou 16 km | 24% | 7 | 1 | 6 |
Around Pictou the protected share is at least double.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- 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. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
Questions about the outdoors in Pictou County, Subdivision C
What is the best season to get outdoors in Pictou County, Subdivision C?
June to August, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
What is the nearest provincial park to Pictou County, Subdivision C?
Beaver Mountain Provincial Park, which reaches the edge of town.
What is the largest protected area near Pictou County, Subdivision C?
Eigg Mountain - James River Wilderness Area: 2,177 ha, a nature reserve.
Are there protected areas near Pictou County, Subdivision C?
Within 10 km, 10% of the land lies in protected areas.
Where can you walk near Pictou County, Subdivision C?
OpenStreetMap maps the International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia), Smelt Brook Trail and Morash Trail close by, with others.
Is there a beach near Pictou County, Subdivision C?
Big Island Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
How far is Pictou County, Subdivision C from a national park?
The nearest is Prince Edward Island National Park, 84 km away.
Sources
Sources for this page on Pictou 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).