First pick
Belwood Conservation Area
Park or garden
97 ha5.9 km of path
1 h 20 minto walk all 5.9 km of path
5.0 km north-eastfrom the centre
Elora-Cataract Trailway
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Onasill ~ Bill - 103 Million Views - Thank You · CC BY-SA 2.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Fergus · parks, protected land & trails
7 named trails run within 2 km of Fergus
The protected share within 10 km is 0%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%. The nearest provincial park, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, is 19 km away. Within 5 km lie 2 beaches, unnamed on the map.
Protected land
0%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
4
within 10 km, 2 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
83 km
Rouge National Urban Park
Nearest provincial park
19 km
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
Walking routes
7
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Fergus stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Walking routes7 named routes within 2 kmLittle protected land0% within 10 km; the typical Canadian town: 2.3%
What Fergus has most to offer outdoors is its choice of walking routes. Less going for it: protected land nearby.
Against other towns
Fergus 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. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
Protected within 10 km0%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas2Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes8Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches2Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Of 40 towns its size, none has less protected land around it than Fergus
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (32,124 to 37,226 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
Fergus0%
Towns its size3.7%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Fergus2
Towns its size11
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Fergus8
Towns its size0
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
Where Fergus trails its peers is protected land nearby; 39 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panorama Ridge BC | 23% | 13% | 181 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Strawberry Hill BC | 20% | 0.8% | 158 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Bois-Francs QC | 14% | 1.4% | 39 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Cecil-P.-Newman QC | 14% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Clayton Park West NS | 13% | 0% | 18 | 13 | 7 |
| 6 | Sorel-Tracy QC | 12% | 0% | 75 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Val-d'Or QC | 11% | 19% | 55 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Fairview BC | 8.2% | 0% | 11 | 3 | 68 |
| 9 | Marc-Aurèle-Fortin QC | 7.1% | 0.5% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Sunset BC | 6.9% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 9 |
| 11 | Sainte-Marie QC | 6.3% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Edmonds BC | 6.2% | 0% | 40 | 4 | 8 |
| 13 | Saint-Constant QC | 5.8% | 0% | 25 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Grande-Prairie QC | 5% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Hastings-Sunrise BC | 4.7% | 0% | 12 | 4 | 27 |
| 16 | Orangeville ON | 4.2% | 3.5% | 38 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Arcola East SK | 4.2% | 8.8% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Mount Pleasant BC | 4.2% | 0% | 12 | 4 | 73 |
| 19 | Killarney BC | 4% | 3.5% | 14 | 2 | 6 |
| 20 | North Cowichan BC | 3.9% | 2.3% | 72 | 7 | 10 |
| 21 | West Humber-Clairville ON | 3.4% | 0% | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Langley BC | 3.2% | 0% | 95 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | Neufchatel Est—Lebourgneuf QC | 3.2% | 0% | 26 | 1 | 4 |
| 24 | Metrotown BC | 2.5% | 0% | 21 | 3 | 6 |
| 25 | Thorold ON | 1.6% | 4.2% | 16 | 7 | 1 |
| 26 | Parkland County AB | 1.6% | 1.3% | 69 | 15 | 5 |
| 27 | Stratford ON | 1.5% | 0% | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | Courtenay BC | 1.4% | 2.9% | 54 | 0 | 1 |
| 29 | Leamington ON | 1.3% | 5.5% | 2 | 0 | 16 |
| 30 | Whitehorse YT | 1.3% | 4.5% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Dieppe NB | 1.2% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | Fort Erie ON | 0.5% | 0.1% | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| 33 | Moose Jaw SK | 0.5% | 3.3% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Central Erin Mills ON | 0.5% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Applewood ON | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 36 | DT Core ON | 0.3% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Okotoks AB | 0.2% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Saint-Georges QC | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 39 | LaSalle ON | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Fergus ON | 0% | 0% | 4 | 8 | 2 |
The map
Where the green is in Fergus
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
Walk in Fergus: 30 named parks and woods
Largest first: Belwood Conservation Area leads with 97 ha. Numbers match the map.
30 named parks and woods, 225 ha in all
Parks & gardens 225 ha
Add Belwood Conservation Area to Sportsplex Park and you have 55% of it.
Sportsplex Park
Park or garden
26 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
2.9 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
County Forest Park
Park or garden
8.7 ha1.9 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.9 km of path
2.0 km southfrom the centre
Aboyne TrailTrestle Bridge Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Elora Meadows Park
Park or garden
6.5 ha0.5 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.5 km of path
3.8 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Off-Leash Dog Park
Park or garden
4.3 ha1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1 km of path
2.3 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Camp Nokimis
Park or garden
5.0 ha0.5 km of path
7.2 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Victoria Park
Park or garden
4.9 ha0.5 km of path
1.7 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Belwood Conservation AreaPark or garden · 97 ha · 5.9 km of path
DirectionsSportsplex ParkPark or garden · 26 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsPilkington OverlookPark or garden · 20 ha
DirectionsCounty Forest ParkPark or garden · 8.7 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsElora Meadows ParkPark or garden · 6.5 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsOff-Leash Dog ParkPark or garden · 4.3 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsCamp NokimisPark or garden · 5.0 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsVictoria ParkPark or garden · 4.9 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsKervin ParkPark or garden · 4.0 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsConfederation ParkPark or garden · 4.3 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsElora & District Community CentrePark or garden · 4.7 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsBissell ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsWestminster Highland ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsPierpoint Fly Fishing and Nature ReservePark or garden · 3.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsSWMPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsHarrison ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsSouth Ridge ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha
DirectionsForfar ParkPark or garden · 1.8 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsElora Lions ParkPark or garden · 2.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsIndigenous Gathering CirclePark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsGibbons ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsStrathallan ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha
DirectionsVerterns ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha
DirectionsRyan ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsHighland ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha
DirectionsDrimmie ParkPark or garden · 1.8 ha
DirectionsBlair ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsHarper ParkPark or garden · 1.8 ha
DirectionsDouglas ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsHaylock ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.2 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
A park is within a short walk for 6 in 10 in Fergus
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 (56%)Further (44%)
Fergus56%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 15,000 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. The typical Canadian town reaches 83%.
Protected areas
4 protected areas lie within 10 km of Fergus
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Fergus0%
Within 10 km0%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 2 of the 4. Watson-Hadati Headwater Lands leads for size with 49 ha. 2 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
Industrial Park WetlandNature reserve · 11 ha · 8.7 km from the edge of town
Watson-Hadati Headwater LandsNature reserve · 49 ha · 10.0 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
Rouge National Urban Park is 83 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
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
19 km east2.9 km²since 1985
National urban park
Rouge National Urban Park
83 km east46 km²since 2015
Nearer still is Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, a provincial park 19 km away.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
149 km of paths in and around Fergus
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
149 km
in and around the town (528.6 km²)
Woodland
15%
about 81.7 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
FergusTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.3
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
FergusTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland15%
0%50%100%
More of it is wooded than in 61% of Canadian towns. Paths are thinner on the ground 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
Trails around Fergus
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalLocal
Grand Valley Trail218.5 km
Elora Cataract Trailway (hiking)48.8 km
Kissing Bridge Trail46.8 km
Cottontail Road Trail (hiking)14.6 km
Bissell Park Loop2.3 km
Upper Grand Gorge Trail2.1 km
Riverwalk Loop0.8 km
Among local routes, the Grand Valley Trail is longest at 218.5 km. 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
The best months for walking in Fergus: May, June, August and September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Kitchener/Waterloo (28 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) | 9.3 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°C) | -3 | -2 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 0 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 66 | 46 | 57 | 81 | 80 | 81 | 96 | 67 | 75 | 71 | 75 | 55 |
From -3 °C in January to 25 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. Summer brings the most rain: 96 mm in July; February gets 46 mm. The climate in Fergus →
Beaches
2 unnamed beaches near Fergus
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Beach water tests aren’t published as open data across Canada, so swimming advisories come from the local health unit.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Fergus has 5 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.
42 playgrounds top the list.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 5
Elora Gorge Scenic Lookoutin town
DirectionsHole in the Rock Scenic Lookoutin town
DirectionsLover's Leapin town
DirectionsPlus 2 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 4
Belwood Conservation Areain town
DirectionsBenham Tractin town
DirectionsElora Gorge Conservation Areain town
DirectionsElora Quarry Conservation Areain town
DirectionsPicnic sites 5
Plus 5 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 42
Plus 42 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 8
Camp Nokomisin town
DirectionsElora Gorge Conservation Areain town
DirectionsMaple Leaf Acresin town
DirectionsYMCA Camp Belwoodin town
DirectionsPlus 4 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 5
Belwood Lake Boat Launchin town
DirectionsMaple Leaf Acres Boat Launchin town
DirectionsPlus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Fergus
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 20–23 km from Fergus.
RockwoodElmiraEast GarafraxaGrand ValleyGuelphFergus
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fergus | 0% | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Rockwood 20 km | 0.5% | 27 | 15 | 5 |
| Elmira 20 km | 0.8% | 27 | 10 | 1 |
| East Garafraxa 21 km | 1.1% | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Grand Valley 22 km | 0.1% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Guelph 23 km | 0.9% | 15 | 10 | 5 |
For protected land, East Garafraxa has twice as much or more. More routes are mapped around Rockwood (15).
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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. 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.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Private land. Land owned by individuals, companies or conservation groups counts toward the figures but is never named: a person’s land isn’t a place to visit.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
Questions about the outdoors in Fergus
Are there protected areas near Fergus?
Within 10 km, 0% of the land lies in protected areas.
Where can you swim near Fergus?
There are beaches within 5 km, none of them named.
Are there hiking trails near Fergus?
The Grand Valley Trail, Elora Cataract Trailway (hiking) and Cottontail Road Trail (hiking), among the routes mapped within 2 km.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Fergus?
Watson-Hadati Headwater Lands: 49 ha, a nature reserve.
Is Fergus near a national park?
The nearest is Rouge National Urban Park, 83 km away.
When should you visit Fergus for the outdoors?
May, June, August and September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
Is there a provincial park near Fergus?
The closest is Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, at 19 km.
Sources
Where Fergus’ outdoors figures come from
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).