First pick
Milne Dam Conservation Park
Park or garden
129 ha10.3 km of path
2 h 15 minto walk all 10.3 km of path
2.7 km eastfrom the centre
Rouge Valley Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine · CC06.7%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Markham · parks, protected land & trails
Markham borders Rouge National Urban Park
CPCAD lists 58 protected areas within 10 km. The nearest provincial park, Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park, is 12 km away. Protected areas cover 6.7% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%.
Protected land
6.7%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
58
within 10 km, 32 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
At the edge
Rouge National Urban Park
Nearest provincial park
12 km
Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
1
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Markham has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Next to a national parkRouge National Urban Park starts at the edge of townMany protected areas32 public areas within 10 kmProtected land all round6.7% of the land within 10 km, more than 77% of Canadian towns
Markham is strongest on Rouge National Urban Park on its doorstep, with the number of public protected areas close by close behind.
Against other towns
Markham 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 km6.7%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town12%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas32Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches1Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Markham comes 11th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (106,752 to 371,504 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
Markham6.7%
Towns its size3.7%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Markham32
Towns its size15
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Markham2
Towns its size2
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Markham sits near the top of its size group: 6 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coquitlam BC | 25% | 28% | 130 | 5 | 69 |
| 2 | Delta BC | 24% | 17% | 181 | 9 | 19 |
| 3 | Richmond BC | 21% | 3.2% | 73 | 2 | 31 |
| 4 | Kamloops BC | 14% | 13% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 5 | Kelowna BC | 13% | 3.8% | 36 | 0 | 42 |
| 6 | Saanich BC | 11% | 9.4% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| 7 | Strathcona County AB | 9.4% | 1.4% | 38 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 | Trois-Rivières QC | 8.4% | 1.2% | 44 | 1 | 10 |
| 9 | Cape Breton NS | 8.2% | 8.6% | 176 | 1 | 74 |
| 10 | Pickering ON | 7.6% | 11% | 46 | 1 | 11 |
| 11 | Markham ON | 6.7% | 12% | 58 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury ON | 6.7% | 3.5% | 43 | 5 | 18 |
| 13 | Saguenay QC | 6% | 6.1% | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| 14 | Kingston ON | 5% | 6.2% | 54 | 2 | 5 |
| 15 | Ajax ON | 4.9% | 5.8% | 31 | 1 | 8 |
| 16 | Lévis QC | 4.1% | 0.6% | 62 | 1 | 8 |
| 17 | Sherbrooke QC | 4.1% | 0.8% | 23 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | Whitby ON | 3.9% | 4.7% | 37 | 1 | 3 |
| 19 | Abbotsford BC | 3.9% | 0.5% | 37 | 2 | 10 |
| 20 | Terrebonne QC | 3.8% | 3.6% | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 21 | Langley BC | 3.5% | 2.9% | 144 | 8 | 10 |
| 22 | Barrie ON | 2.6% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| 23 | Burlington ON | 2.5% | 1.6% | 27 | 2 | 17 |
| 24 | Oshawa ON | 2.4% | 0.3% | 30 | 1 | 4 |
| 25 | St. John's NL | 2.2% | 1.2% | 6 | 1 | 41 |
| 26 | Richmond Hill ON | 1.9% | 8.4% | 51 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | Nanaimo BC | 1.9% | 6.7% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| 28 | Cambridge ON | 1.7% | 0.4% | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| 29 | Bowmanville ON | 1.6% | 3% | 25 | 2 | 9 |
| 30 | Milton ON | 1.3% | 0% | 38 | 15 | 3 |
| 31 | St. Catharines ON | 1.2% | 1.7% | 15 | 4 | 7 |
| 32 | Niagara Falls ON | 1.1% | 1.7% | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 33 | Chatham ON | 1% | 1% | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 34 | Guelph ON | 0.9% | 3.1% | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 35 | Oakville ON | 0.9% | 4.1% | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 36 | Red Deer AB | 0.7% | 1.2% | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | Waterloo ON | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| 38 | Lethbridge AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Brantford ON | 0.3% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | Thunder Bay ON | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
The map
Markham on the map: green space, protected land and paths
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the city; 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
30 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Markham
The biggest is Milne Dam Conservation Park, 129 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 940 ha in all
Parks & gardens 790 haWoods 150 ha
The green is scattered, with no place over 16%.
East Don Parkland
Park or garden · 220 m outside town
126 ha9.4 km of path
2 h 5 minto walk all 9.4 km of path
11 km south-westfrom the centre
East Don Parkland TrailEast Don River TrailGerman Mills Riparian+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
German Mills Meadow and Natural Habitat
Park or garden
49 ha4.2 km of path
55 minto walk all 4.2 km of path
7.7 km south-westfrom the centre
German Mills Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Rouge National Urban Park, Woodland Area
Wood or forest
150 ha5.8 km of path
1 h 15 minto walk all 5.8 km of path
7.9 km eastfrom the centre
Monarch TrailTanglewood TrailTanglewood Trail/Monarch Trail+2 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Rouge Valley Park
Park or garden
43 ha3.3 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.3 km of path
4.1 km eastfrom the centre
Rouge Valley Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Valley View Park
Park or garden
39 ha3.5 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.5 km of path
8.1 km south-westfrom the centre
Huntington Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Phyllis Rawlinson Park
Park or garden · 80 m outside town
39 ha2.4 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.4 km of path
10 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Milliken Park
Park or garden
33 ha4.8 km of path
1 h 5 minto walk all 4.8 km of path
4.3 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Milne Dam Conservation ParkPark or garden · 129 ha · 10.3 km of path
DirectionsEast Don ParklandPark or garden · 126 ha · 9.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGerman Mills Meadow and Natural HabitatPark or garden · 49 ha · 4.2 km of path
DirectionsRouge National Urban Park, Woodland AreaWood or forest · 150 ha · 5.8 km of path
DirectionsRouge Valley ParkPark or garden · 43 ha · 3.3 km of path
DirectionsValley View ParkPark or garden · 39 ha · 3.5 km of path
DirectionsPhyllis Rawlinson ParkPark or garden · 39 ha · 2.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMilliken ParkPark or garden · 33 ha · 4.8 km of path
DirectionsMilliken MillsPark or garden · 32 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsAustin Drive ParkPark or garden · 26 ha · 2.4 km of path
DirectionsWismer ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 3.5 km of path
DirectionsRouge National Urban Park (Bob Hunter Memorial)Park or garden · 21 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsLeslie GreenbeltPark or garden · 19 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsCornell Community ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 2.8 km of path
DirectionsMount Joy ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 2.1 km of path
DirectionsRoss Brown ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsSwan Lake ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 2.9 km of path
DirectionsBeaver GreenwayPark or garden · 15 ha · 1.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBerczy Park SouthPark or garden · 12 ha · 3.1 km of path
DirectionsHuntsmill ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 1.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBerczy Park NorthPark or garden · 13 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsBox Grove Community ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsBruce CreekPark or garden · 12 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsJohn Button ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsMildred Temple ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsHuntington ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsSimonston ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsMonarch ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsBayview Reservoir ParkPark or garden · 12 ha
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 10.0 ha · 1.1 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
8 in 10 people in Markham 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 (84%)Further (16%)
Markham84%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
About 58,000 residents live further than 400 m from one. The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, lower than here.
Protected areas
Around Markham, protected areas make up 6.7%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Markham12%
Within 10 km6.7%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of those 58, 32 are public and the remainder private. Biggest of the named areas: Rouge National Urban Park, 4,551 ha. Not named: 13 areas held privately or with no public owner on record.
Rouge National Urban ParkNational urban park · 4,551 ha · reaches Markham
Doncrest ValleyNature reserve · 5.4 ha · reaches Markham
Beaver WoodlandNature reserve · 18 ha · reaches Markham
Riotrin ValleylandsNature reserve · 20 ha · 0.1 km from the edge of town
Headford ValleylandsNature reserve · 12 ha · 0.1 km from the edge of town
Beaver GreenwayNature reserve · 29 ha · 0.1 km from the edge of town
Rouge River Headwaters Valley & TrailsNature reserve · 37 ha · 1.1 km from the edge of town
Webster ParkNature reserve · 18 ha · 1.8 km from the edge of town
Trailwood ReserveNature reserve · 13 ha · 2.0 km from the edge of town
David Dunlap Observatory ParkNature reserve · 45 ha · 2.2 km from the edge of town
17 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 parks within reach of Markham
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
National urban park
Rouge National Urban Park
At the edge46 km²since 2015
Provincial park
Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park
12 km north-east5.3 km²since 2024
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Markham and its edge hold 491 km of footpath
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
491 km
in and around the town (293.3 km²)
Woodland
6.7%
about 19.7 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
MarkhamTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.7
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
MarkhamTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland6.7%
0%50%100%
It is less wooded than 56% of Canadian towns. For path density, it beats 51% 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
2 mapped routes to walk from Markham
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
Seaton Hiking Trail12.5 km
Villages & Valley (foot)12.4 km
The longest of the rest is the Seaton Hiking Trail, 12.5 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Markham is best on foot in May and July to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Toronto Buttonville (Airport), 5.6 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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°C) | -2 | -1 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 14 | 7 | 2 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 64 | 51 | 52 | 79 | 80 | 87 | 85 | 72 | 83 | 71 | 77 | 63 |
The yearly snowfall is near 146 cm. Rain and snow peak in June (87 mm) and ease in February (51 mm). From -2 °C in January to 27 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. The climate in Markham →
Beaches
A beach within 5 km of Markham
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Whether the water is fit for a swim isn’t in any open national dataset; public health posts the local advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Markham has 2 viewpoints within 2 km
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Most numerous: playgrounds (514).
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 2
Plus 2 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 2
Dicksons Hillin town
DirectionsHeise Hill0.3 km from town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
Bob Hunter Memorial Parkin town
DirectionsPicnic sites 11
Plus 11 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 514
Briarwood Playgroundin town
DirectionsBzz-E-Kidzin town
DirectionsCarlton Park Playgroundin town
DirectionsFrank H. Johnson Parkin town
DirectionsPris-T-gis Playgroundin town
DirectionsRadiant Way Montessori Playgroundin town
DirectionsRussell Carter Tefft Parkin town
DirectionsSablewood Playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 506 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 6
Cornell Community Dog Parkin town
DirectionsDog Off Leash Areain town
DirectionsHuntington Park Off-Leash Dog Parkin town
DirectionsDogs Off-Leash Area1.5 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Camp Chimoin town
DirectionsCamp Green Acresin town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
Milliken Park, 0.3 km from Markham, is the garden to visit
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Milliken ParkGarden or park · 0.3 km from town
DirectionsSources: 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 Markham
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
UnionvilleHagerman's CornersQuantztownBerczy VillageUnderwoodBrown's CornersMarkham
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markham | 6.7% | 58 | 2 | 1 |
| Unionville 1.5 km | 7.5% | 27 | 1 | 1 |
| Hagerman's Corners 2.1 km | 6.4% | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| Quantztown 2.1 km | 8.5% | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Berczy Village 3.2 km | 9.3% | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| Underwood 3.3 km | 2.4% | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| Brown's Corners 3.3 km | 1.8% | 32 | 0 | 0 |
None of its neighbours has twice the protected land around it that Markham has.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- Protected land. The share is of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s outline, from CPCAD’s mapped areas; marine areas count, so a coastal town can score high on water.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- 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.
Questions about the outdoors in Markham
Is there protected land near Markham?
Protected areas cover 6.7% of the land within 10 km.
Is Markham near a national park?
It is on the doorstep: Rouge National Urban Park touches Markham.
Which is the biggest protected area near Markham?
Rouge National Urban Park, a national urban park of 4,551 ha.
Where can you walk near Markham?
The Villages & Valley (foot) and Seaton Hiking Trail, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
Is there a beach near Markham?
There is an unnamed beach within 5 km.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Markham?
It is Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park, 12 km away.
When should you visit Markham for the outdoors?
May and July to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
Sources
Where Markham’s 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.
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).