First pick
Lower Reach Park
Park or garden · 140 m outside town
18 ha2 km of path
25 minto walk all 2 km of path
12 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Martin Cathrae from Charlottetown, PE, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.02.9%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Merrickville · parks, protected land & trails
The The Great Trail (Eastern Ontario) passes Merrickville
The nearest national park is Thousand Islands National Park, 24 km away. A provincial park, Brockville Long Swamp Fen Provincial Park, lies 9.9 km away. 2 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Merrickville Public Beach.
Protected land
2.9%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
12
within 10 km, 2 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
24 km
Thousand Islands National Park
Nearest provincial park
9.9 km
Brockville Long Swamp Fen Provincial Park
Walking routes
5
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Merrickville apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
On a national routeThe The Great Trail (Eastern Ontario) passes within 2 kmWalking routes5 named routes within 2 kmA national park nearbyThousand Islands National Park, 24 km away
For someone who likes to get outside, Merrickville’s draw is the The Great Trail (Eastern Ontario), with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
Merrickville 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 km2.9%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town5.8%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 routes5Named 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
Merrickville comes 15th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (3,351 to 3,473 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
Merrickville2.9%
Towns its size1.5%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Merrickville2
Towns its size3
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Merrickville5
Towns its size1
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
For walking routes, Merrickville sits near the top of its size group: 1 of 39 has more. It trails them for public protected areas, where 23 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington NB | 32% | 2.4% | 5 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Shuniah ON | 19% | 1.4% | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | North Kawartha ON | 18% | 36% | 20 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Meaghers Grant NS | 15% | 32% | 103 | 4 | 28 |
| 5 | Sables-Spanish Rivers ON | 14% | 9.7% | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Kensington, Part 1 PE | 11% | 0.9% | 21 | 11 | 6 |
| 7 | Cumberland County, Subdivision A NS | 10% | 24% | 90 | 1 | 10 |
| 8 | Portneuf QC | 9.8% | 0.2% | 29 | 5 | 6 |
| 9 | Thurso QC | 8% | 14% | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Mackenzie BC | 7.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Electoral Area E (West Boundary), Kootenay Boundary BC | 6.5% | 1.6% | 24 | 0 | 36 |
| 12 | Port Hawkesbury NS | 5.1% | 0% | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Havre-Saint-Pierre QC | 3.7% | 2.7% | 29 | 0 | 12 |
| 14 | Electoral Area B, North Okanagan BC | 3.7% | 4% | 17 | 0 | 30 |
| 15 | Merrickville ON | 2.9% | 5.8% | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| 16 | Trillium Industrial Park ON | 2.2% | 6.2% | 23 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | Glenview West ON | 1.9% | 0% | 13 | 1 | 6 |
| 18 | Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier QC | 1.8% | 3.9% | 27 | 1 | 12 |
| 19 | West Jasper Place AB | 1.8% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | Riverdale East ON | 1.6% | 0% | 14 | 3 | 8 |
| 21 | North St. Boniface MB | 1.4% | 7.7% | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| 22 | Buchanan MB | 1.2% | 0.1% | 11 | 1 | 37 |
| 23 | Niakwa Place MB | 0.8% | 4.3% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Richmond QC | 0.7% | 0% | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Richmond County, Subdivision C NS | 0.6% | 1.8% | 27 | 0 | 31 |
| 26 | Channel-Port aux Basques NL | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 27 | Lynnwood AB | 0.4% | 0% | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 28 | Compton QC | 0.3% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 29 | Coach Hill AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Ramsay Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | Royal Gardens AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Placentia NL | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 33 | Sakaw AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 34 | Lewisporte NL | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Saint-Côme--Linière QC | 0.1% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Richfield AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Sainte-Mélanie QC | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Gibbons AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Montrose AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 40 | Virginia Park AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 2 | 1 |
The map
Where the green is in Merrickville
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
6 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Merrickville
The biggest is Lower Reach Park, 18 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
6 named parks and woods, 28 ha in all
Parks & gardens 28 ha
Two places, Lower Reach Park and Merrickville Fairgrounds, make up 83% of the total.
Wolford Centennial Park
Park or garden
3.5 ha
3.9 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Lock 19 - Upper Nicholsons
Park or garden
0.7 ha
9.6 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Lower Nicholsons Lock
Park or garden
0.4 ha
10.0 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Merrickville Cenotaph
Park or garden
0.2 ha
5.2 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
A park is within a short walk for 2 in 10 in Merrickville
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 (17%)Further (83%)
Merrickville17%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
Around 2,800 residents are further than 400 m from a park. A median Canadian town manages 83%.
Protected areas
2.9% of the land around Merrickville is protected
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Merrickville5.8%
Within 10 km2.9%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 2 of the 12. The others are private conservation land. Rideau Canal National Historic Site is the biggest, 19,972 ha. The count includes 10 areas that are private or not recorded as public; they aren’t named.
Rideau Canal National Historic SiteProtected area · 19,972 ha · reaches Merrickville
Brockville Long Swamp Fen Provincial ParkProvincial park · 218 ha · 9.9 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
The nearest big park: Thousand Islands National Park, 24 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
Brockville Long Swamp Fen Provincial Park
9.9 km south2.2 km²since 2017
National park
Thousand Islands National Park
24 km south24 km²since 1904
Closer to home, Brockville Long Swamp Fen Provincial Park is 9.9 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
Merrickville has 16 km of footpaths in and around it
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
16 km
in and around the town (314.8 km²)
Woodland
39%
about 124.2 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
MerrickvilleTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
MerrickvilleTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland39%
0%50%100%
92% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km². Woods cover more of it than in 79% 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
Walks near Merrickville
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalRegionalLocal
The Great Trail (Eastern Ontario)239.5 km
Rideau Trail - Ottawa Section110.1 km
Rideau Trail - Central Section61.4 km
RT Blue Connector9.8 km
Tip-To-Tip Trail2.2 km
Of the The Great Trail (Eastern Ontario)’s 240 km, 1.0 km passes close to town. Among local routes, the Rideau Trail - Ottawa Section is longest at 110.1 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 Merrickville in May, June, August and September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Kemptville (23 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) | 9.1 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°C) | -4 | -2 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 14 | 6 | -1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 70 | 52 | 62 | 88 | 73 | 82 | 98 | 75 | 83 | 92 | 79 | 72 |
Some 180 cm of snow falls each winter. July is warm and wet, 98 mm; the driest month, February, has 52 mm. Summer highs reach 27 °C in July; in January they stay near -4 °C. The climate in Merrickville →
Beaches
2 beaches within 5 km of Merrickville
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Merrickville Public Beachin town
DirectionsMurphy Park Beachsand · 1.9 km from town
DirectionsCanada publishes no open register of beach water tests; the local public health unit posts swimming advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
6 viewpoints near Merrickville
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Most numerous: picnic sites (13).
Every named place, with directions
Nature reserves 1
Limerick Forest (North)in town
DirectionsPicnic sites 13
Plus 13 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 7
Lower Reach Splash Pad0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 6 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Parks Canada oTENTikin town
DirectionsRiverside Camp0.4 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Merrickville
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
MontagueSmiths FallsMerrickville
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrickville | 2.9% | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| Montague 12 km | 3% | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Smiths Falls 12 km | 7.5% | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Around Smiths Falls the protected share is at least double.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- 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. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
Questions about the outdoors in Merrickville
When is the best time for walking in Merrickville?
On the normals, May, June, August and September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Merrickville?
It is Brockville Long Swamp Fen Provincial Park, 9.9 km away.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Merrickville?
Rideau Canal National Historic Site, a protected area of 19,972 ha.
How much land around Merrickville is protected?
Yes: 2.9% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Is there a beach near Merrickville?
Merrickville Public Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
Where can you walk near Merrickville?
The The Great Trail (Eastern Ontario), Rideau Trail - Ottawa Section and Rideau Trail - Central Section, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
How far is Merrickville from a national park?
It is Thousand Islands National Park, 24 km off.
Sources
The sources behind Merrickville’s outdoors figures
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).