First pick
Hurdman Park
Park or garden · 110 m outside town
68 ha9.6 km of path
2 h 10 minto walk all 9.6 km of path
2.0 km southfrom the centre
Rideau River Eastern PathwayHospital Link Multi Use Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: SimonP at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.013%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Sandy Hill · parks, protected land & trails
Sandy Hill has more protected land around it than 9 in 10 Canadian towns
CPCAD lists 40 protected areas within 10 km. For walks, 4 named routes run within 2 km, such as the Confederation Boulevard and Confederation Boulevard - Sussex Drive. For a swim, The Pond Beach is the nearest of 3 beaches within 5 km.
Protected land
13%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
40
within 10 km, 19 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
95 km
Thousand Islands National Park
Nearest provincial park
38 km
Plaisance National Park (Québec)
Walking routes
4
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
3
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Sandy Hill, 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 townsWalking routes4 named routes within 2 km
Above all, Sandy Hill offers protected land around it, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Sandy Hill, set against 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. There is no Outdoors grade for Canadian towns; the figures stand beside the country’s towns of 2,500+ without a letter.
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 town1.7%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas19Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes4Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches3Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Sandy Hill has the 6th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (13,535 to 14,148 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
Sandy Hill13%
Towns its size3.9%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Sandy Hill19
Towns its size5
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Sandy Hill4
Towns its size0
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Sandy Hill’s strong point is public protected areas, where 4 of 39 top it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kerrisdale BC | 18% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 33 |
| 2 | Hammonds Plains NS | 16% | 4.9% | 35 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Riverview ON | 15% | 1.9% | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Oakridge BC | 13% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| 5 | Convent Glen - Orleans Woods ON | 13% | 0% | 35 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Sandy Hill ON | 13% | 1.7% | 40 | 4 | 3 |
| 7 | Ville-Émard QC | 10% | 0% | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Findlay Creek ON | 8.2% | 2.5% | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Beaurivage QC | 8.1% | 0% | 30 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Rideaucrest - Davidson Heights ON | 6.8% | 11% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Terrace BC | 6.7% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Cloverdale BC | 6% | 0.4% | 160 | 5 | 0 |
| 13 | Glen Cairn ON | 5.5% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Dolbeau-Mistassini QC | 5.4% | 6.6% | 19 | 0 | 12 |
| 15 | Manor Park NS | 5.3% | 0% | 22 | 6 | 21 |
| 16 | E-F-K-Section (bramalea) ON | 5% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Sillery QC | 4.8% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 5 |
| 18 | Montcalm QC | 4.7% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 19 | Saint-Amable QC | 4.3% | 0% | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | L'Aéroport QC | 4% | 0% | 33 | 1 | 3 |
| 21 | Strathcona BC | 3.8% | 0% | 13 | 4 | 76 |
| 22 | Oakridge ON | 2.5% | 11% | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| 23 | Fletchers Creek Village / Lundy Village ON | 2.5% | 7.1% | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | Copperfield AB | 2.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 25 | Greenwood-Coxwell ON | 2.2% | 0% | 12 | 3 | 38 |
| 26 | West Queen West ON | 2.1% | 0% | 11 | 6 | 24 |
| 27 | Wychwood ON | 2.1% | 0% | 11 | 4 | 10 |
| 28 | Humewood-Cedarvale ON | 2% | 0% | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| 29 | Parkwoods-O'Connor Hills ON | 1.9% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Avondale ON | 1.5% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Dawson Creek BC | 1% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Beaverton ON | 0.8% | 1.1% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Streetsville ON | 0.7% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | The Maples MB | 0.4% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | River West ON | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 36 | Rossmere-A MB | 0.2% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Wetaskiwin AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Sandwich ON | 0.1% | 2.9% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 39 | Sainte-Marie QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Skyview Ranch AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Sandy Hill
The neighbourhood’s parks, woods, protected land and paths, with its named places numbered.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
Walk in Sandy Hill: 18 named parks and woods
Largest first: Hurdman Park leads with 68 ha. Numbers match the map.
18 named parks and woods, 162 ha in all
Parks & gardens 162 ha
Hurdman Park and Parliament Hill together hold 64% of it.
Parliament Hill
Park or garden · 360 m outside town
37 ha7.7 km of path
1 h 45 minto walk all 7.7 km of path
2.0 km westfrom the centre
Ottawa River Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
River Road Park
Park or garden
15 ha2.1 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
1.0 km eastfrom the centre
Rideau River Eastern Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Strathcona Park
Park or garden
7.4 ha2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
Centralin the middle of Sandy Hill
Directionsto a point inside
Riverain Park
Park or garden
6.1 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
0.8 km north-eastfrom the centre
Rideau River Eastern Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Kingsview Park
Park or garden · 170 m outside town
4.8 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
1.2 km northfrom the centre
Rideau River Eastern Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Springhurst Park
Park or garden · 200 m outside town
4.7 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
1.5 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Confederation Park
Park or garden
3.2 ha1.3 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
1.2 km westfrom the centre
Lawrence Freiman LaneRideau Canal Western Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
All 18 named parks and green spaces
Hurdman ParkPark or garden · 68 ha · 9.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsParliament HillPark or garden · 37 ha · 7.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRiver Road ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 2.1 km of path
DirectionsStrathcona ParkPark or garden · 7.4 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsRiverain ParkPark or garden · 6.1 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsKingsview ParkPark or garden · 4.8 ha · 1.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSpringhurst ParkPark or garden · 4.7 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsConfederation ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsMacDonald Gardens ParkPark or garden · 4.0 ha · 0.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSandy Hill ArenaPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsRobinson FieldPark or garden · 3.0 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsDutchie's Hole ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsAnnie Pootoogook ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsJules Morin ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsConfederation SquarePark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSt. Germain ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsBesserer ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsCindy Mitchell ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
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 9 in 10 in Sandy Hill
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 (93%)Further (6.7%)
Sandy Hill93%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
Around 900 residents are further than 400 m from a park. It is above the typical Canadian town (83%).
Protected areas
The 40 protected areas near Sandy Hill
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Sandy Hill1.7%
Within 10 km13%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 19 of the 40. The others are private conservation land. Rideau Canal National Historic Site covers 19,972 ha, the most of any named area. Not named: 21 areas held privately or with no public owner on record.
Rideau Canal National Historic SiteProtected area · 19,972 ha · reaches Sandy Hill
Jacques-Cartier ParkProtected area · 4.7 ha · 1.8 km from the edge of town
Champlain Bridge and Lemieux IslandsWildlife area · 10 ha · 3.3 km from the edge of town
Aviation Museum WoodsWildlife area · 57 ha · 3.5 km from the edge of town
Lac des Fées ParkwayProtected area · 17 ha · 3.5 km from the edge of town
Hull, Aylmer, Pont Champlain Rapides Chaud Water Fowl Gathering AreaWildlife area · 148 ha · 3.6 km from the edge of town
Voyageurs CorridorProtected area · 16 ha · 3.9 km from the edge of town
Philemon-Leamy corridorProtected area · 48 ha · 4.9 km from the edge of town
Moore FarmProtected area · 15 ha · 5.1 km from the edge of town
Voyageurs CorridorWildlife area · 75 ha · 5.1 km from the edge of town
9 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
95 km to Thousand Islands National Park
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
Plaisance National Park (Québec)
38 km north-east28 km²since 2002
National park
Thousand Islands National Park
95 km south24 km²since 1904
Plaisance National Park (Québec), a provincial park, is nearer at 38 km.
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: 100 km in and around Sandy Hill
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
100 km
in and around the town (12.1 km²)
Woodland
4.2%
about 0.5 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Sandy HillTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths8.3
0510 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Sandy HillTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland4.2%
0%50%100%
It has more footpath per km² than 99% of Canadian towns. It is less wooded than 64% 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
4 mapped routes to walk from Sandy Hill
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalLocal
Rideau Trail - Ottawa Section110.1 km
Confederation Boulevard4.3 km
Confederation Boulevard - Sussex Drive2.9 km
Confederation Boulevard - Elgin Street0.9 km
The longest of the rest is the Rideau Trail - Ottawa Section, 110.1 km. 2 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
Walking season in Sandy Hill: May and July to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Ottawa (City), 6.1 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 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°C) | -5 | -3 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 13 | 6 | -2 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 65 | 52 | 62 | 81 | 80 | 95 | 92 | 87 | 87 | 90 | 72 | 74 |
Daytime highs run from -5 °C in January up to 27 °C in July. Most rain and snow falls in June, 95 mm; February sees 52 mm. Snowfall averages 185 cm a year. The climate in Sandy Hill →
Beaches
3 beaches within 5 km of Sandy Hill
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
The Pond Beach2.1 km from town
DirectionsPlage du lac Leamysand · 3.7 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap shows one more, nameless. 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
Sandy Hill has 15 viewpoints and 2 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Count 134 playgrounds, the biggest group.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 15
Ottawa Locks0.3 km from town
DirectionsView on the River0.8 km from town
DirectionsKìwekì Point Lookout1.0 km from town
DirectionsThe Cliff1.6 km from town
DirectionsRideau Falls1.6 km from town
DirectionsSparks Street Lookout1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 9 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 134
Splash Pad - Cindy Mitchell Parkin town
DirectionsSplash Pad - Montgomery Memorial Park0.6 km from town
DirectionsSplash Pad - St. Ambroise Park0.6 km from town
DirectionsSplash Pad - Bordeleau Park0.8 km from town
DirectionsSplash Pad - New Edinburgh Park0.9 km from town
DirectionsSplash Pad - Nault Park1.4 km from town
DirectionsSplash Pad - Kiwanis Park1.5 km from town
DirectionsSplash Pad - Lawson Park1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 126 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 4
Jack Purcell Dog Park0.7 km from town
DirectionsStanley Park dog beach1.0 km from town
DirectionsStanley Park Dog Park1.1 km from town
DirectionsSylvia Holden Off-leash dog park1.8 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
3 gardens and historic parks to visit near Sandy Hill
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Major's Hill ParkGarden or park · 0.6 km from town
DirectionsJacques Cartier ParkGarden or park · 1.9 km from town
DirectionsCommissioners ParkGarden or park · 2.9 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 Sandy Hill
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Lowertown EastLowertown WestOld Ottawa EastVanier SouthNew EdinburghCentretownSandy Hill
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy Hill | 13% | 40 | 4 | 3 |
| Lowertown East 0.9 km | 11% | 38 | 4 | 3 |
| Lowertown West 1.1 km | 10% | 36 | 4 | 4 |
| Old Ottawa East 1.5 km | 13% | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| Vanier South 1.9 km | 12% | 39 | 2 | 2 |
| New Edinburgh 1.9 km | 11% | 37 | 4 | 3 |
| Centretown 1.9 km | 12% | 37 | 4 | 6 |
No neighbouring place reaches twice Sandy Hill’s protected share.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- National and provincial parks. National parks are Parks Canada’s; provincial parks are the province’s or territory’s, Québec’s parcs nationaux among them.
- Protected land. CPCAD maps each protected area; the page counts how much of the 10 km around the town they cover, lakes and sea included.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
Questions about the outdoors in Sandy Hill
What is the nearest national park to Sandy Hill?
Thousand Islands National Park is closest, at 95 km.
When should you visit Sandy Hill 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.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Sandy Hill?
Plaisance National Park (Québec), 38 km from the edge of town.
What is the largest protected area near Sandy Hill?
Rideau Canal National Historic Site, a protected area of 19,972 ha.
Are there protected areas near Sandy Hill?
Yes: 13% of the land within 10 km is protected.
What is the nearest beach to Sandy Hill?
Try The Pond Beach, 2.1 km from town, first of several.
Are there hiking trails near Sandy Hill?
The Confederation Boulevard, Confederation Boulevard - Sussex Drive and Rideau Trail - Ottawa Section, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
Sources
The sources behind Sandy Hill’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.
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).