First pick
Biener's Bush
Park or garden
111 ha6.6 km of path
1 h 30 minto walk all 6.6 km of path
1.1 km north-westfrom the centre
Biener Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Gogerr · CC BY-SA 4.01.6%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Port Elgin · parks, protected land & trails
Port Elgin borders MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Swimmers have 25 beaches within 5 km, Camper's Beach the nearest. A drive of 64 km reaches Bruce Peninsula National Park, the nearest national park. CPCAD lists 8 protected areas within 10 km.
Protected land
1.6%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
8
within 10 km, 1 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
64 km
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Beaches
25
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Port Elgin stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A provincial park at the edgeMacGregor Point Provincial Park reaches the townBeaches25 beaches within 5 km
What Port Elgin has most to offer outdoors is a provincial park at its edge, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Port Elgin 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. No letter: the outdoors is described for Canadian towns, not graded.
Protected within 10 km1.6%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town6.2%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas1Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches25Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Port Elgin has the 15th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (17,673 to 18,676 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
Port Elgin1.6%
Towns its size2.2%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Port Elgin1
Towns its size4
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Port Elgin0
Towns its size0
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
For public protected areas, Port Elgin lags towns its size: 30 of 39 are ahead.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fallingbrook ON | 14% | 0% | 41 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Deux-Montagnes QC | 14% | 2.1% | 33 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Central Saanich BC | 9.2% | 3.3% | 35 | 2 | 29 |
| 4 | Desmarchais-Crawford QC | 8.8% | 1.4% | 21 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Sainte-Catherine QC | 7.9% | 6.3% | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Schmidtville NS | 5.9% | 0% | 16 | 4 | 18 |
| 7 | Bracebridge ON | 5.4% | 3.4% | 13 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | Oak Bay BC | 5.4% | 3.4% | 17 | 2 | 26 |
| 9 | Iberville QC | 5.1% | 0% | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Dewdney East SK | 4.5% | 0% | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 11 | Fraser Heights BC | 4.1% | 24% | 129 | 4 | 6 |
| 12 | Royal Oak BC | 4.1% | 0% | 27 | 3 | 6 |
| 13 | L'Ancienne-Lorette QC | 3.9% | 0% | 29 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Centre ON | 3.8% | 12% | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | Parc-Laurier QC | 3.5% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Morningside ON | 3% | 27% | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| 17 | McKenzie Towne AB | 3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 18 | Auburn Bay AB | 2.9% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| 19 | Downtown Yonge East ON | 2.3% | 0% | 11 | 10 | 39 |
| 20 | Kensington-Chinatown ON | 2.2% | 0% | 12 | 8 | 29 |
| 21 | Credit Valley ON | 2.2% | 5.5% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Fletchers West ON | 2.2% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Thornhill ON | 2.1% | 0.4% | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Greater Napanee ON | 1.9% | 1.2% | 34 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | Cold Lake AB | 1.7% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | Port Elgin ON | 1.6% | 6.2% | 8 | 0 | 25 |
| 27 | Saint-Sulpice QC | 1.5% | 2.1% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Mahogany AB | 1.4% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 29 | Clanton Park ON | 1.3% | 0% | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | Downsview ON | 1.1% | 0% | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | Collingwood BC | 0.8% | 0% | 11 | 3 | 6 |
| 32 | Edmundston NB | 0.6% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 33 | Swift Current SK | 0.6% | 0.2% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Listowel ON | 0.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Sylvan Lake AB | 0.5% | 0.1% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Eringate-Centennial-West Deane ON | 0.4% | 0% | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 37 | Port Hope ON | 0.3% | 0.1% | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 38 | Mimico-Queensway ON | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 3 | 20 |
| 39 | DT Fairview ON | 0.2% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Taradale AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Port Elgin
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
22 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Port Elgin
Biener's Bush is the largest, at 111 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
22 named parks and woods, 238 ha in all
Parks & gardens 238 ha
Add Biener's Bush to Lamot Sports Park and you have 74% of it.
Lamot Sports Park
Park or garden
67 ha2.3 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.3 km of path
2.6 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
CAW UNIFOR Park
Park or garden
13 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
2.5 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Saugeen Shores Dog Park
Park or garden
6.5 ha1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
1.5 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Cameron Park
Park or garden
8.0 ha0.2 km of path
1.7 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Biener Park
Park or garden
6.0 ha0.4 km of path
Centralin the middle of Port Elgin
Directionsto a point inside
Nodwell Park
Park or garden
3.8 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
Centralin the middle of Port Elgin
Directionsto a point inside
North Shore Park
Park or garden
3.6 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
1.2 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 22 named parks and green spaces
Biener's BushPark or garden · 111 ha · 6.6 km of path
DirectionsLamot Sports ParkPark or garden · 67 ha · 2.3 km of path
DirectionsCAW UNIFOR ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsSaugeen Shores Dog ParkPark or garden · 6.5 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsCameron ParkPark or garden · 8.0 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsBiener ParkPark or garden · 6.0 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsNodwell ParkPark or garden · 3.8 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsNorth Shore ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsPeirson ParkPark or garden · 3.9 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsHelliwell ParkPark or garden · 3.3 ha
DirectionsSnyder ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsSummerside ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsEastwood ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsBruce Street United Church ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha
DirectionsPerkins ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsSouth Port ParkPark or garden · 1.7 ha
DirectionsDavey ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsLake Ridge ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsPioneer ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsWaterloo ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsGeorge Marion ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsMissionary Church ParkPark or garden · 0.2 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 6 in 10 in Port Elgin
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%)
Port Elgin56%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
Most towns do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%. About 8,000 residents live further than 400 m from one.
Protected areas
1.6% of the country within 10 km of Port Elgin 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 Port Elgin6.2%
Within 10 km1.6%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Of the 8, 1 are public land; the others are privately held. 7 areas, privately held or of unrecorded ownership, are left unnamed.
MacGregor Point Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,492 ha · reaches Port Elgin
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
Bruce Peninsula National Park is 64 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
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
At the edge15 km²since 1975
National park
Bruce Peninsula National Park
64 km north125 km²since 1987
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
116 km of paths in and around Port Elgin
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
116 km
in and around the town (257.3 km²)
Woodland
18%
about 47.1 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Port ElginTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.5
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Port ElginTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland18%
0%50%100%
For path density, 68% of Canadian towns do better. More of it is wooded than in 65% 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
No named walking route passes Port Elgin on the map
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
There is no mapped walking route within 2 km of the town; a local trail club’s maps may show more.
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 Port Elgin: May to August
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Wiarton (40 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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°C) | -2 | -2 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 111 | 77 | 66 | 84 | 82 | 79 | 70 | 83 | 99 | 110 | 110 | 104 |
Daytime highs run from -2 °C in January up to 24 °C in July. March is the driest month at 66 mm; January the wettest at 111 mm. Snowfall averages 385 cm a year. The climate in Port Elgin →
Beaches
25 beaches within 5 km of Port Elgin
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Camper's Beachin town
DirectionsDay Use Beachsand · in town
DirectionsQueen's Bush Beachin town
DirectionsGobles Grove Beachsand · in town
DirectionsSaugeen Beachin town
DirectionsPort Elgin Main Beachsand · in town
DirectionsSaugeen Beachsand · 0.1 km from town
DirectionsSandy ones: 4. Unnamed on the map: 18 more. 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
Port Elgin has 6 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 (29).
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 6
Plus 3 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Refuge d'oiseaux de l'Île Chantryin town
DirectionsSaugeen Bluffs Conservation Areain town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 29
Beach Playgroundin town
DirectionsCameron Parkin town
DirectionsDavey Parkin town
DirectionsEastwood Parkin town
DirectionsLake Range Parkin town
DirectionsLake View Parkin town
DirectionsNorth Shore Parkin town
DirectionsPeirson Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 21 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Saugeen Shores Dog Parkin town
DirectionsCampsites 8
MacGregor Point - Algonquin Campgroundin town
DirectionsMacGregor Point - Huron Campgroundin town
DirectionsMacGregor Point - Nipissing Campgroundin town
DirectionsPort Elgin Municipal Tourist Campin town
DirectionsPaisley Rotary Riverside Campground2.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 campsites without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Port Elgin
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. Port Elgin has few close neighbours with figures, so the list reaches 21–30 km out.
ChesleyWiartonKincardinePort Elgin
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Elgin | 1.6% | 8 | 0 | 25 |
| Chesley 21 km | 0.3% | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| Wiarton 27 km | 1.4% | 64 | 3 | 55 |
| Kincardine 30 km | 1% | 7 | 0 | 19 |
Wiarton has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 3. None of its neighbours has twice the protected land around it that Port Elgin has.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Protected land. Measured on CPCAD’s outlines: the part of a 10 km band around the town that lies in a protected or conserved area, water included.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- 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 Port Elgin
Are there protected areas near Port Elgin?
Within 10 km, 1.6% of the land lies in protected areas.
Is there a beach near Port Elgin?
The nearest is Camper's Beach, in town.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Port Elgin?
MacGregor Point Provincial Park, which reaches the edge of town.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Port Elgin?
MacGregor Point Provincial Park, a provincial park of 1,492 ha.
How far is Port Elgin from a national park?
It is Bruce Peninsula National Park, 64 km off.
When is the best time for walking in Port Elgin?
May to August: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Sources
Sources for this page on Port Elgin
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).