First pick
Riverside Park
Park or garden · 270 m outside town
36 ha4.5 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.5 km of path
4.7 km westfrom the centre
Speed River TrailTrans Canada Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Nelro2 · Public domain0.5%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Rockwood · parks, protected land & trails
Walk from Rockwood: 15 mapped routes
Count 27 protected areas within 10 km of town. The nearest provincial park, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, is 18 km away. Swimmers have 5 beaches within 5 km, Guelph Lake Main Beach the nearest.
Protected land
0.5%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
27
within 10 km, 18 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
76 km
Rouge National Urban Park
Nearest provincial park
18 km
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
Walking routes
15
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
5
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Rockwood has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Walking routes15 named routes within 2 kmBeaches5 beaches within 5 kmLittle protected land0.5% within 10 km; the typical Canadian town: 2.3%
For someone who likes to get outside, Rockwood’s draw is its choice of walking routes, with its beaches close behind. Less going for it: protected land nearby.
Against other towns
Each figure for Rockwood, 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. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
Protected within 10 km0.5%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0.4%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas18Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes15Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches5Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Among 40 towns its size, Rockwood is 6th from the bottom for protected land
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (14,608 to 15,122 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
Rockwood0.5%
Towns its size2.2%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Rockwood18
Towns its size6
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Rockwood15
Towns its size1
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
None of the other 39 towns its size has more walking routes than Rockwood. It trails them for protected land nearby, where 34 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whistler BC | 56% | 26% | 11 | 3 | 8 |
| 2 | Les Rapides QC | 16% | 0% | 34 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Arbutus Ridge BC | 15% | 0% | 12 | 2 | 62 |
| 4 | Rivière-Gatineau QC | 13% | 0% | 38 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Vieux-Montréal QC | 8% | 0% | 28 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Dupéré QC | 7.7% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Middle Sackville NS | 6.4% | 6.5% | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Vieux-Bourg QC | 6.1% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 5 |
| 9 | Saint-Louis QC | 6.1% | 0.1% | 19 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Bécancour QC | 6% | 1.1% | 42 | 1 | 13 |
| 11 | Powell River BC | 5.5% | 0.1% | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| 12 | Vales of Castlemore ON | 5.2% | 21% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Guildford BC | 4.5% | 4% | 125 | 4 | 5 |
| 14 | Buttonville ON | 3.2% | 0% | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Limoges ON | 3.1% | 5.7% | 31 | 0 | 2 |
| 16 | Royal Orchard ON | 3% | 0% | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | Orsainville QC | 2.5% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 6 |
| 18 | Taylor-Massey ON | 2.3% | 13% | 12 | 1 | 15 |
| 19 | Doon South ON | 2.3% | 16% | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | Springbrook ON | 2.2% | 15% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Hyde Park ON | 2.2% | 0.6% | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | South London ON | 2% | 1.2% | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | North Battleford SK | 1.9% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Lawrence Park South ON | 1.7% | 0% | 15 | 2 | 1 |
| 25 | Lawrence Park North ON | 1.5% | 0% | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Des Châtels QC | 1.3% | 0% | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| 27 | Pont-Viau QC | 1.3% | 0% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Roncesvalles ON | 1.3% | 0% | 10 | 4 | 17 |
| 29 | Lakewood SK | 1.3% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| 30 | Ingersoll ON | 1.1% | 0% | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | Windermere AB | 1% | 2.3% | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | Campbellford ON | 0.8% | 0.5% | 24 | 7 | 0 |
| 33 | Chappelle AB | 0.8% | 0% | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 34 | Carleton Place ON | 0.6% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 35 | Rockwood ON | 0.5% | 0.4% | 27 | 15 | 5 |
| 36 | Lacombe AB | 0.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Truro NS | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| 38 | Mountain View County AB | 0.1% | 0.1% | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 39 | Cooksville NHD (West) ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 40 | Portage la Prairie MB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in Rockwood
The town’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
23 named parks and woods to walk in near Rockwood
Largest first: Riverside Park leads with 36 ha. Numbers match the map.
23 named parks and woods, 291 ha in all
Parks & gardens 156 haWoods 135 ha
Between them, Ellis Creek Wetland and Riverside Park cover 49%.
Silver Creek Park
Park or garden · 230 m outside town
33 ha5.1 km of path
1 h 10 minto walk all 5.1 km of path
6.3 km south-westfrom the centre
Royal Recreation Trail - Silvercreek TrailRoyal City Park And Silvercreek Park North TrailSilvercreek Skatepark Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Ellis Creek Wetland
Wood or forest
106 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
10 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Eastview Community Park
Park or garden
24 ha3.1 km of path
40 minto walk all 3.1 km of path
1.3 km westfrom the centre
Eastview Community Park Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Centennial Park
Park or garden · 210 m outside town
18 ha2.1 km of path
25 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
6.8 km south-westfrom the centre
Royal Recreation Trail - Silvercreek Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Guelph Lake Sports Fields
Park or garden
14 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
3.2 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Old-Growth Forest
Wood or forest
25 ha3 km of path
40 minto walk all 3 km of path
4.9 km westfrom the centre
James Profit TrailCreation Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Rockmosa Park
Park or garden
4.5 ha0.4 km of path
7.0 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 23 named parks and green spaces
Riverside ParkPark or garden · 36 ha · 4.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSilver Creek ParkPark or garden · 33 ha · 5.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsEllis Creek WetlandWood or forest · 106 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsEastview Community ParkPark or garden · 24 ha · 3.1 km of path
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 18 ha · 2.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGuelph Lake Sports FieldsPark or garden · 14 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsOld-Growth ForestWood or forest · 25 ha · 3 km of path
DirectionsRockmosa ParkPark or garden · 4.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsEarl Brimblecombe ParkPark or garden · 3.9 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDovercliffe ParkPark or garden · 3.9 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSevern Drive ParkPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsSpringdale ParkPark or garden · 2.9 ha · just outside town
DirectionsJoe Veroni ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha · 0.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBrant ParkPark or garden · 2.1 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMemorial ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha
DirectionsCross Creek ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsMitchell ParkWood or forest · 4.0 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsLloyd Dyer ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha
DirectionsMorningcrest ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBeverley Robson ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsValentino ParkPark or garden · 1.3 ha
DirectionsEllis Creek ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsWhitelaw Gardens ParkPark or garden · 0.4 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 1 in 10 in Rockwood
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 (8.9%)Further (91%)
Rockwood8.9%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
Most towns do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%. For about 13,500 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away.
Protected areas
Clythe and Watson Creeks Complex touches Rockwood
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Rockwood0.4%
Within 10 km0.5%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 18 of the 27. Torrance Creek Complex leads for size with 77 ha. 9 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Clythe and Watson Creeks ComplexNature reserve · 23 ha · reaches Rockwood
Ellis Creek PSW ComplexNature reserve · 41 ha · reaches Rockwood
Industrial Park WetlandNature reserve · 11 ha · 0.1 km from the edge of town
Watson-Hadati Headwater LandsNature reserve · 49 ha · 0.2 km from the edge of town
Hanlon Creek Tributary LandsNature reserve · 74 ha · 1.6 km from the edge of town
Torrance Creek ComplexNature reserve · 77 ha · 2.4 km from the edge of town
Kolb ParkNature reserve · 8.7 ha · 7.0 km from the edge of town
SinclairProtected area · 13 ha · 7.8 km from the edge of town
Lackner WoodsNature reserve · 31 ha · 8.2 km from the edge of town
Springmount Park - Idlewood CreekNature reserve · 27 ha · 8.3 km from the edge of town
8 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
Rouge National Urban Park is 76 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
18 km north-east2.9 km²since 1985
National urban park
Rouge National Urban Park
76 km north-east46 km²since 2015
Closer to home, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is 18 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
Rockwood and its edge hold 253 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
253 km
in and around the town (418.1 km²)
Woodland
22%
about 90.3 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
RockwoodTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.6
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
RockwoodTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland22%
0%50%100%
Paths are thinner on the ground than in 64% of Canadian towns. For woods, it beats 69% 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 Rockwood
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalLocalOther waymarked
Kissing Bridge Trail46.8 km
Guelph Radial Line Trail38.1 km
Cottontail Road Trail (hiking)14.6 km
Speed River Trail13.3 km
Great Auk Trail4.6 km
Arkell Springs Loop Trail2.7 km
North Star Trail2.7 km
Blackbridge1.8 km
Blue Springs Side Trail1.7 km
River Cardoner Trail1.7 km
The Back-40 Trail1.7 km
Martin Royackers, SJ Trail1.6 km
Plus 3 more waymarked walks on the map.
The Kissing Bridge Trail is the big one locally: 46.8 km. 10 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 Rockwood: May, June, August and September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Kitchener/Waterloo (19 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 | 9.0 |
| 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 |
Snow totals about 115 cm a year. The warmest month, July, is also the wettest (96 mm), while February is driest at 46 mm. Highs peak near 25 °C in July and fall to -3 °C in January. The climate in Rockwood →
Beaches
Rockwood has 5 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Guelph Lake Main Beachin town
DirectionsGuelph Lake Pit Beachin town
Directions3 further beaches go unnamed. 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
Near Rockwood: 3 viewpoints on the map
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
3Viewpoints4Hills and peaks3Nature reserves3Picnic sites133Playgrounds4Dog parks12Campsites3Slipways
Look up to Marksam Ridge: 349 m. Count 133 playgrounds, the biggest group.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 3
Lookoutin town
DirectionsMarsh Viewin town
DirectionsPlus 1 viewpoint without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 4
Moe Hill336 m · 0.7 km from town
DirectionsMarksam Ridge349 m · 1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 3
Guelph Lake Conservation Areain town
DirectionsRockwood Conservation Areain town
DirectionsHowitt Creek Flood Protection Facility1.0 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 3
Plus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 133
Springdale Playground0.4 km from town
DirectionsCarter Park Playground0.8 km from town
DirectionsSuffolk Street Playground2.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 130 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 4
Bristle Street Dog Park1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 12
Camp Conestogoin town
DirectionsCedar Valleyin town
DirectionsEverton Scout Campin town
DirectionsGroup Areain town
DirectionsGuelph Lake Conservation Areain town
DirectionsMaple Grove RV Parkin town
DirectionsMaple Lanein town
DirectionsPineviewin town
DirectionsPlus 4 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
A garden to visit near Rockwood: University of Guelph Arboretum, 2.6 km away
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
University of Guelph ArboretumGarden or park · 2.6 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 Rockwood
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
GuelphPuslinchRockwood
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
More routes are mapped around Puslinch (18). For protected land, Puslinch has twice as much or more.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- 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 Rockwood
What is the nearest national park to Rockwood?
Rouge National Urban Park is closest, at 76 km.
When should you visit Rockwood for the outdoors?
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 Rockwood?
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, 18 km from the edge of town.
Where can you swim near Rockwood?
Try Guelph Lake Main Beach, in town, first of several.
What walking routes are near Rockwood?
Try the Guelph Radial Line Trail, Speed River Trail and Kissing Bridge Trail; more are on the map.
What is the largest protected area near Rockwood?
Torrance Creek Complex, a nature reserve of 77 ha.
Are there protected areas near Rockwood?
Protected areas cover 0.5% of the land within 10 km.
Sources
Where Rockwood’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).