First pick
Big Geeen Island
Wood or forest
26 ha
24 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: South Algonquin Business Alliance · CC BY-SA 4.011%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in South Algonquin · parks, protected land & trails
South Algonquin has more protected land around it than nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns
Swimmers have 6 beaches within 5 km, Galeairy Lake beach the nearest. National parks are all over 100 km off. 8 protected areas lie within 10 km.
Protected land
11%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
8
within 10 km, 8 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park
Beaches
6
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in South Algonquin, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round11% of the land within 10 km, more than 88% of Canadian townsA provincial park at the edgeUpper Madawaska River Provincial Park reaches the townBeaches6 beaches within 5 km
Above all, South Algonquin offers protected land around it, with a provincial park at its edge close behind.
Against other towns
South Algonquin 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. Outdoors isn’t one of Canada’s graded subjects, so there’s no letter here: each figure is set against other Canadian towns instead.
Protected within 10 km11%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town2.1%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas8Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches6Beaches 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, South Algonquin ranks 5th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (1,151 to 2,587 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
South Algonquin11%
Towns its size1.6%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
South Algonquin8
Towns its size4
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
South Algonquin0
Towns its size0
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, South Algonquin sits near the top of its size group: 4 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anmore BC | 22% | 47% | 16 | 5 | 98 |
| 2 | Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska QC | 19% | 0% | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Gracefield QC | 19% | 19% | 34 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | East Preston NS | 16% | 6.3% | 20 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | South Algonquin ON | 11% | 2.1% | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Clearwater BC | 7.7% | 4.1% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Roberval QC | 6.1% | 1.2% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague QC | 5.8% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | North Frontenac ON | 5.7% | 5.2% | 13 | 6 | 4 |
| 10 | Cap-Chat QC | 5.3% | 0.4% | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| 11 | Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards ON | 4.4% | 1.5% | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Saint-Polycarpe QC | 4.2% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Macassa ON | 4.1% | 0% | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Saint-Damien QC | 4% | 3.2% | 22 | 1 | 9 |
| 15 | Unity SK | 3.4% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sherwood ON | 3.4% | 0% | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | McNab SK | 2.6% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Mandeville QC | 2.5% | 1.8% | 19 | 4 | 7 |
| 19 | Esterhazy SK | 1.8% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | City Commercial Core ON | 1.8% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Caswell Hill SK | 1.4% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | Fossambault-sur-le-Lac QC | 1.3% | 7.8% | 15 | 0 | 14 |
| 23 | Pembina MB | 1.1% | 1.8% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Burrows-Keewatin MB | 1% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Elmwood AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | Hatley QC | 0.7% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 27 | Munroe West MB | 0.4% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Brooke-Alvinston ON | 0.3% | 0.2% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Rosedale AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Minchau AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Lunenburg NS | 0.1% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| 32 | Salisbury NB | 0.1% | 2.1% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Dufferin MB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Ekota AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 35 | Satoo AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Magrath AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Nanton AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Rimbey AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Sexsmith AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
South Algonquin on the map: green space, protected land and paths
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
Walk in South Algonquin: 3 named parks and woods
The biggest is Big Geeen Island, 26 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
Galeairy Lake Memorial Park
Park or garden
0.7 ha0.2 km of path
10 km westfrom 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
In South Algonquin, parks are rarely a short walk away
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 (0%)Further (100%)
South Algonquin0%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town reaches 83%. That leaves about 1,200 people more than a short walk away.
Protected areas
The 8 protected areas near South Algonquin
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside South Algonquin2.1%
Within 10 km11%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Governments or Indigenous nations hold all 8. Algonquin Provincial Park leads for size with 264,674 ha.
Algonquin Provincial ParkProvincial park · 264,674 ha · reaches South Algonquin
Upper Madawaska River Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,085 ha · reaches South Algonquin
Opeongo River Provincial ParkProvincial park · 955 ha · reaches South Algonquin
Lake St. Peter Provincial ParkProvincial park · 478 ha · reaches South Algonquin
Bell Bay Provincial ParkProvincial park · 558 ha · 0.2 km from the edge of town
Carson Lake Provincial ParkProvincial park · 12 ha · 6.0 km from the edge of town
Bonnechere River Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,198 ha · 6.8 km from the edge of town
Bonnechère River Provincial Park (Waterway Class) AdditionProvincial park · 20 ha · 7.5 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
Algonquin Provincial Park meets South Algonquin
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
Algonquin Provincial Park
At the edge2,647 km²since 1893
Provincial park
Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park
At the edge11 km²since 1989
Provincial park
Opeongo River Provincial Park
At the edge9.6 km²since 1985
Provincial park
Lake St. Peter Provincial Park
At the edge · south4.8 km²since 1971
Provincial park
Bell Bay Provincial Park
0.2 km east5.6 km²since 1989
Provincial park
Carson Lake Provincial Park
6.0 km east0.1 km²since 1971
There is no national park within 100 km; for big parks, South Algonquin has its province’s. There are 8 provincial parks within 10 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: 124 km in and around South Algonquin
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
124 km
in and around the town (1,127.3 km²)
Woodland
88%
about 992.2 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
South AlgonquinTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
South AlgonquinTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland88%
0%50%100%
For woods, it beats 99% of Canadian towns. It has fewer paths per km² than 84% 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
OpenStreetMap shows no walking route near South Algonquin
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 South Algonquin: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Haliburton, 63 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 | 15.7 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°C) | -5 | -2 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 5 | -2 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 98 | 71 | 76 | 87 | 92 | 98 | 91 | 94 | 99 | 102 | 103 | 95 |
From -5 °C in January to 26 °C in July: that is the range of daytime highs. November is the wettest month (103 mm) and February the driest (71 mm). The climate in South Algonquin →
Beaches
Beaches near South Algonquin: 6 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Galeairy Lake beachsand · in town
DirectionsAdd 5 unnamed beaches to the count. For water quality, look to the local health unit: no open beach-testing data covers Canada.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
10 viewpoints near South Algonquin
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Among the peaks, Blackcat Hill is highest at 435 m. Most numerous: campsites (26).
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 10
Kluke Lookoutin town
DirectionsGreg's View0.6 km from town
DirectionsEast Bluff0.9 km from town
DirectionsKent's View1.0 km from town
DirectionsReg's View1.0 km from town
DirectionsPhil's View1.1 km from town
DirectionsSheldon's View1.1 km from town
DirectionsPaul's View1.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 15
Angelo Hillin town
DirectionsBear Mountainin town
DirectionsBillings Hillin town
DirectionsBurnetts Mountainin town
DirectionsFish Lake Mountainin town
DirectionsFlat Top Hillin town
DirectionsFox Hillin town
DirectionsGun Lake Mountainin town
DirectionsPlus 7 hills and peaks more.
Nature reserves 10
Opeongo River Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsUpper Madawaska Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsUpper Madawaska River Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsBell Bay Provincial Park1.2 km from town
DirectionsLake St. Peter Provincial Park1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 5 nature reserves more.
Picnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 3
Plus 3 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 5
Galeairy Lake - Whitney Access Point (#13)in town
DirectionsHay Lake Access Point (#16)in town
DirectionsPlus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to South Algonquin
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. Distances here run 36–49 km: that is how far the nearest places with figures are from South Algonquin.
Barry's BayHastings HighlandsKillaloe, Hagarty and RichardsCarlow/MayoSouth Algonquin
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Algonquin | 11% | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| Barry's Bay 36 km | 3.9% | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| Hastings Highlands 41 km | 2.4% | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards 49 km | 4.4% | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| Carlow/Mayo 49 km | 6.7% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Around South Algonquin, nobody nearby has double its protected land.
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.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- Protected land. Protected here means in CPCAD, Canada’s official list: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and other conserved land, measured within 10 km of the town’s edge.
Questions about the outdoors in South Algonquin
What is the best season to get outdoors in South Algonquin?
May 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 South Algonquin from a national park?
The nearest national park is more than 100 km from South Algonquin.
What is the nearest provincial park to South Algonquin?
Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park, which reaches the edge of town.
How much land around South Algonquin is protected?
Yes: 11% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Is there a beach near South Algonquin?
The nearest is Galeairy Lake beach, in town.
What is the biggest park or reserve near South Algonquin?
Algonquin Provincial Park: 264,674 ha, a provincial park.
Sources
The sources behind South Algonquin’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).