First pick
Big Burnt Island
Wood or forest
477 ha
54 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Raymond Leung from Toronto, Canada · CC BY 2.014%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in The Archipelago · parks, protected land & trails
The boundary of Georgian Bay Islands National Park runs along The Archipelago
Protected areas take in 38% of the town itself. Protected areas cover 14% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. 67 protected areas lie within 10 km.
Protected land
14%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
67
within 10 km, 25 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
At the edge
Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Limestone Islands Provincial Park
Beaches
8
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in The Archipelago, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Next to a national parkGeorgian Bay Islands National Park starts at the edge of townProtected land all round14% of the land within 10 km, more than 92% of Canadian townsProtected land in town38% of The Archipelago itself lies in protected areasMany protected areas25 public areas within 10 km
The Archipelago is strongest on Georgian Bay Islands National Park on its doorstep, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
The Archipelago against other 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 km14%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town38%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas25Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes0Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches8Beaches 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, The Archipelago ranks 5th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (1,057 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
The Archipelago14%
Towns its size1.6%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
The Archipelago25
Towns its size4
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
The Archipelago0
Towns its size0
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
The Archipelago beats most towns its size for protected land nearby; 4 of 39 do better.
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 | The Archipelago ON | 14% | 38% | 67 | 0 | 8 |
| 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
Parks, woods and paths around The Archipelago
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
30 named parks and woods to walk in near The Archipelago
Largest first: Big Burnt Island leads with 477 ha. Numbers match the map.
30 named parks and woods, 933 ha in all
Parks & gardens 15 haWoods 918 ha
Between them, Big Burnt Island and Meneilly Island cover 60%.
Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park
Park or garden
15 ha
45 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Big Burnt IslandWood or forest · 477 ha
DirectionsMeneilly IslandWood or forest · 87 ha
DirectionsGibraltar IslandWood or forest · 56 ha
DirectionsSturgeon Bay Provincial ParkPark or garden · 15 ha
DirectionsMacKenzie IslandWood or forest · 35 ha
DirectionsJergens IslandWood or forest · 33 ha
DirectionsBien Venue IslandWood or forest · 30 ha
DirectionsAxford IslandWood or forest · 29 ha
DirectionsEmpress IslandWood or forest · 18 ha
DirectionsPavis IslandWood or forest · 13 ha
DirectionsFairies Dancing ReserveWood or forest · 13 ha · just outside town
DirectionsRaspberry IslandWood or forest · 11 ha
DirectionsRichards IslandWood or forest · 10 ha · just outside town
DirectionsMaskinonge IslandWood or forest · 9.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsMayne IslandWood or forest · 9.2 ha
DirectionsKeneu IslandWood or forest · 8.5 ha · just outside town
DirectionsBredin IslandWood or forest · 8.2 ha · just outside town
DirectionsConn IslandWood or forest · 8.2 ha
DirectionsBlack Bass IslandWood or forest · 8.0 ha · just outside town
DirectionsCormie IslandWood or forest · 7.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsEdna IslandWood or forest · 6.7 ha
DirectionsDelhaven IslandWood or forest · 6.4 ha · just outside town
DirectionsAmy IslandWood or forest · 5.5 ha
DirectionsHewson IslandWood or forest · 4.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsGooch IslandWood or forest · 4.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsUnderwood IslandWood or forest · 4.2 ha · just outside town
DirectionsUmwah IslandWood or forest · 3.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsRogers IslandWood or forest · 3.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsClare IslandWood or forest · 3.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsDattels ReserveWood or forest · 3.6 ha · just outside town
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
Most of The Archipelago is more than a short walk from a park
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%)
The Archipelago0%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 1,100 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. For comparison, the typical Canadian town has 83%.
Protected areas
Around The Archipelago, protected areas make up 14%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside The Archipelago38%
Within 10 km14%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 25 of the 67. At 17,107 ha, North Georgian Bay Shoreline and Islands Conservation Reserve is the largest. 24 more areas within 10 km are private land, held by landowners or conservation groups: counted here, not named.
North Georgian Bay Shoreline and Islands Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 17,107 ha · reaches The Archipelago
The Massasauga Provincial ParkProvincial park · 13,264 ha · reaches The Archipelago
Upper Shebeshekong Wetland Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 5,304 ha · reaches The Archipelago
Magnetawan River Provincial ParkProvincial park · 3,424 ha · reaches The Archipelago
Lower Moon River Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 2,723 ha · reaches The Archipelago
Pointe au Baril Forests and Wetlands Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 2,366 ha · reaches The Archipelago
North Georgian Bay Shoreline and Islands Conservation Reserve AdditionNature reserve · 2,268 ha · reaches The Archipelago
Wahwashkesh - Naiscoot Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 1,734 ha · reaches The Archipelago
Georgian Bay Islands National ParkNational park · 1,400 ha · reaches The Archipelago
Shawanaga Island White Pine Forest Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 1,022 ha · reaches The Archipelago
6 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
Parks around The Archipelago
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
The Massasauga Provincial Park
At the edge133 km²since 1989
Provincial park
Magnetawan River Provincial Park
At the edge34 km²since 2003
National park
Georgian Bay Islands National Park
At the edge14 km²since 1930
Provincial park
Limestone Islands Provincial Park
At the edge4.5 km²since 1980
Provincial park
The Massasauga Provincial Park Addition
At the edge2.9 km²
Provincial park
Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park
At the edge0.1 km²since 1960
6 provincial parks lie 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: 57 km in and around The Archipelago
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
57 km
in and around the town (1,058.3 km²)
Woodland
64%
about 675.9 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
The ArchipelagoTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
The ArchipelagoTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland64%
0%50%100%
Paths are thinner on the ground than in 92% of Canadian towns. Woods cover more of it than in 89% 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 The Archipelago 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.
No named walking or hiking route is mapped near the town; local paths may simply not be on OpenStreetMap as routes.
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 The Archipelago: May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Muskoka, 70 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 | 13.4 | 14.9 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°C) | -5 | -3 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 13 | 5 | -1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 92 | 56 | 72 | 79 | 93 | 86 | 100 | 82 | 102 | 111 | 103 | 87 |
Highs peak near 25 °C in July and fall to -5 °C in January. The wettest month, October, brings 111 mm, against 56 mm in February. The climate in The Archipelago →
Beaches
Beaches near The Archipelago: 8 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Waubuno Beachsand · 3.8 km from town
DirectionsHorseshoe Lake Beachsand · 4.0 km from town
DirectionsSandy ones: 2. OpenStreetMap shows 6 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
Viewpoints and waterfalls near The Archipelago: 1 and 1
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Slipways lead the count with 25.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Three Legged Lake access1.1 km from town
DirectionsWaterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 4
Crane Lake Forest Conservation Reservein town
DirectionsThe Massasauga Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsLimestone Islands Provincial Nature Reserve1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 nature reserve more.
Picnic sites 3
Harris River MTO Picnic Area1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Campsites 9
Campsite 102in town
DirectionsCampsite 103in town
DirectionsSite 104in town
DirectionsSite 106in town
DirectionsSite 604in town
DirectionsSturgeon Bay Park Campgroundin town
Directions5060.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 25
Pete's Place Access Pointin town
DirectionsPine Bay Landingin town
DirectionsThree Legged Lake Access Point1.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 22 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to The Archipelago
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Parry SoundMcDougallCarlingThe Archipelago
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Archipelago | 14% | 67 | 0 | 8 |
| Parry Sound 5.8 km | 7.1% | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| McDougall 17 km | 10% | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| Carling 18 km | 11% | 23 | 0 | 20 |
No place nearby has double The Archipelago’s share of protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- 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.
- 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. 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.
Questions about the outdoors in The Archipelago
Is there protected land near The Archipelago?
Yes: 14% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Is there a beach near The Archipelago?
The nearest is Waubuno Beach, 3.8 km from town.
What is the nearest national park to The Archipelago?
It is on the doorstep: Georgian Bay Islands National Park touches The Archipelago.
When is the best time for walking in The Archipelago?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
How far is the nearest provincial park from The Archipelago?
Limestone Islands Provincial Park touches the town.
Which is the biggest protected area near The Archipelago?
North Georgian Bay Shoreline and Islands Conservation Reserve: 17,107 ha, a nature reserve.
Sources
Where The Archipelago’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.
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).