First pick
Jeff Gauthier Memorial Park
Park or garden
1.4 ha
243 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.018%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Thunder Bay, Unorganized · parks, protected land & trails
Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area begins at the edge of Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Within 10 km are 136 protected areas. Within 10 km of the town, 18% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. For a swim, East Beach is the nearest of 347 beaches within 5 km.
Protected land
18%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
136
within 10 km, 109 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
At the edge
Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Kashabowie Provincial Park
Walking routes
6
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
347
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Thunder Bay, Unorganized, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Next to a national parkLake Superior National Marine Conservation Area starts at the edge of townProtected land all round18% of the land within 10 km, more than 94% of Canadian townsBeaches347 beaches within 5 kmMany protected areas109 public areas within 10 km
Out of doors, Thunder Bay, Unorganized leads with Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area on its doorstep, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Thunder Bay, Unorganized, 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 km18%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town18%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas109Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes6Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches347Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
No town of the 40 its size has more protected land around it than Thunder Bay, Unorganized
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (6,671 to 6,996 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
Thunder Bay, Unorganized18%
Towns its size1.5%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Thunder Bay, Unorganized109
Towns its size3
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Thunder Bay, Unorganized6
Towns its size0
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Thunder Bay, Unorganized’s strong point is public protected areas, where 1 of 39 tops it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thunder Bay, Unorganized ON | 18% | 18% | 136 | 6 | 347 |
| 2 | Hawthorn Meadows - Sheffield Glen ON | 14% | 0% | 36 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Old Ottawa South ON | 12% | 5.4% | 36 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Charlemagne QC | 11% | 1.4% | 34 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Harrietsfield NS | 11% | 19% | 33 | 3 | 22 |
| 6 | Beaverbrook ON | 7.8% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | The Estates of Rainbow Creek ON | 7.1% | 6.1% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Douglas NB | 6.4% | 9.4% | 54 | 1 | 18 |
| 9 | Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde QC | 6.4% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | Southern Gulf Islands BC | 6.2% | 26% | 115 | 0 | 83 |
| 11 | Saint-Honoré QC | 5.5% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 5 |
| 12 | Perth ON | 5.4% | 0.7% | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | Barrington NS | 5.2% | 6.8% | 91 | 0 | 45 |
| 14 | Anniedale BC | 4.5% | 7.9% | 155 | 8 | 3 |
| 15 | Millrise AB | 4.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 16 | Canyon Meadows AB | 3.7% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | Willow Park AB | 3.4% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 18 | Annapolis County, Subdivision A NS | 3.1% | 1.6% | 54 | 1 | 4 |
| 19 | Hillsdale SK | 2.4% | 40% | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 20 | Riverdale West ON | 1.6% | 0% | 13 | 2 | 8 |
| 21 | Parkhill ON | 1.4% | 0.3% | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| 22 | Meadowood MB | 1.3% | 1.8% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Old Tuxedo MB | 1.3% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 29 |
| 24 | Industrial ON | 1.2% | 0% | 24 | 2 | 10 |
| 25 | Devon AB | 1.1% | 0% | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | Spruce Cliff AB | 0.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Garden City MB | 0.4% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Applewood Park AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Renfrew AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Bridgeland/Riverside AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 31 | Stephenville NL | 0.2% | 0% | 11 | 1 | 8 |
| 32 | Kiniski Gardens AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 33 | Tamarack AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 34 | Lucan ON | 0.1% | 0% | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 35 | Gimli MB | 0.1% | 0.6% | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| 36 | Bonnie Doon AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 37 | Plessisville QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Rhineland MB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Wainwright AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Klarvatten AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Thunder Bay, Unorganized
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
3 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Largest first: Jeff Gauthier Memorial Park leads with 1.4 ha. Numbers match the map.
Longlac Lions Park
Park or garden · 200 m outside town
1.1 ha
243 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Riverview Park
Park or garden · 140 m outside town
0.3 ha
244 km north-eastfrom 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 Thunder Bay, Unorganized, 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%)
Thunder Bay, Unorganized0%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
That leaves about 6,800 people more than a short walk away. In the typical Canadian town the share is 83%, higher than here.
Protected areas
18% of the land around Thunder Bay, Unorganized 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 Thunder Bay, Unorganized18%
Within 10 km18%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Governments hold 109 of the 136, and private owners the rest. At 1,088,000 ha, Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is the largest. 9 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Lake Superior National Marine Conservation AreaNational marine conservation area · 1,088,000 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Lake Nipigon Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 188,136 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Mojikit Lake Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 62,597 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Gravel River Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 46,632 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Ottertooth Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 28,793 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Nakina Northeast Waterway Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 13,909 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Killala Lake Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 13,190 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Kwinkwaga Ground Moraine Uplands Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 12,650 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Garden Pakashkan Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 12,586 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Upper English River Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 12,295 ha · reaches Thunder Bay, Unorganized
23 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
Big parks near Thunder Bay, Unorganized
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
National marine conservation area
Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area
At the edge · east10,880 km²since 2007
Provincial park
Kashabowie Provincial Park
At the edge · west21 km²since 1985
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: 3,310 km in and around Thunder Bay, Unorganized
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
3,310 km
in and around the town (114,154.1 km²)
Footpaths · km per km²
Thunder Bay, UnorganizedTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0
01.53 km per km²
It has fewer paths per km² than 95% 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
The Pukaskwa Coastal Hiking Trail passes Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
National
Pukaskwa Coastal Hiking Trail59.8 km
Casque Isles Trail55.4 km
Kabeyun Trail36.3 km
Bay’s End Lookout Trail13.4 km
Nipigon Recreation Trail9.9 km
Red Rock Mountain Trail7.6 km
The Pukaskwa Coastal Hiking Trail is 60 km long on the map, and 59.8 km of it lies within 2 km of town.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
The walking year in Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Atikokan (163 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) | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 15.7 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| High (°C) | -8 | -5 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 19 | 11 | 3 | -5 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 33 | 26 | 34 | 53 | 80 | 101 | 117 | 94 | 102 | 74 | 40 | 38 |
July is warm and wet, 117 mm; the driest month, February, has 26 mm. January brings highs of -8 °C, July highs of 25 °C. The climate in Thunder Bay, Unorganized →
Beaches
Beaches near Thunder Bay, Unorganized: 347 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
East Beachsand · in town
DirectionsJackfish Beachsand · in town
DirectionsMiddle Beachsand · in town
DirectionsMinisidawanga Beachin town
DirectionsNorth Beachsand · in town
DirectionsSilver Falls Campground Beachin town
DirectionsThe Flatsshingle · in town
DirectionsWest Beachsand · in town
DirectionsSchreiber Beach0.5 km from town
DirectionsPebble Beachpebbles · 1.8 km from town
DirectionsThe map adds 334 unnamed stretches of beach. OpenStreetMap marks 7 as sandy. 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
Near Thunder Bay, Unorganized: 45 viewpoints, 108 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
45Viewpoints24Hills and peaks108Waterfalls19Nature reserves25Picnic sites20Playgrounds207Campsites40Slipways
Look up to Tower Mountain: 679 m. Count 207 campsites, the biggest group.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 45
Caribou Island Lookoutin town
DirectionsKama Cliffs Trail Headin town
DirectionsMarie Louise Lake Lookoutin town
DirectionsMiddle Viewpointin town
DirectionsNanabosho Lookoutin town
DirectionsRuby Lake Lookoutin town
DirectionsTee Harbour Lookoutin town
DirectionsThe Gorge Lookoutin town
DirectionsPlus 37 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 24
Black Mountain Ridgein town
DirectionsFox Mountainsin town
DirectionsGranite Mountainin town
DirectionsKama Hillsin town
DirectionsMacdiarmid Hillin town
DirectionsMaidens Leap Mountainin town
DirectionsMount Edna530 m · in town
DirectionsMount Mageein town
DirectionsPlus 16 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 108
Albert Fallsin town
DirectionsAmy Fallsin town
DirectionsArrow River Fallsin town
DirectionsBaptisimon Chutein town
DirectionsCascade Fallsin town
DirectionsCedar Fallsin town
DirectionsChute Fallsin town
DirectionsHigh Fallsin town
DirectionsPlus 100 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 19
Albany River Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsArrow Lake Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsCastle Creek Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsFallingsnow Lake Conservation Reservein town
DirectionsFraleigh Lake Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsHazelwood Lake Conservation Areain town
DirectionsPukaskwa River Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsRuby Lake Provincial Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 11 nature reserves more.
Picnic sites 25
Huronianin town
DirectionsCordingley Lake Picnic Site1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 23 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 20
Plus 20 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 207
Amberlite Wilderness Resortin town
DirectionsArrow Lake Park Campgroundin town
DirectionsBonamie Cove Campsite #1in town
DirectionsBonamie Cove Campsite #2in town
DirectionsBonamie Cove Campsite #3in town
DirectionsCascade Creek 1in town
DirectionsCascade Creek 2in town
DirectionsCascade Falls 1in town
DirectionsPlus 199 campsites without a name on the map.
Slipways 40
Boat Launchin town
DirectionsDog Lake Boat Launchin town
DirectionsGunflint Lake Public Water Access Site1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 37 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Thunder Bay, Unorganized
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 23–30 km: that is how far the nearest places with figures are from Thunder Bay, Unorganized.
Oliver PaipoongeThunder BayShuniahThunder Bay, Unorganized
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Bay, Unorganized | 18% | 136 | 6 | 347 |
| Oliver Paipoonge 23 km | 0.7% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Thunder Bay 25 km | 0.1% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Shuniah 30 km | 19% | 13 | 1 | 2 |
Thunder Bay, Unorganized is not outdone two to one on protected land by any neighbour.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Walking routes. The list is OpenStreetMap’s, so a missing trail may just be unmapped. The Trans Canada Trail appears where OSM maps it.
- 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.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- 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.
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
Questions about the outdoors in Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Are there hiking trails near Thunder Bay, Unorganized?
OpenStreetMap maps the Pukaskwa Coastal Hiking Trail, Kabeyun Trail and Casque Isles Trail close by, with others.
Where can you swim near Thunder Bay, Unorganized?
Try East Beach, in town, first of several.
What is the nearest national park to Thunder Bay, Unorganized?
It is on the doorstep: Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area touches Thunder Bay, Unorganized.
Is there protected land near Thunder Bay, Unorganized?
Protected areas cover 18% of the land within 10 km.
Which is the biggest protected area near Thunder Bay, Unorganized?
Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, a national marine conservation area of 1,088,000 ha.
What is the nearest provincial park to Thunder Bay, Unorganized?
Kashabowie Provincial Park, which reaches the edge of town.
Sources
The sources behind Thunder Bay, Unorganized’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).