First pick
Queens Park
Park or garden
2.7 ha0.5 km of path
Centralin the middle of Wawa
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.011%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Wawa · parks, protected land & trails
More of the land around Wawa is protected than around nearly 9 in 10 Canadian towns
38 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Government Dock Beach. The closest of Canada’s national parks is Pukaskwa National Park, at 48 km. The Voyageur Trail - Michipicoten Section is the one mapped walking route close by.
Protected land
11%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
4
within 10 km, 4 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
48 km
Pukaskwa National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Walking routes
1
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
38
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Wawa apart outdoors
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 87% of Canadian townsBeaches38 beaches within 5 kmOn a national routeThe Voyageur Trail - Michipicoten Section passes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeLake Superior Provincial Park reaches the town
Wawa is strongest on protected land around it, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for Wawa, 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. This page carries no grade, because Canada’s grading doesn’t cover the outdoors; the comparisons are the point.
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 town5.1%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas4Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes1Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches38Beaches 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, Wawa ranks 4th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (2,897 to 2,985 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
Wawa11%
Towns its size1.4%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Wawa4
Towns its size3
Towns in Ontario4
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Wawa1
Towns its size0
Towns in Ontario1
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, Wawa’s strong point is protected land nearby, where 3 of 39 top it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cocagne NB | 39% | 4.3% | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | Algonquin Highlands ON | 18% | 16% | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | Electoral Area C, Strathcona BC | 12% | 8.1% | 61 | 0 | 170 |
| 4 | Wawa ON | 11% | 5.1% | 4 | 1 | 38 |
| 5 | Saint-Marc-des-Carrières QC | 10% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu QC | 8.6% | 0.1% | 29 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Gilkson ON | 7.1% | 0% | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Carpenter ON | 7% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Dégelis QC | 6.5% | 5.4% | 23 | 3 | 1 |
| 10 | Suder Greens AB | 5.9% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Moosomin SK | 4.4% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Butler ON | 3.7% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Saint-Basile QC | 3.3% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Black River-Matheson ON | 2.4% | 0.3% | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Lesser Slave River No. 124 AB | 2.4% | 2.2% | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sainte-Marie-Madeleine QC | 2% | 0% | 29 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Holliston SK | 1.8% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| 18 | Grant Park MB | 1.5% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Norwood West MB | 1.5% | 0% | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | Trillium ON | 1.4% | 0% | 18 | 1 | 5 |
| 21 | Mayfair SK | 1.4% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley QC | 1.3% | 0.7% | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| 23 | East Garafraxa ON | 1.1% | 0.6% | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| 24 | Varsity View MB | 1.1% | 0% | 19 | 1 | 37 |
| 25 | Wallace-Woodworth MB | 0.8% | 0.1% | 32 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | Black Diamond AB | 0.7% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Saint-Bruno QC | 0.6% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Sunnyside AB | 0.4% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Paisley AB | 0.4% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | Lauderdale AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | Skyrattler AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon QC | 0.2% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| 33 | Port Credit NHD (West) ON | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 34 | Allendale AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 35 | Avonmore AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 36 | Division No. 1, Subdivision E NL | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 37 | Scott QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Fairview AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Carrington AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Lago Lindo AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Wawa
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
6 named parks and woods to walk in near Wawa
Queens Park is the largest, at 2.7 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
6 named parks and woods, 8 ha in all
Parks & gardens 7.6 ha
Between them, William Teddy Park and Queens Park cover 75%.
Lion's Beachfront Heritage Walk
Park or garden
0.6 ha0.2 km of path
1.1 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
A park is within a short walk for 7 in 10 in Wawa
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 (68%)Further (32%)
Wawa68%
Towns in Ontario90%
Typical Canadian town83%
Around 900 residents are further than 400 m from a park. The typical Canadian town does better, at 83%.
Protected areas
4 protected areas around Wawa
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Wawa5.1%
Within 10 km11%
Towns in Ontario2.3%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Each of the 4 is held by a public body. At 160,810 ha, Lake Superior Provincial Park is the largest.
Lake Superior Provincial ParkProvincial park · 160,810 ha · reaches Wawa
South Michipicoten River-Superior Shoreline Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 2,219 ha · reaches Wawa
Magpie River Terraces Conservation ReserveNature reserve · 2,088 ha · reaches Wawa
Michipicoten Provincial ParkProvincial park · 289 ha · reaches Wawa
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
The nearest big park: Pukaskwa National Park, 48 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
Lake Superior Provincial Park
At the edge1,608 km²since 1944
Provincial park
Michipicoten Provincial Park
At the edge · south2.9 km²since 1982
National park
Pukaskwa National Park
48 km west1,878 km²since 1971
Within 10 km are 2 provincial parks.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Wawa has 59 km of footpaths in and around it
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
59 km
in and around the town (576.7 km²)
Woodland
86%
about 496.5 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
WawaTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
WawaTowns in OntarioTypical Canadian town
Woodland86%
0%50%100%
More of it is wooded than in 98% of Canadian towns. 85% of Canadian towns have more footpath per km².
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 Voyageur Trail - Michipicoten Section runs past Wawa
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
National
Voyageur Trail - Michipicoten Section12.4 km
Of the Voyageur Trail - Michipicoten Section’s 12 km, 11.5 km passes close to town.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Get out in Wawa in June and August
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Wawa, 2.6 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) | 8.8 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.1 | 16.0 | 15.7 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| High (°C) | -8 | -6 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 2 | -4 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 58 | 44 | 53 | 76 | 86 | 80 | 92 | 91 | 125 | 116 | 79 | 67 |
Snowfall averages 314 cm a year. Daytime highs run from -8 °C in January up to 21 °C in August. Expect 125 mm in September, the wettest month, and 44 mm in February. The climate in Wawa →
Beaches
Wawa has 38 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Government Dock Beachsand · in town
DirectionsPerraults Beachshingle · in town
DirectionsLong Beachsand · in town
DirectionsSandy Beachsand · in town
DirectionsWhitesands Beachsand · 0.7 km from town
DirectionsDriftwood Beachsand · 0.8 km from town
DirectionsGravel Beachshingle · 4.5 km from town
Directions31 more are mapped without a name. 5 are mapped as sand. Canada publishes no open register of beach water tests; the local public health unit posts swimming advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Wawa: 2 viewpoints, 6 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Count 7 slipways, the biggest group.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 2
Plus 2 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 6
Plus 3 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 5
Plus 5 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 5
Plus 5 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Driftwood Beach0.7 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 7
Plus 7 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Wawa
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 104–148 km: that is how far the nearest places with figures are from Wawa.
ChapleauHornepayneAlgoma, Unorganized, North PartMarathonManitouwadgeWawa
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wawa | 11% | 4 | 1 | 38 |
| Chapleau 104 km | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Hornepayne 138 km | 1.1% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Algoma, Unorganized, North Part 140 km | 11% | 91 | 4 | 228 |
| Marathon 142 km | 4.6% | 4 | 1 | 30 |
| Manitouwadge 148 km | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Its neighbours have no more than twice Wawa’s protected share. More routes are mapped around Algoma, Unorganized, North Part (4).
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
Questions about the outdoors in Wawa
What is the nearest national park to Wawa?
Pukaskwa National Park is closest, at 48 km.
Where can you walk near Wawa?
Try the Voyageur Trail - Michipicoten Section.
Is there a beach near Wawa?
The nearest is Government Dock Beach, in town.
How much land around Wawa is protected?
Protected areas cover 11% of the land within 10 km.
What is the nearest provincial park to Wawa?
Lake Superior Provincial Park touches the town.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Wawa?
Lake Superior Provincial Park: 160,810 ha, a provincial park.
When should you visit Wawa for the outdoors?
June and August: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Sources
Where Wawa’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).