First pick
Upton Farm Conservation Area
Park or garden
87 ha4.1 km of path
55 minto walk all 4.1 km of path
3.5 km westfrom the centre
Upton Farmlands TrailBeach Grove Trails
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Larry from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada · CC BY 2.02%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Charlottetown · parks, protected land & trails
Within 11 km of Charlottetown: Prince Edward Island National Park
25 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the Confederation Trail (all spurs) and Confederation Trail - Tignish to Elmira. For a swim, Heartz Shore is the nearest of 13 beaches within 5 km. The largest is Miltonvale Wellfield Site: 265 ha, 0.3 km from the edge of town.
Protected land
2%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
15
within 10 km, 6 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
11 km
Prince Edward Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
36 km
Brudenell Provincial Park
Walking routes
25
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
13
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets Charlottetown apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyPrince Edward Island National Park, 11 km awayWalking routes25 named routes within 2 kmOn a national routeThe Confederation Trail (all spurs) passes within 2 kmBeaches13 beaches within 5 km
Charlottetown’s best card is Prince Edward Island National Park within easy reach, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
Charlottetown 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. This page carries no grade, because Canada’s grading doesn’t cover the outdoors; the comparisons are the point.
Protected within 10 km2%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town2%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas6Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes25Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches13Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Charlottetown has the 16th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (41,910 to 54,539 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
Charlottetown2%
Towns its size4.9%
Towns in Prince Edward Island4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Charlottetown6
Towns its size10
Towns in Prince Edward Island7
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Charlottetown25
Towns its size0
Towns in Prince Edward Island11
Typical Canadian town0
Against towns its size, Charlottetown is weakest for protected land nearby: 24 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dollard-Des Ormeaux QC | 27% | 3.7% | 40 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Shawinigan QC | 24% | 61% | 40 | 16 | 10 |
| 3 | Vaudreuil-Dorion QC | 20% | 0.7% | 73 | 0 | 10 |
| 4 | Châteauguay QC | 19% | 0.8% | 34 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Mission BC | 19% | 3.5% | 28 | 3 | 33 |
| 6 | Sullivan BC | 15% | 5.6% | 190 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | Newton BC | 15% | 7.3% | 174 | 6 | 1 |
| 8 | Sault-Saint-Louis QC | 11% | 10% | 24 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | Rouyn-Noranda QC | 11% | 14% | 90 | 15 | 8 |
| 10 | Saint-Eustache QC | 9.9% | 0% | 42 | 0 | 7 |
| 11 | Pointe-aux-Trembles QC | 9.5% | 7.3% | 38 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Rimouski QC | 8.8% | 3.6% | 43 | 10 | 48 |
| 13 | Salaberry-de-Valleyfield QC | 8.8% | 1.9% | 27 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | West Vancouver BC | 8.6% | 21% | 56 | 10 | 132 |
| 15 | Vernon BC | 8.4% | 1.9% | 17 | 0 | 27 |
| 16 | Whalley BC | 8.2% | 1% | 125 | 5 | 7 |
| 17 | Boucherville QC | 7.1% | 14% | 53 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Anjou QC | 6.5% | 2.4% | 28 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Hagerman's Corners ON | 6.4% | 0% | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | Fabreville QC | 5.8% | 3% | 39 | 0 | 4 |
| 21 | Port-Maurice QC | 4% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Spruce Grove AB | 3.1% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Timmins ON | 2.7% | 1.8% | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 24 | Alliston ON | 2.1% | 0.4% | 36 | 2 | 3 |
| 25 | Charlottetown PE | 2% | 2% | 15 | 25 | 13 |
| 26 | Laval-des-Rapides QC | 1.7% | 0.1% | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Quinte West ON | 1.4% | 0.6% | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| 28 | Bradford ON | 1.1% | 1.3% | 28 | 5 | 1 |
| 29 | East Gwillimbury ON | 0.8% | 0.6% | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 30 | Keswick ON | 0.7% | 0.9% | 13 | 1 | 14 |
| 31 | Roseborough ON | 0.7% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Hurontario ON | 0.7% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Rocky View County AB | 0.5% | 0.6% | 20 | 9 | 19 |
| 34 | Paris ON | 0.4% | 0.2% | 26 | 7 | 3 |
| 35 | Lakeshore ON | 0.4% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 36 | Churchill Meadows ON | 0.4% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Innisfil ON | 0.3% | 0.1% | 6 | 1 | 17 |
| 38 | Victoriaville QC | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 39 | St. Thomas ON | 0.2% | 0% | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | Cornwall ON | 0.1% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Charlottetown
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 Charlottetown: 28 named parks and woods
Upton Farm Conservation Area is the largest, at 87 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
28 named parks and woods, 161 ha in all
Parks & gardens 152 haWoods 8.9 ha
Two places, Upton Farm Conservation Area and Victoria Park, make up 71% of the total.
Victoria Park
Park or garden
26 ha5.2 km of path
1 h 10 minto walk all 5.2 km of path
3.5 km southfrom the centre
Victoria Park TrailVictoria Park Boardwalk
Directionsto a point inside
Queen Elizabeth Park
Park or garden
8.1 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
1.9 km south-westfrom the centre
Queen Elizabeth Park Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Orlebar Park
Park or garden
3.2 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
1.9 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Centennial Park
Park or garden
3.2 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
0.9 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Frank Macauley Park
Park or garden
3.4 ha0.4 km of path
1.8 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Royalty Oaks
Wood or forest
4.6 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
2.0 km north-eastfrom the centre
The Original Royalty Oaks PathThe Original Royalty Oaks Wheelchair Path
Directionsto a point inside
Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park
Park or garden
2.2 ha0.5 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.5 km of path
2.5 km south-eastfrom the centre
Confederation Trail
Directionsto a point inside
All 28 named parks and green spaces
Upton Farm Conservation AreaPark or garden · 87 ha · 4.1 km of path
DirectionsVictoria ParkPark or garden · 26 ha · 5.2 km of path
DirectionsQueen Elizabeth ParkPark or garden · 8.1 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsOrlebar ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsFrank Macauley ParkPark or garden · 3.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsRoyalty OaksWood or forest · 4.6 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsJoseph A. Ghiz Memorial ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsConfederation Landing ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsBrackley CommonsPark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRobin Hood ParkPark or garden · 2.5 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsArdgowan National Historic SitePark or garden · 1.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsRochford SquarePark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsEvergreen ParkPark or garden · 1.4 ha
DirectionsHillsborough SquarePark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsBeach Grove ForestWood or forest · 4.4 ha
DirectionsConnaught SquarePark or garden · 0.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsKing SquarePark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsSandlewood ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsDesbrisay Crescent ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsRosemount ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha
DirectionsArcona ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsSouth View ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsBonnie Blink PlaygroundPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsHarbour Lane ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsHighland View ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsLions ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsAndrew's CourtPark or garden · 0.3 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 9 in 10 in Charlottetown
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 (85%)Further (15%)
Charlottetown85%
Towns in Prince Edward Island0.2%
Typical Canadian town83%
It is above the typical Canadian town (83%). Around 7,000 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
Protected areas
Around Charlottetown, protected areas make up 2%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Charlottetown2%
Within 10 km2%
Towns in Prince Edward Island4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
On public land: 6 of the 15. The others are private conservation land. At 265 ha, Miltonvale Wellfield Site is the largest. The figures include 9 private conservation areas, left unnamed.
Ellens Creek Estuary Natural Area and Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 158 ha · reaches Charlottetown
Beach Grove Hardwoods Natural AreaNature reserve · 6.4 ha · reaches Charlottetown
Royalty Oaks Woodland Natural AreaNature reserve · 4.1 ha · reaches Charlottetown
Miltonvale Wellfield SiteNature reserve · 265 ha · 0.3 km from the edge of town
Johnstons River, Freshwater Wetland Natural AreaNature reserve · 143 ha · 6.0 km from the edge of town
Glenfinnan Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 153 ha · 6.2 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
Parks around Charlottetown
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 park
Prince Edward Island National Park
11 km north27 km²since 1937
Provincial park
Brudenell Provincial Park
36 km east3.1 km²
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Charlottetown has 122 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
122 km
in and around the town (85.4 km²)
Woodland
8.9%
about 7.6 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
CharlottetownTowns in Prince Edward IslandTypical Canadian town
Footpaths1.4
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
CharlottetownTowns in Prince Edward IslandTypical Canadian town
Woodland8.9%
0%50%100%
50% of Canadian towns are more wooded. 52% 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
Charlottetown is on the Confederation Trail (all spurs)
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalLocal
The Island Walk671.6 km
Confederation Trail (all spurs)341.9 km
Confederation Trail - Tignish to Elmira276.7 km
International Appalachian Trail, PEI154.0 km
Points East Coastal Walk312.7 km
Central PEI Coastal Walk188.1 km
Andrews Pond Nature Trails8.6 km
Victoria Park Trail6.0 km
Riverside Drive Path4.2 km
Waterfront Boardwalk2.9 km
Upton Farmlands Trail2.6 km
Beach Grove Trails2.3 km
Plus 13 more waymarked walks on the map.
The Confederation Trail (all spurs) is 342 km long on the map, and 17.9 km of it lies within 2 km of town. Among local routes, the Points East Coastal Walk is longest at 312.7 km. 16 are short walks under 3 km.
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 Charlottetown: June to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Charlottetown (Airport), 3.3 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) | 9.0 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 15.8 | 15.4 | 14.2 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.3 | 8.6 |
| High (°C) | -3 | -3 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 101 | 85 | 84 | 75 | 78 | 91 | 82 | 96 | 95 | 122 | 110 | 115 |
A typical year sees 285 cm of snow. In July the typical high is 24 °C; in January, -3 °C. Most rain and snow falls in October, 122 mm; April sees 75 mm. The climate in Charlottetown →
Beaches
Charlottetown has 13 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Heartz Shorein town
DirectionsBrighton Shore0.1 km from town
DirectionsLangley Beach2.0 km from town
DirectionsKeppoch Beach4.1 km from town
DirectionsKinlock Beachsand · 4.6 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap shows 8 more, nameless. The coast is close: 95 km of shoreline within 5 km. This page can’t show water quality: no open, Canada-wide record of beach testing exists. Check local advisories first.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Charlottetown has 19 viewpoints within 2 km
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Top of the list: playgrounds, 218 of them.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 19
1. Old Growth Forestin town
Directions10. Snag Treesin town
Directions11. Hardwood Thinningin town
Directions12. How Many Can You See?in town
Directions13. Growing Crazyin town
Directions14. Make-up of a Forestin town
Directions2. Gates of Historyin town
Directions3. Beech Cankerin town
DirectionsPlus 11 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 218
QEH Pediatric Department Playgroundin town
DirectionsTrinty Church Daycare Playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 216 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 7
Canoe and Kayak Launchin town
DirectionsCanoe/Kayak Launchin town
DirectionsPublic Canoe/Kayak Launchin town
DirectionsPlus 4 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
A historic garden or park in Charlottetown
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
FairholmNational Historic Site · from 1839 · In Charlottetown
Its pageOne carries a national designation. For history, Fairholm leads: it dates from 1839.
Sources: 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 Charlottetown
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
CornwallStratfordCrossroadsMiltonvale ParkNorth ShoreNorth ShoreCharlottetown
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottetown | 2% | 15 | 25 | 13 |
| Cornwall 5.4 km | 1.7% | 14 | 10 | 10 |
| Stratford 5.8 km | 2.7% | 19 | 12 | 13 |
| Crossroads 9.0 km | 3.7% | 29 | 7 | 11 |
| Miltonvale Park 9.4 km | 2.2% | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| North Shore 10 km | 4% | 26 | 12 | 3 |
| North Shore 13 km | 3.6% | 19 | 11 | 18 |
Around North Shore the protected share is at least double.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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.
- Walking routes. A route counts when 300 m or more of it lies within 2 km of the town. Coverage of trails on OpenStreetMap varies by region.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- 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.
Questions about the outdoors in Charlottetown
Is Charlottetown near a national park?
It is Prince Edward Island National Park, 11 km off.
Are there protected areas near Charlottetown?
Protected areas cover 2% of the land within 10 km.
Where can you swim near Charlottetown?
The nearest is Heartz Shore, in town.
What walking routes are near Charlottetown?
The Confederation Trail (all spurs), Confederation Trail - Tignish to Elmira and International Appalachian Trail, PEI, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
When is the best time for walking in Charlottetown?
On the normals, June to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Which is the biggest protected area near Charlottetown?
It is Miltonvale Wellfield Site, a nature reserve covering 265 ha.
What is the nearest provincial park to Charlottetown?
It is Brudenell Provincial Park, 36 km away.
Sources
Where Charlottetown’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).