First pick
Orwell Corner Historic Village
Park or garden
7.3 ha
7.8 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain5.1%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Vernon River · parks, protected land & trails
Vernon River is 16 km from Prince Edward Island National Park
Walkers have 9 mapped routes close by, starting with the International Appalachian Trail, PEI and The Island Walk. 6.1 km out lies the largest, Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 24), at 209,496 ha. Count 48 protected areas within 10 km of town.
Protected land
5.1%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
48
within 10 km, 21 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
16 km
Prince Edward Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
8.6 km
Brudenell Provincial Park
Walking routes
9
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
3
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Vernon River stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyPrince Edward Island National Park, 16 km awayWalking routes9 named routes within 2 kmMany protected areas21 public areas within 10 kmOn a national routeThe International Appalachian Trail, PEI passes within 2 km
Above all, Vernon River offers Prince Edward Island National Park within easy reach, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
Vernon River 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 one of Canada’s graded subjects, so there’s no letter here: each figure is set against other Canadian towns instead.
Protected within 10 km5.1%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town4.5%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas21Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes11Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches3Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Vernon River has the 15th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (2,742 to 2,817 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
Vernon River5.1%
Towns its size3%
Towns in Prince Edward Island4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Vernon River21
Towns its size8
Towns in Prince Edward Island7
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Vernon River11
Towns its size0
Towns in Prince Edward Island11
Typical Canadian town0
Vernon River beats most towns its size for public protected areas; 7 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tofino BC | 41% | 21% | 14 | 0 | 34 |
| 2 | Victoria County, Subdivision A NS | 33% | 54% | 152 | 3 | 59 |
| 3 | Léry QC | 27% | 3.4% | 31 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Highlands BC | 24% | 41% | 40 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Atikokan ON | 19% | 1.1% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Holyrood NL | 19% | 3.2% | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel QC | 18% | 23% | 83 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Little Current ON | 13% | 10% | 36 | 0 | 5 |
| 9 | Maria QC | 9.5% | 1% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Cultus Lake BC | 9.3% | 52% | 14 | 1 | 17 |
| 11 | Saint-Côme QC | 9.2% | 0.8% | 24 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Rivière-Beaudette QC | 7.6% | 0.1% | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Marritt ON | 7.2% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Ferme-Neuve QC | 5.6% | 8.2% | 42 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Vernon River PE | 5.1% | 4.5% | 48 | 11 | 3 |
| 16 | Cochrane, Unorganized, North Part ON | 5.1% | 4.9% | 81 | 0 | 28 |
| 17 | Yamachiche QC | 5% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Front of Yonge ON | 4.9% | 6% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Sainte-Luce QC | 4% | 0% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | Vars ON | 3.8% | 1.4% | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | Wakefield NB | 2.2% | 0.8% | 22 | 0 | 13 |
| 22 | Rosthern No. 403 SK | 2.2% | 2.6% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Sussex NB | 2.1% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 24 | Lacolle QC | 1.9% | 1.1% | 34 | 1 | 3 |
| 25 | Woodcroft AB | 1.9% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Gore QC | 1.6% | 2.3% | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| 27 | Saint-Prime QC | 1.5% | 3.4% | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| 28 | Turner Valley AB | 1.4% | 0% | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Mathers MB | 1.4% | 0% | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | Electoral Area H, Cowichan Valley BC | 1.1% | 3.5% | 28 | 3 | 6 |
| 31 | Upper Mount Royal AB | 0.8% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Grimshaw AB | 0.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Talbot-Grey MB | 0.5% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Downtown West End AB | 0.5% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 35 | Electoral Area I, Central Kootenay BC | 0.2% | 0.1% | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 36 | Rivergrove MB | 0.2% | 4.7% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Wickham QC | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Kameyosek AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 39 | Kuujjuaq QC | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | Newton AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The map
Vernon River 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
2 named parks and woods to walk in near Vernon River
Orwell Corner Historic Village is the largest, at 7.3 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
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
Most of Vernon River 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%)
Vernon River0%
Towns in Prince Edward Island0.2%
Typical Canadian town83%
That leaves about 2,800 people more than a short walk away. A median Canadian town manages 83%.
Protected areas
Around Vernon River, protected areas make up 5.1%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Vernon River4.5%
Within 10 km5.1%
Towns in Prince Edward Island4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Governments hold 21 of the 48, and private owners the rest. At 209,496 ha, Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 24) is the largest. The count includes 24 areas that are private or not recorded as public; they aren’t named.
Egmont Bay PEI Conservation AgreementNature reserve · 2,958 ha · reaches Vernon River
Dromore Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 470 ha · reaches Vernon River
Clarkin Bog Natural AreaNature reserve · 45 ha · reaches Vernon River
Mt. Albion Marsh Freshwater Wetland Natural AreaNature reserve · 33 ha · reaches Vernon River
Macleans Pond Natural AreaNature reserve · 3.2 ha · reaches Vernon River
Orwell Island Natural AreaNature reserve · 2.5 ha · reaches Vernon River
Pisquid Pond Natural AreaNature reserve · 38 ha · 2.6 km from the edge of town
Johnstons River, Freshwater Wetland Natural AreaNature reserve · 143 ha · 2.6 km from the edge of town
ECO PEI Managed ForestsNature reserve · 814 ha · 3.3 km from the edge of town
Glenfinnan Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 153 ha · 3.5 km from the edge of town
7 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 Vernon River
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
Brudenell Provincial Park
8.6 km east3.1 km²
National park
Prince Edward Island National Park
16 km north-west27 km²since 1937
A provincial park is closer: Brudenell Provincial Park, at 8.6 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
31 km of paths in and around Vernon River
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
31 km
in and around the town (332.8 km²)
Woodland
36%
about 120.9 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
Vernon RiverTowns in Prince Edward IslandTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.1
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Vernon RiverTowns in Prince Edward IslandTypical Canadian town
Woodland36%
0%50%100%
Woods cover more of it than in 77% of Canadian towns. It has fewer paths per km² than 86% 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
Vernon River is on the International Appalachian Trail, PEI
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
International Appalachian Trail, PEI154.0 km
Points East Coastal Walk312.7 km
Dromore Woodland Trails11.9 km
Auburn Woodlot Trails2.4 km
Mooney's Pond Trails1.9 km
MacPhail Woods Trails1.6 km
Kelly's Trail0.7 km
Of the International Appalachian Trail, PEI’s 154 km, 32.3 km passes close to town. At 312.7 km, the Points East Coastal Walk is the longest local route. 4 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
Get out in Vernon River in June to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Charlottetown (Airport), 21 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 | 14.1 | 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 |
Some 285 cm of snow falls each winter. For dry weather, April is best (75 mm); October gets 122 mm. Summer highs reach 24 °C in July; in January they stay near -3 °C. The climate in Vernon River →
Beaches
3 beaches within 5 km of Vernon River, none named
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
The shoreline runs 104 km within 5 km of town. No national or provincial register of beach water quality is published as open data, so check the local health unit before swimming.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
4 things to do outdoors near Vernon River
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 1
Lawtons Hill1.2 km from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 2
Plus 2 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Vernon River
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
East River, Part 1CrossroadsStratfordBelfastNorth ShoreVernon River
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon River | 5.1% | 48 | 11 | 3 |
| East River, Part 1 11 km | 4.3% | 38 | 14 | 20 |
| Crossroads 11 km | 3.7% | 29 | 7 | 11 |
| Stratford 16 km | 2.7% | 19 | 12 | 13 |
| Belfast 17 km | 12% | 32 | 6 | 6 |
| North Shore 18 km | 4% | 26 | 12 | 3 |
For walking routes, East River, Part 1 leads the area with 14. Around Belfast the protected share is at least double.
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. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- 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.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- 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.
Questions about the outdoors in Vernon River
Which is the biggest protected area near Vernon River?
Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 24): 209,496 ha, a nature reserve.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Vernon River?
The closest is Brudenell Provincial Park, at 8.6 km.
When is the best time for walking in Vernon River?
June to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Is Vernon River near a national park?
The nearest is Prince Edward Island National Park, 16 km away.
Is there a beach near Vernon River?
There are beaches within 5 km, none of them named.
What walking routes are near Vernon River?
Try the International Appalachian Trail, PEI, The Island Walk and Confederation Trail (all spurs); more are on the map.
How much land around Vernon River is protected?
Protected areas cover 5.1% of the land within 10 km.
Sources
The sources behind Vernon River’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).