First pick
Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site
Park or garden
42 ha3.8 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.8 km of path
11 km eastfrom the centre
Skmaqn TrailRangelight RowAlliance Alley+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: William Matheson from Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.02.2%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in West River · parks, protected land & trails
A national route near West River: the The Island Walk
The closest of Canada’s national parks is Prince Edward Island National Park, at 21 km. Swimmers have 15 beaches within 5 km, St. Peters Island Bar the nearest. The largest is Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 22): 285,278 ha, 7.2 km from the edge of town.
Protected land
2.2%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
18
within 10 km, 7 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
21 km
Prince Edward Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
35 km
Blue Sea Beach Provincial Park
Walking routes
8
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
15
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in West River, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
On a national routeThe The Island Walk passes within 2 kmWalking routes8 named routes within 2 kmBeaches15 beaches within 5 kmA national park nearbyPrince Edward Island National Park, 21 km away
West River is strongest on the The Island Walk, with its choice of walking routes close behind.
Against other towns
Each figure for West River, 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 km2.2%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town2.9%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas7Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes8Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches15Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
West River has the 19th most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (4,092 to 4,216 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
West River2.2%
Towns its size2.1%
Towns in Prince Edward Island4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
West River7
Towns its size5
Towns in Prince Edward Island7
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
West River8
Towns its size0
Towns in Prince Edward Island11
Typical Canadian town0
Among its peers, West River’s strong point is public protected areas, where 15 of 39 top it.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Pocatière QC | 35% | 0.2% | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Anderson Walk BC | 23% | 8.2% | 180 | 8 | 4 |
| 3 | Electoral Area F, Central Kootenay BC | 22% | 2.9% | 13 | 2 | 12 |
| 4 | Electoral Area C, Okanagan-Similkameen BC | 12% | 12% | 52 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Westphal NS | 12% | 0.5% | 14 | 1 | 7 |
| 6 | Fort Nelson BC | 11% | 9.8% | 36 | 0 | 330 |
| 7 | Carleton-sur-Mer QC | 10% | 0.1% | 26 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Merivale Gardens - Grenfell Glen - Pineglen - Country Place ON | 9.5% | 23% | 29 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Spring Valley ON | 6.4% | 0% | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | L'Ange-Gardien QC | 6.3% | 0% | 37 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Balfour ON | 5.7% | 0% | 19 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Electoral Area B, Cariboo BC | 5.4% | 4.8% | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Lake of Bays ON | 4.8% | 1.8% | 12 | 1 | 6 |
| 14 | Electoral Area E, Kitimat-Stikine BC | 4.8% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Port Hardy BC | 4.1% | 2.2% | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Barry's Bay ON | 3.9% | 1.9% | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| 17 | Templemead ON | 2.3% | 0% | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | Pioneer Tower West ON | 2.3% | 3.9% | 23 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | West River PE | 2.2% | 2.9% | 18 | 8 | 15 |
| 20 | Haut-Madawaska NB | 2.2% | 7.7% | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| 21 | Elbow Park AB | 2% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 22 | Vermilion AB | 1.5% | 9.3% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Kirkfield MB | 1% | 0.3% | 14 | 1 | 37 |
| 24 | Northern Lights County AB | 0.9% | 0.6% | 30 | 0 | 67 |
| 25 | Island Lakes MB | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Banff Trail AB | 0.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 27 | Sunalta AB | 0.6% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 | Wildwood AB | 0.5% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 29 | Beaumaris AB | 0.5% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Patterson AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 31 | Callaghan AB | 0.3% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | Jackson Heights AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 33 | Leger AB | 0.3% | 0% | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | Malmo Plains AB | 0.3% | 0% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 35 | Matt Berry AB | 0.1% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Napierville QC | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Balwin AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Forest Heights AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 39 | Killarney AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 40 | Ozerna AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around West River
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
Walk in West River: 5 named parks and woods
Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site is the largest, at 42 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
5 named parks and woods, 78 ha in all
Parks & gardens 78 ha
72% of the area is in just two places: Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site and Terry Fox Sports Complex.
Terry Fox Sports Complex
Park or garden
14 ha2.1 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
7.6 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Strathgartney Provincial Park
Park or garden
10.0 ha
7.4 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Hyde Park
Park or garden
6.5 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
7.7 km north-eastfrom the centre
Hyde Pond Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Strathgartney Equestrian Park
Park or garden
4.9 ha
7.0 km north-westfrom 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
Few people in West River live near 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%)
West River0%
Towns in Prince Edward Island0.2%
Typical Canadian town83%
Most towns do better: the typical Canadian town is at 83%. Around 4,200 residents are further than 400 m from a park.
Protected areas
2.2% of the land around West River 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 West River2.9%
Within 10 km2.2%
Towns in Prince Edward Island4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
7 of the 18 are on public land. The largest named one is Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 22), at 285,278 ha. 11 areas belong to private owners or land trusts and aren’t named here.
Strathgartney Woodlands Natural AreaNature reserve · 66 ha · reaches West River
Ellens Creek Estuary Natural Area and Wildlife Management AreaWildlife area · 158 ha · 2.1 km from the edge of town
Brookvale Hardwoods Natural AreaNature reserve · 97 ha · 3.3 km from the edge of town
Beach Grove Hardwoods Natural AreaNature reserve · 6.4 ha · 5.0 km from the edge of town
Royalty Oaks Woodland Natural AreaNature reserve · 4.1 ha · 7.0 km from the edge of town
Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 22)Nature reserve · 285,278 ha · 7.2 km from the edge of town
Miltonvale Wellfield SiteNature reserve · 265 ha · 9.3 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
Prince Edward Island National Park is 21 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
National park
Prince Edward Island National Park
21 km north27 km²since 1937
Provincial park
Blue Sea Beach Provincial Park
35 km south2.0 km²since 2025
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: 76 km in and around West 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
76 km
in and around the town (219.5 km²)
Woodland
26%
about 57.2 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
West RiverTowns in Prince Edward IslandTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.3
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
West RiverTowns in Prince Edward IslandTypical Canadian town
Woodland26%
0%50%100%
More of it is wooded than in 71% of Canadian towns. 71% 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
Trails around West River
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
Central PEI Coastal Walk188.1 km
Bonshaw Provincial Park Trails20.9 km
Appin Road Trail11.5 km
Strathgartney Provincial Park Trails8.3 km
St. Catherines Trails6.7 km
Skmaqn - Port-la-Joye - Fort Amherst Trails6.2 km
Hyde Pond Trail2.1 km
21.1 km of the The Island Walk runs within 2 km of town; mapped end to end, it is 672 km. For a longer outing, the Central PEI Coastal Walk runs 188.1 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
The best months for walking in West River: June to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Elmwood, 11 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 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.6 |
| High (°C) | -3 | -3 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 109 | 103 | 102 | 99 | 96 | 95 | 89 | 103 | 111 | 122 | 119 | 143 |
Expect around 313 cm of snow over a winter. July is the driest month at 89 mm; December the wettest at 143 mm. July is the warmest month, with highs around 24 °C; January the coldest, at -3 °C. The climate in West River →
Beaches
West River has 15 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
St. Peters Island Bar1.2 km from town
DirectionsLangley Beach1.6 km from town
DirectionsKeppoch Beach1.7 km from town
DirectionsBrighton Shore3.1 km from town
DirectionsKinlock Beachsand · 3.5 km from town
DirectionsThe map adds 10 unnamed stretches of beach. The coast is close: 119 km of shoreline within 5 km. For water quality, look to the local health unit: no open beach-testing data covers Canada.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Outdoors around West River: 7 places to go
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
Count 6 playgrounds, the biggest group.
Every named place, with directions
Playgrounds 6
Rope Swingin town
DirectionsEliot River Dream Park0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Meridian63º Luxury Campingin town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to West River
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
CornwallKingstonCharlottetownStratfordMiltonvale ParkCrapaud, Part 1West River
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West River | 2.2% | 18 | 8 | 15 |
| Cornwall 9.9 km | 1.7% | 14 | 10 | 10 |
| Kingston 12 km | 1.8% | 17 | 7 | 3 |
| Charlottetown 15 km | 2% | 15 | 25 | 13 |
| Stratford 15 km | 2.7% | 19 | 12 | 13 |
| Miltonvale Park 17 km | 2.2% | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Crapaud, Part 1 18 km | 7% | 16 | 12 | 4 |
More routes are mapped around Charlottetown (25). For protected land, Crapaud, Part 1 has twice as much or more.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- Walking routes. The list is OpenStreetMap’s, so a missing trail may just be unmapped. The Trans Canada Trail appears where OSM maps it.
Questions about the outdoors in West River
Is there protected land near West River?
Protected areas cover 2.2% of the land within 10 km.
Is there a provincial park near West River?
Blue Sea Beach Provincial Park, 35 km from the edge of town.
What walking routes are near West River?
Try the The Island Walk, Central PEI Coastal Walk and Bonshaw Provincial Park Trails; more are on the map.
Is there a beach near West River?
Try St. Peters Island Bar, 1.2 km from town, first of several.
When is the best time for walking in West River?
June to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Which is the biggest protected area near West River?
It is Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 22), a nature reserve covering 285,278 ha.
Is West River near a national park?
Prince Edward Island National Park is closest, at 21 km.
Sources
Where West River’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).