First pick
Parc Saint-Fidèle
Park or garden
2.8 ha
14 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Veillg1 · CC BY-SA 4.027%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in La Malbaie · parks, protected land & trails
A national route near La Malbaie: the Sentier National
Of the country within 10 km, 27% lies in protected areas; the median Canadian town has 2.3%. 28 protected areas lie within 10 km. Within 5 km are 2 beaches; Plage Municipale De St-Irénée is the nearest.
Protected land
27%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
28
within 10 km, 27 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
2
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What sets La Malbaie apart outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
On a national routeThe Sentier National passes within 2 kmProtected land all round27% of the land within 10 km, more than 98% of Canadian townsMany protected areas27 public areas within 10 kmWalking routes3 named routes within 2 km
La Malbaie is strongest on the Sentier National, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
How La Malbaie compares with 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. Canada’s grades don’t include the outdoors, so this page compares the figures rather than grading them.
Protected within 10 km27%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0.5%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas27Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes3Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches2Beaches 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 La Malbaie
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (8,183 to 8,416 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
La Malbaie27%
Towns its size1.7%
Towns in Quebec4.9%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
La Malbaie27
Towns its size4
Towns in Quebec10
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
La Malbaie3
Towns its size0
Towns in Quebec0
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, La Malbaie tops all 39 other towns its size.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Malbaie QC | 27% | 0.5% | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Argyle NS | 21% | 22% | 136 | 0 | 22 |
| 3 | Alta Vista ON | 13% | 0.7% | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Old Ottawa East ON | 13% | 4.2% | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Upper Cornell ON | 12% | 49% | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Crestview-Tanglewood ON | 12% | 0% | 28 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | Mount Joy ON | 10% | 0% | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Rigaud QC | 7.1% | 1.5% | 44 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | Secord AB | 6.4% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Saint-Vincent-de-Paul QC | 5.6% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Norton Park ON | 5.5% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Saint-Roch QC | 5.1% | 0% | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | G-Section (bramalea) ON | 5% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Somerset AB | 4.6% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 15 | Electoral Area A, Comox Valley BC | 4% | 4.1% | 97 | 2 | 19 |
| 16 | Electoral Area G, Nanaimo BC | 3.2% | 7.5% | 32 | 0 | 13 |
| 17 | Walden AB | 3.2% | 0.1% | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| 18 | McNab/Braeside ON | 2.7% | 0.1% | 35 | 0 | 14 |
| 19 | Douro-Dummer ON | 2.3% | 1.4% | 17 | 2 | 3 |
| 20 | Torbay NL | 1.9% | 0% | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 21 | Goderich ON | 1.5% | 0% | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 22 | Alnwick/Haldimand ON | 1.1% | 2.9% | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 | South Terwillegar AB | 0.8% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | St. Norbert MB | 0.6% | 1.6% | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | South-West Oxford ON | 0.5% | 0.3% | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| 26 | Bayfield ON | 0.5% | 0.1% | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 27 | Vermilion River County AB | 0.5% | 0.3% | 24 | 0 | 6 |
| 28 | Southdale MB | 0.5% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Springfield North MB | 0.5% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Plattsville ON | 0.4% | 0.1% | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 31 | Clinton ON | 0.4% | 0.3% | 11 | 13 | 6 |
| 32 | Valley Gardens MB | 0.4% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Kildare-Redonda MB | 0.3% | 0% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Marlborough Park AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | St. Marys ON | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 36 | King Edward Park AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 37 | Strathcona AB | 0.1% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 38 | Happy Valley-Goose Bay NL | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 39 | Aylmer ON | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Ponoka AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around La Malbaie
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
2 named parks and woods to walk in near La Malbaie
Parc Saint-Fidèle is the largest, at 2.8 ha; the rest follow by size, numbered as on the map.
Centre d’accueil du Parc marin Saguenay-Saint-Laurent
Park or garden
1.0 ha
14 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
2 in 10 people in La Malbaie 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 (24%)Further (77%)
La Malbaie24%
Towns in Quebec52%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 6,300 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, above this.
Protected areas
Within 10 km of La Malbaie, 27% is protected land
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside La Malbaie0.5%
Within 10 km27%
Towns in Quebec4.9%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public ownership covers 27 of the 28. The largest named one is Sector of central estuary Territorial reserve for protected area purposes, at 174,227 ha. One further area is privately owned conservation land; it counts in the figures but isn’t named, as a person’s land isn’t a place to visit.
Sector of central estuary Territorial reserve for protected area purposesNature reserve · 174,227 ha · reaches La Malbaie
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine ParkProvincial park · 124,600 ha · reaches La Malbaie
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine ParkMunicipal park · 124,600 ha · reaches La Malbaie
Anse des Grosses Roches Water Fowl Gathering AreaWildlife area · 684 ha · reaches La Malbaie
La Malbaie Water Fowl Gathering AreaWildlife area · 683 ha · reaches La Malbaie
03351R022 Biological RefugeWildlife area · 255 ha · reaches La Malbaie
Cap-À-L'Aigle Water Fowl Gathering AreaWildlife area · 169 ha · reaches La Malbaie
Port au Saumon Water Fowl Gathering AreaWildlife area · 101 ha · reaches La Malbaie
Saint-Irénée Water Fowl Gathering AreaWildlife area · 803 ha · reaches La Malbaie
03351R025 Biological RefugeWildlife area · 152 ha · 0.6 km from the edge of town
17 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
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park starts at the edge of La Malbaie
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
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
At the edge1,246 km²since 1998
No national park lies within 100 km of La Malbaie; the provincial parks are the big protected land within reach. The province names its big parks parcs nationaux, though they are provincial.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
La Malbaie has 247 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
247 km
in and around the town (592.7 km²)
Woodland
79%
about 469.4 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
La MalbaieTowns in QuebecTypical Canadian town
Footpaths0.4
012 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
La MalbaieTowns in QuebecTypical Canadian town
Woodland79%
0%50%100%
Paths are thinner on the ground than in 69% of Canadian towns. It is more wooded 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
Walks near La Malbaie
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalRegionalOther waymarked
Sentier National340.0 km
La Traversée de Charlevoix93.1 km
Sentier des planètes2.9 km
The Sentier National (340 km) keeps within 2 km of town for 24.3 km. The longest of the rest is the La Traversée de Charlevoix, 93.1 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
La Malbaie is best on foot in May to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (La Pocatiere, 36 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 | 10.2 | 11.8 | 13.6 | 15.1 | 16.0 | 15.6 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| High (°C) | -7 | -5 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 11 | 4 | -3 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 70 | 61 | 62 | 69 | 74 | 85 | 81 | 82 | 78 | 99 | 72 | 74 |
Rain and snow peak in October (99 mm) and ease in February (61 mm). In July the typical high is 24 °C; in January, -7 °C. The climate in La Malbaie →
Beaches
Plage Municipale De St-Irénée, 3.6 km away, is the beach near La Malbaie
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Plage Municipale De St-Irénéesand · 3.6 km from town
DirectionsOpenStreetMap maps 51 km of coastline within 5 km. Another beach has no name on the map. 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
Viewpoints and waterfalls near La Malbaie: 12 and 5
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
The highest named peak nearby is Mont Grand-Fonds, at 750 m. There are 17 hills and peaks, more than of anything else.
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 17
Butte à Caronin town
DirectionsCap Fortinin town
DirectionsLe Grand Porin town
DirectionsMont à Peinein town
DirectionsMont Grand-Fonds750 m · in town
DirectionsMont Thérèse-Casgrainin town
DirectionsMontagne à Joseph-à-Johnnyin town
DirectionsMontagne de Glacein town
DirectionsPlus 9 hills and peaks more.
Picnic sites 12
Plus 12 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 10
Plus 10 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 9
Accueil - Camping Chutes Fraserin town
DirectionsCamping Chutes Fraser - Section Ain town
DirectionsCamping Chutes Fraser - Section Bin town
DirectionsCamping Chutes Fraser - Section Cin town
DirectionsCamping Chutes Fraser - Section Din town
DirectionsCamping lac McLeodin town
DirectionsCamping Tendaroin town
DirectionsCamping Famille Morin1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to La Malbaie
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
ClermontSaint-Aimé-des-LacsLa Malbaie
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Malbaie | 27% | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| Clermont 7.2 km | 4.1% | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs 13 km | 2.5% | 12 | 5 | 0 |
More routes are mapped around Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs (5). Around La Malbaie, nobody nearby has double its protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- 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. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Protected land. The share is of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s outline, from CPCAD’s mapped areas; marine areas count, so a coastal town can score high on water.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
Questions about the outdoors in La Malbaie
Where can you swim near La Malbaie?
Try Plage Municipale De St-Irénée, 3.6 km from town, first of several.
Where can you walk near La Malbaie?
The Sentier National, La Traversée de Charlevoix and Sentier des planètes, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
Is La Malbaie near a national park?
None within 100 km of La Malbaie.
Is there protected land near La Malbaie?
Yes: 27% of the land within 10 km is protected.
What is the biggest park or reserve near La Malbaie?
Sector of central estuary Territorial reserve for protected area purposes, a nature reserve of 174,227 ha.
When should you visit La Malbaie for the outdoors?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
How far is the nearest provincial park from La Malbaie?
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park begins at the town’s edge.
Sources
Where La Malbaie’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).