Experiencing Wilderness Aboard Agawa Canyon Tour Train

We went on a fun one day wilderness rail excursion from 8 am to around 6:30 pm aboard the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. This unique scenic ride carries us 114 miles or 183 km north of Sault Ste. Marie and is open from June to mid October.

We enjoyed looking through the large windows of the coach to see the beautiful scenery. 

It was beautiful seeing the four billion years old Canadian Shield, and the mixed forests open as the rails goes through the shores of remote lakes and rivers, and granite rock formations of the Canadian Shield. 

We can also get a different perspective on the surrounding scenery by checking out the flat screen televisions, as there are cameras attached on the outside of the train, which allows us to see the tracks. I like that they have interpretive panels and sound signals to let us know about points-of-interest that help us understand the rich history of the region with stories of the Ojibway, fur-trading courier de bois, explorers, pioneers and more, which makes the ride exciting! 

After about 4 hours of the ride, the train stops at the Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park, and we get about an hour-and-a-half to get off the train, and experience the beauty of the Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park and walk the trails. 

We enjoyed a couple of the scenic walks on the graveled trails that lead to waterfalls. The stop over allowed us enough time to hike and see both the Beaver Falls trail and Bridal Veil Falls trail. 

There is also a trail that leads to climb up over 300 stairs to a Lookout, which is 250 feet above the canyon floor. If you’re looking for something a little more relaxing once you get to the park, there are lots of picnic areas throughout the park that allows us to watch the Agawa River flow. 

We can eat lunch before going to the park or after departure, in order to have as much time as possible to explore the park. We can leave our belongings in the train, so take everything you need as it is a  long ride. For this trip it is best to wear recreational clothing and footwear, so we can comfortably enjoy the trails, and don't forget the bug spray!  

It is better to come at least 5 to 10 minutes before the time of departure after exploring the park, as the train takes off right on time. There weren't any head counts made before departing :) 

We found the coach quite comfortable for the long ride. When you get the tickets the coaches are assigned, however the seats are not; it is first come first serve. I suggest sitting on the left hand side of the train (the direction the train is going towards) because most of the points of interest are on that side.

We can take our own food and snacks onboard and enjoy them in our own seats. If you want to purchase breakfast, snack or lunch, you can in the train but it is a little costly. 

Since it is a long ride, when travelling with children it is best to take lots of snacks and activities to do on board such as books and pens to keep them entertained :) In most places there is no reception, so electronics will not be a good activity for this trip. I found being device free very peaceful, it gives us a chance to just lay back and enjoy the beauty of nature! 

I wish when were coming back after the excursion since there wasn't any explanation about the points-of-interest that the ride could have been a little faster.  

We found staying at the Holiday Inn Express at Sault Ste. Marie will allow us to check out all the attractions easily, as everything is close by. The Algoma Central Railway is located close to the Station Mall, which is across the hotel. 

While visiting the Sault there are many attractions to see such as the Canal Historic Site, Entomica, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Spruce Haven Nature Park, National Historic Site, Art Gallery of Algoma, Fort St. Joseph, and more.

The rugged beauty of the landscapes of Northern Ontario is worth the travel. 

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