Venturing into the Agawa Canyon

The Agawa Canyon was created more than 1.2 billion years ago by faulting and then was widened and reshaped by the last ice-age that retreated 10,000 years ago - and the only way to get into this little jewel area of Ontario is by train.  It's a special train trip that departs from Sault Ste. Marie and goes for 114 miles up to, and descends into, the Agawa Canyon.  The train trip passes through mixed forests of the Canadian Shield, skirts the shores of northern lakes and rivers and crosses towering trestles --- passing by some of the same landscape and majestic views that inspired the Group of Seven to create some of Canada's most notable works of art.

The curved Montreal River trestle is 39.6m high, 472.4m long, and offers views of the power dam which supplies Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding area.

Looking back after having crossed over the trestle

At the end of the trip the train descends over 19kms to reach the canyon floor.  Several hiking trails are available - to waterfalls and one to a breathtaking panoramic lookout down the canyon.  The Group of Seven artists also spent time in the Agawa Canyon, venturing both north and south in the canyon to sketch and paint.

 from the lookout

North (above) and South (below) Black Beaver Falls 

Walking alongside the Agawa River 

The train track along the canyon floor - and the train 

The return journey - now in the last car looking out the window at the front of the train

Again the Montreal River and the trestle.  The Montreal River attracted J.E.H. MacDonald and he made sketches around the Montreal River falls that resulted in his large canvas, Falls, Montreal River.

Back to Sault Ste. Marie for dinner, again down at the St. Mary's River. 

 I liked these glasses but have no fear, what's in them most certainly is NOT Molson Canadian, rather it's a very good locally brewed amber ale  called "1870" brewed by Union Jack brewery.  And what's in the middle you might ask?  Fried cheese curds with gravy!  It doesn't get much better.

Again in time for some sunset viewing 

and watching a freighter as it gets ready to go into the locks on its way to Lake Superior

The bridges (the one in the foreground for vehicles and the one in the background for trains) over the St. Mary's River - the United States is on the left and Canada on the right.