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The Adventure Zone

Past stories Surf's up! The Calgary Stampede Moraine for Life Adventure Relay Monarch Redux Rockies Bird Festival Arctic Winter Games Bolivia's Acotango Mount Kilimanjaro The Drambuie Pursuit Canadian Aboriginal Festival Mountain Mania Adventure racing Manitoulin Island Star Party Celebration of Light Algonquin Park Ottawa Race Weekend Maple syrup festival Cain's Quest Have Snowshoes, Will Travel Quebec Ice Hotel In the Eye of the Storm Arctic Aurora Borealis Canada's 'Deep South' Agawa Canyon Ablaze Mahone Bay Boat Festival Vancouver Island's rocky trail Wild Women Expeditions Eco-Endurance Summiting Canada Gourmet getaway Yukon Arctic Ultra Canadian Wind Riders Winnipeg's urban pathways Canoeist/artist Bill Mason Take a hike Whitewater kayaking The 2005 Sea Cavalcade Moonstruck - Adventure racers Delta Marsh Birding Festival Climb for conservation The Eagle has Landed Gold Rush Trail Whistler Film Festival Fit to ski Whyte Museum of the Rockies Cheakamus Challenge "Super Dave" Norona Ontario's French River region Cabot Trail Relay Race Point Pelee Festival of Birds Canmore Ice Climbing Festival Winterlude Yeti Mountain Snowshoe Series Golden Horseshoe Orienteering Club Banff Mountain Book Festival Haliburton Highlands Sand Sculpture Championships BC Mobility Society Bathtub Race Championship Bike Month Running off the road Birds of a Feather Grand Plans in Grand Cache Le Festival du Voyageur Raid Ukatak Around the World Alone November culinary adventure Mountains in Miniature In the Belly of the Dragon Raid the North Extreme!! Making a splash! Volunteer for nature Cycling for sustainability Working for Wildlife Whale of a time Canadian Death Race Mont Tremblant Skiing Nanook of the North Eco-challenge Climate Change Caravan Royal Regatta Unleash the hounds World Cup mountain bike race Yukon River Quest On top of the world Canada's World-Class Heritage Gliding across the silver screen Marathon Madness National Ski and Snowboard Week Christmas Bird Count Banff Festival Adventure racing Coast-to-coast trek Whitewater rodeos In praise of parks Watching Canada's wildlife Canada's Highest Peak Alaska Adventure Racer

Courtesty of ACR/Elmer Kars

Legend has it that in 1920 Britain's Prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VIII, was on the return train trip from the sweeping valleys and snaking rivers of the Agawa Canyon north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. when he was so mesmerized by the view from the rail trestle crossing the Montreal River that he pulled the emergency stop cord.

"He enjoyed the view so much he thought he would stop the train so he could enjoy the view a little longer," says Michael Morrow, manager of passenger marketing with the Agawa Canyon Tour Train.

Who can blame him? He was deep into an untouched region of northern Ontario that even today induces noses pressed against windows and the sound of more cameras snapping away than on any Hollywood red carpet.

Thankfully, the train is still running and today's visitors can still take in the breathtaking views either from high atop a rail trestle or deep within the canyon. Just remember that a Prince of Wales can get away with pulling stunts like he did over the Montreal River.

Courtesty of ACR/Elmer Kars

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train takes thousands of visitors nearly 180 kilometres north from Sault Ste. Marie along a rail line built in 1899 to carry resources from the northern interior to shipping routes further south. The line still continues on to Hearst, Ont. but the route is today known more for its enchanting views, especially during the fall when "leaf peepers", as they are known, flock to the area to take in the blazing colours of the trees, which lie just below the edge of the boreal forest. The views dwarf anything travelers can see from the roadside.

"We get the fiery reds, the oranges it's very spectacular in the fall," Morrow says. "I do very little marketing for the fall colours, word of mouth sells it out."

To take the train, make a reservation then show up at the station around 7 a.m. to get a choice of seats and enjoy the ride before descending deep in to the Agawa Canyon where travelers disembark for hiking, picnicking or a pleasant rest amid nature in its most colourful splendor. The train arrives back in town later in the day, ready to load up with another round of peepers.

Link:
www.agawacanyontourtrain.com