In the summer and fall you will have over an hour and a half to enjoy the pristine beauty of Agawa Canyon Wilderness Park (stopover may be reduced in order to meet safe train schedules). Canyon Park is located at Mile 114 and is only accessible by rail or hiking trail.

During the stopover your train seats will be turned for the return trip. Articles left on the floor may be damaged during this procedure and we ask that you place any personal items on your seat.

The park has a variety of trails that lead to the most scenic spots, including four waterfalls and the breathtaking Lookout. There are plenty of picnic areas for those wishing to have lunch during the stopover or you may want to eat prior to arrival or after departure, in order to have as much time as possible to explore the park.

During your stay in the Park, we ask that you watch for any train movements as you cross over or walk beside the tracks. Since the Railway cannot be held responsible for injury to patrons within the wilderness park, we recommend you to use care on all trails, be considerate of others and mindful of children. We also recommend that you wear suitable recreational clothing and footwear.

Park staff will be available to answer questions and to assist you in the event of any emergencies.

CANYON RESTROOM FACILITIES
The restroom facilities in Canyon Park are located just off the train platform between the Souvenir Car and Staff House. Though they may look the same as the restrooms you may find in a quality department store, that is where the similarity ends. These facilities are environmentally friendly. Called a Clivus Multrum system, they have no negative impact on the environment and produce a high quality compost fertilizer that the Park uses on its flower beds.

Usage is the same as a regular bathroom, except there is no need to flush. In order for the system to work properly please close lid after use and refrain from throwing garbage or cigarette butts in toilets. Thank you for helping us keep Agawa Canyon Park pristine.

AGAWA CANYON FLORA AND FAUNA
Although Agawa Canyon Park has been developed for our guest's enjoyment and safety, we have attempted to augment the environment to provide optimum habitat for a variety of native plant and animal species. As you walk the trails in the park, look around and you may be rewarded with a glimpse of ruffed grouse, beaver, river otters or speckled (brook) trout inhabiting Otter Creek.

Large mammals make occasional sojourns into the park, but seldom linger long. The proximity of the railway track and the steep canyon walls render the area unappealing to moose and bear. Beaver and otter are abundant in the Agawa River and are visible from the River Trail, as are mergansers, wood ducks and goldeneyes. Small mammals which are readily seen include red chipmunks, meadow voles and groundhogs.

Bird life in Canyon Park is incredibly varied and though they tend to be least active during tour hours you may see a variety of raptors including merlins, golden eagles, broad wing hawks and American Kestrels.

The most commonly sighted birds at mid-day include ravens, robins, grackles, ruffed grouse, flickers and a variety of waders and ducks. Great Blue Herons often hunt pools in the park and are occasionally seen during the tour.

Agawa Canyon park is situated in the transition zone between the Great Lakes - St. Lawerence Forest region and the Boreal Forest, with representative flora from both regions present in the park. It may be further classified as a River Lowland Zone and the resultant plant community is numerous and diverse. Some of the more common species that flower in the spring and summer include; fireweed, yellow and orange hawkweed, ox-eye daisy, nodding trillium, yellow clintonia and bunchberry. Common species that flower later in the season include; viper's bugloss, bladder campion, pearly everlasting, yarrow, evening primrose and a number of asters. The park has a beautiful wildflower slope containing many of these common as well as introduced species.

Plant and animal communities in Canyon Park face a variety of obstacles to their survival including an annual snow falls exceeding 15ft/4.5m. Please treat them gently, they have a rough life.

LOOKING FOR SOME R&R
For visitors looking for a more relaxing visit there are numerous picnic tables and benches placed throughout the park. We also have a Souvenir Car for those who want to pick up souvenirs and mementos of their tour.

There is a stone picnic shelter to enjoy your lunch in as well as a nearby display of larger antique rail equipment and for the young children there is a small playground area.

THE GROUP OF SEVEN
Several members of the Canada's Group of Seven painted in the Algoma region between 1918 and 1923, including Lawern Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, J.E.H. MacDonald and Arthur Lismer. To gain access to this remote region they rented a boxcar from the Railway. The car was outfitted like a cabin and was shunted to sidings near choice painting locations. From these locations they would set out on foot or canoe to capture this untamed area on canvas. Their paintings brought this vast, rugged and beautiful part of the country to fellow Canadians and the world.