Agawa Canyon Tour Train and Snow Train

The tour train of the hard-working Algoma Central Railroad heads north into the mostly roadless wilderness toward Hearst, a French-speaking lumber town dubbed "the moose capital of Ontario." The very popular one-day excursion goes 114 miles, about a third of the way to Hearst, allowing passengers to view the wilderness from the comfort of a passenger train. It takes you "over towering trestles, alongside pristine northern lakes and rivers, and through awesome granite rock formations and mixed forests of the Canadian Shield," according to the brochure. "The same vistas and panoramas . . . inspired the Group of Seven to create some of Canada's most notable landscape art." The train descends to the floor of Agawa Canyon, a park with gravel walkways, four waterfalls, and a lookout platform that's a 300-stair climb. Box lunches can be eaten here, or breakfast and lunch, beer and wine are served in the dining car. Fall color is especially beautiful.

Recently premium dome car service has been introduced, for a premium price almost twice the usual fare. It does include a continental breakfast, light lunch, and steward. Dome passengers spend half the trip in the upper dome and half in the lower lounge. Reserve early for these limited seats.

The Snow Train takes the same trip in winter, "as snow laden trees give way to panoramic views, snow-choked rock cuts and waterfalls transformed into fantastic ice sculptures by the cold breath of winter." The snow precludes the two-hour layover and walk in the park. Some passengers say staying all day on the train without exercise gets a bit much, no matter how dramatic the view.

The Algoma Central's information-packed website presents the railroad's history and other passenger options in interesting detail, including "Lodges along the Line" and "Tour of the Line" for rail fans with an overnight in Hearst. Hearst is a starting point for canoe and fishing trips and a snowmobile hub. It offers visitors a mill tour, an art gallery, hobby farm with moose, eco-museum, and more.

Reservations advised. Many area lodgings offer tour train packages. (800) 242-9287. The train station is at the west end of Station Mall on Bay St., clearly signed from the International Bridge. The tour train runs from mid May through mid October. It leaves at 8 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m. Current coach rates about $60 for adults, half that for youths, a third for kids under 5, babies free. Dome cars (all ages) about twice that. Snow train fares: same as summer. Snow trains leave at 5 a.m., return at 5 p.m.
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