This is a tourist train that operates from Sault Ste. Marie, north into the wilderness to Agawa Canyon. I was able to check out the spectacular fall colours that make the route famous and lucked out with some perfect weather and peak conditions.
The text for this post was written in 2026 based on the October 2, 2011 trip and photos.
The trip has been operated by two companies over the years. When I rode this train, the railway and track was still owned by CN through its Algoma Central Railway. Since 2022, it has been owned by Watco, operating as the Agawa Canyon Railway.
I flew into Sault Ste. Marie and got a taxi downtown to my hotel. I stayed at the historic Algonquin Hotel built in 1888. I picked it in part because it was walking distance to the train station however the bar on the ground floor was loud!
It was still dark and frosty when we boarded the train.
We got our first views and colours as the train headed north and across the big bridge over Highway 556.
A neat feature of the train was a forward-facing camera connected to TVs so you could see what was coming up. For the first part of the trip, morning fog filled the low areas and frost covered the grasses.
Even after most of the fog had burned off, the lakes still had mist. On this lake, we got a wave from a passing motorboat. I think this is Achigan Lake.
Some great reflections along Ogidaki Lake:
More reflections and fall colours on Mongoose Lake.
We crossed the Agawa River as we approached our lunch stop in Agawa Canyon. The train stopped for a break, picnic lunches and allowed us to wander around before the return trip.
There were several waterfalls and viewpoints accessible from the station that I was able to check out.
Agawa River on the southbound trip:
We caught glimpses of Lake Superior as we came down from the highlands.
We crossed the bridge above the MacKay Dam on the Montreal River.
After the trip, I stayed overnight at my hotel and then flew home on the early flight the next morning. Unfortunately, the memory card on my camera was corrupted, and so many of the photos from the second part of the trip were lost.