From: ault@engin.umich.edu (Matthew Ault)
Subject: Algoma Central Info
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 08:13:51 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Distribution: NA

Someone e-mailed me and expressed interest in infomation about the 
Algoma Central Railway (the Agawa canyon trips) so I went home and found 
the proper brochoures and maps.  I figured that others might be interested, 
so here it is.

First off, the number and address for the Algoma Central Railway are:

Passenger Sales
Algoma Central Railway
129 Bay St.
Sault Ste. Marie 26, Ontario
P6A 1W7

(705) 254-4331

The cost listed in the brochoure is $37 (Canadian) for the round trip to 
Agawa Canyon, but that info is a bit old.  As I recall, we paid $45 per 
person up to the canyon, and the round trip to Hearst (the end of the 
line) is $99 per person.  The canyon is 114 miles north of the Sault and 
it takes 3 1/2 hours to get there.  The train leaves the Sault at 8 am and
arrives at the canyon at 11:30.  After a two hour layover, the train leaves
again, arriving back at 5 pm.  There is no camping allowed in the "Park Area"
of Agawa Canyon which is owned by Algoma Central.  This is only a couple of
square miles though, and there are camping opportunities north and south
of this area.

There are two main brochoures about camping/canoeing that are produced 
by Algoma Central themselves.  The first is called "Backpacking and 
Wilderness Camp Site Areas in Algoma Central Country" and outlines 13 
different camping spots along the line between Sault Ste. Marie and 
Hearst.  It tells at which mile each site is (miles from the Sault), as 
well as information on campsites, backpacking, swimming and fishing.

The other brouchoure from Algoma Central outlines the Batchewana River 
canoe route, which runs from mile 80 on the line all the way down Lake 
Superior.  The brouchoure suggests that the trip should only be made in 
May or early June while the river levels are up and that the trip takes 
three to four days.  It contains maps and information about all of the 
portages along the river.

Another source for information about camping/canoeing along the Algoma 
Central line are the brouchoures for Lake Superior Provincial Park which 
lies just north of Montreal River Harbor on highway 17.  The brochoures 
are published by the Ministry of Natural Resources, but I was unable to 
find an address or phone number anywhere on the one I have, which 
details the canoe routes in the park.  The park backs right up to the 
Agawa Canyon area and the rail line passes along the park border just 
north and south of the canyon.  There are several lakes in the park and 
three different rivers that flow down to Lake Superior:  the Lower Agawa 
River, the Sand River and the Michipicoten River.  The info I got last 
summer said that the fare up to Sand Lake in the interior of the park 
was $33 per person and $19.75 per canoe, one way.

Hope this helps.

-matt

-- 
 /|====================| Sanity is maintained only by healthy and     |\
/ |  Matthew A. Ault   |   regular promenades around its border.      | \
\ |ault@engin.umich.edu|     - from _The Complete Wilderness Paddler_ | /
 \|====================|         by J.W. Davidson & J. Rugge          |/
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