Ouimet Canyon

While traveling through northern Ontario we found one of Ontario's best known secrets, quite by accident. We came across Ouimet Canyon.

It was 6:00 AM in the morning and we had been driving all night long. We were looking for a campsite so we could crash for a day or two. We saw the sign for Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park and pulled in, not knowing it wasn't a campground. We soon found out in a hurry that it wasn't and pulled back onto the road. We were fascinated at what was in the Provincial Park and made a promise that we would come back and visit it later that day.

We had no idea what was in store for us when we went back to visit it later that afternoon. We walked the trail through the park and saw lots of different flower species. We then came across the bridge. We walked over that and looked down. It was a long ways down. However, it wasn't until we got over the bridge and to the lookout point that we realized what was there.

What we saw was a large canyon. It wasn't as big as Grand Canyon, however, it was still pretty big all the same. I was definitely impressed. You could see for miles in both directions. To the south, you could see a swamp land, a river and then large hills in front of you. To the north, just more canyon. Straight down, a long steep drop.

Just to the right of the lookout is a statue of an old Indian made out of rock. There is some legend about this statue. I'm not exactly sure how the legend goes but I do know that it is something about a giant and a princess.

It was pretty awesome finding this canyon in northern Ontario and I definitely know it is a place that I will never forget.

Ouimet Canyon - Photo Album

This article was written by Debbie Williamson, 2006.