Camping through northern Ontario includes Ouimet Canyon and Amethyst Mining

As we left the Sibley Peninsula on our camping trip through northern Ontario, we backtracked a bit to see two sites that we had wanted to experience in the area.

The first was the famous Ouimet Canyon located several kilometres north of the Trans Canada Highway. The canyon is 100 metres (330 ft) deep, 150 metres (490 ft) wide and 2,000 metres (2 kilometres; 1.2 miles) long and is protected as part of Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park. The morning we visited the canyon it was misty which added an almost surreal  feeling to the view.

Despite the mist, the canyon could be seen quite clearly for a distance in both directions and across to the other side. A combination of paths, wooden trails and a bridge take you to two platforms at the side of the canyon. We were the only visitors while on the platforms.

At the second, northern, platform you can see a large rock column known as the Indian Head. There was a smaller ‘head’ on the opposite side of the platform too.

At the bottom of the canyon, there are plants which are common in Arctic regions over 1,000 kilometre further north, so it is quite an interesting area for scientific research. I enjoyed the walk back to our car, focusing on plant life along the path.

Nearby, a private operation, Eagle Canyon Adventures, boasts two "breath-taking suspension footbridges." One is 300 feet long and the second, at 600 feet in length, is Canada’s longest suspension bridge. It also offers hiking trails, picnic areas and scenic vistas.

Our next stop, not too much further down the highway, was the Panorama Amethyst Mine. There was a long road in, and we were glad for our four-wheel drive on one section. Had to laugh when a large pick-up pulling a gigantic fifth wheel pulled in behind us though. The driver jokingly said he knew he could make it when he saw us go up.

Amethysts are the official Ontario gemstone and also the birthstone for February (our month), so Claudia was quite interested in this tour. The mine is open from June 1 to Oct. 1 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.  We entered through a  Welcome Centre and Gift Shop that had a wide variety of beautifully-crafted objects, jewelry and souvenirs made from amethysts. The owners have a store in Thunder Bay as well where a lot of these objects are crafted over the winter months.

We had just arrived as a small group tour was beginning and we were able to join in. The owner, with large quartz crystal-bearing rocks, described how the crystals were formed and how the various colours are produced dependant on the concentration of iron in the surrounding rock. Interpretive panels also can be read that further explain the process.

The Thunder Bay area is known as a  good source for this violet, purple variety of quartz. The mine at Panorama has been in operation since the 1960s. It's best described as an open pit style of mine operating in a small canyon on the property. As the rock is mined, it is brought up to a large area in an enclosure where visitors can go through and pick their own samples. Hoses are used to splash water over an area and the amethyst really pops out in the sunlight when it is wet.

Folks go through these, picking up samples and placing them in a bucket provided. They can then sort through their samples, cleaning with a brush and more water at sorting tables. The cost of the amethyst was $5 a pound. Large tables are set up with landscape and garden-size pieces of amethyst for folks who wish larger samples.

It’s a well-organized  operation, and folks were enjoying themselves on the hunt for that perfect amethyst. Claudia really dug in too!