Categories: Travel

Canada’s first railway tunnel is under an Ontario city & it’s about to open for the season

Image via Fitawoman/Shutterstock

There’s no time like the present to discover something new in Ontario. And starting this weekend, you can step back in time and experience an exciting piece of history at Canada’s First Railway Tunnel – for free! Located just underneath this Ontario city and a short distance away from the waterfront is the Brockville Railway Tunnel. And it opens for the season soon.

This fun historical experience dates back to 1860 and has been a notable staple in the Brockville community for years. Canada’s first railway tunnel passes half a kilometer from Brockville’s waterfront and right under the City.

And it all officially opens for the season on Friday, May 17th!

Recent Posts:
10 spontaneous spring day trips you can take near Toronto
The only day-use Ontario Park on Manitoulin Island has a trail through old glacier beaches

The historic tunnel will be open 7 days a week, from 9am to 9pm.

For the time being, they say that it will feature “white lights only with rockin’ music from our local radio Brockville’s Move.”

The City of Brockville, who owns the tunnel, says that it “is continuing to work on repairs and upgrades to bring back the full colour light and music show in all its glory. As soon as the required parts arrive and are installed, the show will be back in full force. We estimate mid-summer.”

Admission is free, although they do take donations.

This tunnel experience takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete depending on how long you take to read the information boards and its architecture.

Though there are some important things to note. According to the tunnel’s site, the walking surface will be wet and slippery in some sections so make sure to wear proper shoes – sandals are a no since they don’t properly grip.

Happy exploring, Ontario!