Eganville

Located along the Bonnechere River, Eganville derives its name from Lumber Baron John Egan who first settled in the area in 1837. The Bonnechere River provided great opportunities for the movement of logs for the early timbertrade and grist mills for agriculture. Eganville grew into a farming centre with a dairy andbutter factory, while the abundance of limestone was quarried and processed in local lime kilns.

The Bonnechere Museum

The Bonnechere Museum in Eganville, also known as the Ordovician Fossil Capital of Canada, presents both the natural and cultural history of life as it developed along the Bonnechere River. It has a major collection of fossils from the Ordovician Period, a time when North America was drifting away from the equator and the outlines of billions of small animals and plants were preserved in the sedimentary rock formed in the seas that covered much of this landscape.

Directions » 85 Bonnechere Street, in Eganville, at the junction of Hwys 41 and 60.

Visit: www.bonnechere.ca

For another interesting fossil experience, visit the Bonnechere Caves, located just outside of Eganville.

www.bonnecherecaves.com

Three Walking Tours of Eganville

1. With a bit of observation, a walk around the town of Eganville can be an adventure in discovering a variety of distinctive fossils! The terraced public rock garden rising from Bonnechere Street to Victoria Street in the centre of town is not only beautiful for its horticultural aspects but also a great place to view fossils in the slabs of limestone and dolostone that provide a walkway to Victoria Street above. An information sheet about these fossils is available in the Bonnechere Museum. After perusing the rock garden, continue your walk east along Bonnechere St (Hwy 60) to the Tourist information booth. Walk the foot bridge located behind the information booth that crosses over the Bonnechere River. Note the Fifth Chute electrical generation station and the rapids below that stay open year round and support an overwintering flock of common goldeneye ducks. The footbridge will lead you into Centennial Park, where your fossil hunt can continue along the banks and riverbed of the Bonnechere River.

2. Take Bruce Street north out of town. Bruce Street becomes Letts Cemetery Road, with views across the watershed to the Opeongo Mountains. Turn left onto Crooked Rapids Road which turns into Snowdrifters Road. Turn left (east) to Hwy 60 and back in to Eganville. Walk or cycle, approximately 6 km.

3. Mill St turns into Grist Mill Road and follows the north side of the Bonnechere River, a nice out and back walk or bicycle ride, with views of the river.

Google Map of Eganville: http://goo.gl/maps/MGWZ

Reference: http://www.ottawariverinstitute.ca/our-projects/nature-in-your-neighbourhood

The Fossil and Geology Walking Trail