Bonnechere Caves – Eganville, Ontario - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Bonnechere Caves

Eganville, Ontario

One of Mother Nature’s geological gems, home to many prehistoric fossils. 

View all photos
Deep within the Bonnechere Caves. Darlene Munro / Alamy
Deep within the Bonnechere Caves. Darlene Munro / Alamy
The Bonnechere River in Eganville. DiscoverEganville/public domain
60 feet below the surface, and life still persists, you can see that little plant hanging from the ceiling of the caves LetsDiscoverON (Atlas Obscura User)
In the winter months, water levels rise in the nearby river which then completely flood the caves, each spring they are pumped to remove the water LetsDiscoverON (Atlas Obscura User)
Fossil recovered from Bonnechere Caves LetsDiscoverON (Atlas Obscura User)
139
693
Top Places in Ontario
The Diefenbunker
Ottawa, Ontario
Flowerpot Island
Tobermory, Ontario
Toronto's Half House
Toronto, Ontario
 See All

Named for the place where they were discovered, on the Fourth Chute of the Bonnechere River in the beautiful Ottawa Valley, the Bonnechere Caves formed from ancient limestone at the bottom of what was a tropical sea some 500 million years ago. 

Today, the subterranean cavern is home to many well-preserved prehistoric fossils. Venturing underground, stalactites, coral, and ancient sea creatures are all easily observed. These include well-defined fossilized cephalopods, brachiopods, gastropods, crinoid rings and many more.

Stairs are used to enter and exit the cave. Back outside, a scenic trail (featuring a sinkhole you can see through the woods) will lead you to some picnic areas and souvenir shop. Early hibernating bats can also be found in the caves, during the last weeks of September through the winter.

Know Before You Go

The caves are open from late-May to Thanksgiving. Hour-long guided tours leave every 20 to 30 minutes. The temperature underground is always around 50°F (10°C), so a light jacket is recommended, even in the summer.

prehistoric fossils subterranean sites caves ecosystems
Community Contributors
o
Added by
owlmarshall
LetsDiscoverON
Edited by
LetsDiscoverON
Published
November 9, 2018
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Crooked Slide Park
30.06 miles
Barron Canyon Trail
40.33 miles
Mazinaw Rock
41.12 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Crooked Slide Park
Barry's Bay, Ontario

Crooked Slide Park

Inside this park, an engineering marvel from the early 20th-century still stands.
View from a vantage point on the Baron Canyon Trail.
Laurentian Hills, Ontario

Barron Canyon Trail

Travel this route to explore a canyon crafted by ancient glaciers.
Mazinaw Rock
Cloyne, Ontario

Mazinaw Rock

This water-locked cliff face is covered in hundreds of ancient pictographs.
Walt Whitman Monument
Cloyne, Ontario

Walt Whitman Monument

A massive, fading granite poem is all that remains of one Whitman superfan's tribute to the famous writer.
Related Places
Chamber with Screaming Monster formation in Sudwala Caves.
Dollaaskraal, South Africa

Sudwala Caves

These otherworldly caverns form Earth's oldest known cave system.
The outside of the cave.
Mpika, Zambia

Nachikufu Cave

This fascinating cave is packed with prehistoric rock art and Stone Age tools.
Prehistoric hand prints in a cave in Maros.
Bantimurung, Indonesia

Prehistoric Cave Art of Maros Pangkep

These 40,000-year-old stenciled hands are older than the famous cave art in France and Spain.
Cova des Coloms
Es Migjorn Gran, Spain

Cova des Coloms

The largest cave on the island of Menorca was likely the site of Iron Age rites and rituals.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web