Northern Ontario GeoTours
Learn about the geological features and rich mining history of Northern Ontario by taking a self-guided GeoTour.
Overview
GeoTours are illustrated guides that showcase geological sites, stories and significant natural destinations in communities across Northern Ontario.
We present stories from the Sudbury area, where a meteorite impact 1.85 billion years ago resulted in rich nickel-copper ore deposits that have made the Greater Sudbury area world famous. We also explore fascinating geological sites from Thunder Bay to Parry Sound and Killarney to Timmins.
Through these easy-to read, illustrated self-guided tours, you can explore fascinating geological landscapes such as:
- cliffs
- waterfalls
- mines
- canyons
You will also learn about:
- the study of rocks, stones and how the Earth was formed
- processes that changed the physical landscape
- landforms produced by physical and chemical interactions between the Earth’s surface and the natural forces acting upon it
You can explore the virtual tours online. Alternatively, you can print or save the available PDFs to your mobile device and visit the sites to see them for yourself.
Greater Sudbury GeoTours
A.Y. Jackson Lookout
Learn about High Falls and Greater Sudbury’s famous meteorite crater.
Copper Cliff
Take a driving tour of Greater Sudbury’s mining industry.
Copper Cliff GeoTour (PDF)
Copper Cliff Smelter Superstack
Learn about metals from minerals, managing environmental impacts and historic mining.
Discovery Site of Sudbury Mining Camp
Discover the birthplace of a world famous mining district.
Dynamic Earth
Explore an ancient seafloor, meteorite-blasted rock, ice age sculpture and Greater Sudbury’s smelter.
Dynamic Earth GeoTour (PDF)
Jane Goodall Reclamation Trail
Learn how Greater Sudbury’s Landscape was healed.
Science North
Read about Canadian Shield rock with stories of ancient meteorite impact, faulting and glacial sculpting.
Science North GeoTour (PDF)
Northern Ontario GeoTours
French River Provincial Park
Explore a historic waterway through Canadian Shield gneiss.
Heritage Silver Trail, Cobalt
Take a road tour of a historic silver mining camp.
Killarney
Learn about famous Canadian Shield white mountains and pink shores.
Killarney GeoTour (PDF)
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Tour the geological shores of the world’s largest freshwater lake.
Mining Heritage Tour, Kirkland Lake
Learn about a century of mining the “Mile of Gold.”
Nipigon
Take a tour of palisades and red rocks on Lake Superior’s dramatic northwest shore.
Nipigon GeoTour (PDF)
Parry Sound
Discover the Canadian Shield and glacier-sculpted gneiss in cottage country.
Parry Sound GeoTour (PDF)
Temiskaming Shores
Explore flat farmland, diamonds and a rift valley in Temiskaming Shores.
Thunder Bay
Learn about the geology of the Lakehead region.
Thunder Bay GeoTour (PDF)
Timmins
Tour Canada’s greatest goldfields.
Timmins GeoTour (PDF)
About the authors
Northern Ontario GeoTours were created by geoscientists from: