Bonnechere Caves
Bonnechere Caves
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
251 reviews
Excellent
107
Very good
105
Average
26
Poor
9
Terrible
4
gurr8one
21 contributions
Aug. 2022
Was in the and seen an advertisement , sounded interesting. Was pleasantly surprised and pleased with the educational aspect of the tout.
Written February 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paul H
High Level, Alberta17 contributions
Sep. 2022
The owner of the property was the parking attendant and welcomed us with a friendly smile. The guide was knowledgeable about the cave system and very friendly as well. This is a recommended family friendly adventure.
Written September 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Janet H
Worcester, UK540 contributions
Aug. 2022
An amazing place. We met and chatted with Chris , the owner, who was directing parking and he gave us the background to the caves before we went and booked tickets to go for a tour. The young lady who took us round was amazing. She had the ability to get everyone to interact from the eldest to the youngest and really made our visit. Note: Wear suitable footwear as you go down uneven ground within the caves and on the pathways. Be prepared for the lights to be switched off part way through to get a real feel of how it must have been when it was first found. It is certainly an attraction for all the family.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Leona G
Oshawa, Canada6 contributions
Sep. 2022 • Family
This was an awesome experience. If you are interested in fossils and don’t have a fear of enclosed spaces you definitely should go. The tour guide was very informative about the history of caves what they’ve discovered about them. Very interesting to learn. It was fun walking through. It’s well lit and there are some stairs to climb. One point they turned off the lights it was remarkable how dark it really is down there. It’s worth it just seeing the formation of rock in the caves. Just beautiful
Written September 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marianne G
Bellevue17 contributions
Aug. 2022
Friendly, funny, knowledgeable guides. Beautiful scenery and trails. A great way to keep cool on a hot day.
Written August 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jessica S
181 contributions
Aug. 2021 • Family
I’ve been to these caves probably five times in my life. Twice as a child/teen with my parents and three times with my own five kids at varying ages. The spot never ceases to amaze. I applaud the business/space for persisting though COVID. Plse consider a visit to support this local super cool space.
Written July 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Teresa J
Hamilton1 contribution
Jul. 2022
My husband and I had a great time at Bonnechere Caves. Our guide, Mackenzie was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. We would definitely go back.
We highly recommend the journey!
We highly recommend the journey!
Written July 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rita
2 contributions
Jul. 2022 • Couples
We spent an enjoyable summer afternoon at the Bonnechere Caves and Falls. Our tour guide, Lucas, gave a very informative and entertaining hour long tour of the caves to our group of visitors of all ages groups. We spent some time after the tour visiting the sink hole, admiring the falls and taking a break at one of the picnic tables. There is a small gift shop and a natural outhouse that is an experience in itself.
There is so much history and natural wonders in this beautiful part of Eastern Ontario.
There is so much history and natural wonders in this beautiful part of Eastern Ontario.
Written July 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rajnath B
1 contribution
Sep. 2021
Due to COVID, only the self guided tour is available - it costs $19 per adult which is quite pricey for what you get. A "guide" provides a two minute introduction and then you are on your own to "explore" the cave. Your self guided tour takes you past 10 construction pylons - each pylon has a brief description of what you should be looking for. You can spend about 2 minutes at each pylon stop so your total tour can be 15 - 20 minutes. The washroom facilities are abysmal - latrines with lots of flies - given that this is supposed to be a tourist attraction in Eganville, the owner should provide some basic amenities.
Written September 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JLC1481
Ontario, Canada111 contributions
Aug. 2021
General Impression:
After seeing an episode of Still Standing with Johnny Harris on CBC which featured Eganville, my husband was interested in checking out the caves for himself. We decided this week, as part of our wedding anniversary celebrations, to drive from Ottawa to Eganville for this experience. We did really enjoy it, but we definitely think that it would be a much better experience once the guided tours resume. The posted signs in the caves are helpful, but they cannot make up for the knowledge of a tour guide who is able to point out interesting sites and geological formations to view as you walk through.
Take with you:
1. Good shoes. The caves are wet and slippery in spots. Flip flops and sandals are not a good idea.
2. Food and water: (General picnic supplies)
-They have a beautiful picnic area where you can wait until your turn to enter the caves. We arrived at 11:30 am and had a 2 hour wait for our turn after purchasing tickets (on a weekday, weekends are even busier we were told). They do offer some snacks (chips, ice cream, trail mix packets, 'Cliff' protein bars) and some drinks at the Canteen/Gift Shop. There is not a "meal" option like a chip wagon or sandwiches. To further support the business, it would be helpful to purchase some items, but it won't be enough if you are truly hungry.
-There is a well water pump station on site. The owner of the attraction said he drinks water from it every day, but when I refilled my water bottle, it tasted extremely metallic and I could not drink it. My husband who grew up on a well system said it was too metallic to drink as well. There is no where else to refill a water bottle, so pack several with you if you are going on a hot day or be prepared to purchase water at the Canteen/Gift Shop.
3. A flashlight, a good sized one with spare batteries. The flashlight on your cellphone will not be strong enough. We took a small flashlight and found it was not powerful enough to get a good look. The walk has lanterns through out, but having the flashlight allows you to see into the deeper sections of the caves.
4. Sweater/Jacket - the website says to take one with you as the caves are very cool and wet. We visited on a 40 degree day and found we didn't need either one. But we packed both in a small backpack. On a cooler day, you may feel the need to have one with you, especially if you are on a one hour tour. Self-tours are only 30 minutes and I felt sweet relief at the coolness after waiting outside two hours.
Wait Times:
We didn't expect a weekday to be very busy but they had a full parking lot (yay for them). We had intended to be there at 10 am, but our GPS took us on a scenic route and we arrived later than expected. We waited 2 hours after purchasing our tickets but wait times can be longer if they are really busy. They do tell you it is okay for you to leave the attraction area and come back closer to your time, but we chose to wait there and just walk around the grounds.
The Water Falls:
The attraction is located next to a beautiful water fall. Some areas surrounding the Caves are private property for residents who live there. If you decide to walk around, take care and respect the boundaries. There are signs posted telling you where you can go to enjoy the water fall.
Detours:
Because of construction on the bridge that is next to the caves, the bridge is closed and access to the attraction is through the town of Douglas. We drove passed the correct turn off as the signs were a little confusing. Look for Detour D-1. There is a sign at the end of the road which says No RV'S passed this point. It is in the middle of the road so it looks like it means the road is closed, but you have to drive passed it and the cave parking lot is not far from there. There is no where for large RV'S and trucks to go once you get to the parking lot due to the road construction. Once construction ends, access from Fourth Chute Road over the bridge will resume.
6. Cost:
I didn't mind the cost of the attraction, hubby says it was about 35.00 for the two of us. But as other reviewers have pointed out, those are likely the costs related to the tour guide use vs the self-guided tour which did not have a lower price point. Either way, it was worth the price as it was a great experience.
If you are thinking about going to Bonnechere, I recommend it. We had a great time and the drive from Ottawa was beautiful to see all the communities (we took the back roads.)
After seeing an episode of Still Standing with Johnny Harris on CBC which featured Eganville, my husband was interested in checking out the caves for himself. We decided this week, as part of our wedding anniversary celebrations, to drive from Ottawa to Eganville for this experience. We did really enjoy it, but we definitely think that it would be a much better experience once the guided tours resume. The posted signs in the caves are helpful, but they cannot make up for the knowledge of a tour guide who is able to point out interesting sites and geological formations to view as you walk through.
Take with you:
1. Good shoes. The caves are wet and slippery in spots. Flip flops and sandals are not a good idea.
2. Food and water: (General picnic supplies)
-They have a beautiful picnic area where you can wait until your turn to enter the caves. We arrived at 11:30 am and had a 2 hour wait for our turn after purchasing tickets (on a weekday, weekends are even busier we were told). They do offer some snacks (chips, ice cream, trail mix packets, 'Cliff' protein bars) and some drinks at the Canteen/Gift Shop. There is not a "meal" option like a chip wagon or sandwiches. To further support the business, it would be helpful to purchase some items, but it won't be enough if you are truly hungry.
-There is a well water pump station on site. The owner of the attraction said he drinks water from it every day, but when I refilled my water bottle, it tasted extremely metallic and I could not drink it. My husband who grew up on a well system said it was too metallic to drink as well. There is no where else to refill a water bottle, so pack several with you if you are going on a hot day or be prepared to purchase water at the Canteen/Gift Shop.
3. A flashlight, a good sized one with spare batteries. The flashlight on your cellphone will not be strong enough. We took a small flashlight and found it was not powerful enough to get a good look. The walk has lanterns through out, but having the flashlight allows you to see into the deeper sections of the caves.
4. Sweater/Jacket - the website says to take one with you as the caves are very cool and wet. We visited on a 40 degree day and found we didn't need either one. But we packed both in a small backpack. On a cooler day, you may feel the need to have one with you, especially if you are on a one hour tour. Self-tours are only 30 minutes and I felt sweet relief at the coolness after waiting outside two hours.
Wait Times:
We didn't expect a weekday to be very busy but they had a full parking lot (yay for them). We had intended to be there at 10 am, but our GPS took us on a scenic route and we arrived later than expected. We waited 2 hours after purchasing our tickets but wait times can be longer if they are really busy. They do tell you it is okay for you to leave the attraction area and come back closer to your time, but we chose to wait there and just walk around the grounds.
The Water Falls:
The attraction is located next to a beautiful water fall. Some areas surrounding the Caves are private property for residents who live there. If you decide to walk around, take care and respect the boundaries. There are signs posted telling you where you can go to enjoy the water fall.
Detours:
Because of construction on the bridge that is next to the caves, the bridge is closed and access to the attraction is through the town of Douglas. We drove passed the correct turn off as the signs were a little confusing. Look for Detour D-1. There is a sign at the end of the road which says No RV'S passed this point. It is in the middle of the road so it looks like it means the road is closed, but you have to drive passed it and the cave parking lot is not far from there. There is no where for large RV'S and trucks to go once you get to the parking lot due to the road construction. Once construction ends, access from Fourth Chute Road over the bridge will resume.
6. Cost:
I didn't mind the cost of the attraction, hubby says it was about 35.00 for the two of us. But as other reviewers have pointed out, those are likely the costs related to the tour guide use vs the self-guided tour which did not have a lower price point. Either way, it was worth the price as it was a great experience.
If you are thinking about going to Bonnechere, I recommend it. We had a great time and the drive from Ottawa was beautiful to see all the communities (we took the back roads.)
Written August 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SonshineK23
Ontario, Canada30 contributions
I read reviews and saw pictures from your Underground Dining event...what a great idea! I would like to find out if you are holding this event again, and if so what the dates would be for 2017. I am hoping it may coincide with our anniversary trip in the area this summer. How does registration for this work? Thank-you!
hannahmtait
Girona, Spain6 contributions
Is there a form of public transport that would take you from Ottawa to the caves?
martha m
Winnipeg, Canada12 contributions
How late do you stay opened in the Fall? We have a family wedding in Ottawa, have out of province visitors, perhaps it would be fun to visit either before or after the wedding?
martha m
Winnipeg, Canada12 contributions
My daughter is getting married during the Thanksgiving weekend in Ottawa,..on the 10th of October 2015 to be precise. How late are you opened in the Fall? Perhaps it would be a great family outing on the Sunday after the wedding if it were opened or on our way to Ottawa?
Steve M
Laval, Canada9 contributions
I noticed different addresses to the caves, I am most interested in seeing them in early summer. Would like to know which one would be the best or are they both connected .I shall be traveling with 2 elderly people in there late 80's and one walks with a cane. Would this attraction be to difficult for them ?
lari1960
Toronto, Canada137 contributions
The address on the Bonnechere Caves website will work. Just type it into your GPS and you are good to go. The walk through the caves can be slippery and the walk back to the parking lot can be a little difficult for someone who uses a cane or for an elderly person who is not active.
BONNECHERE CAVES (Eganville) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Bonnechere Caves
- Bonnechere Caves is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Hotels near Bonnechere Caves:
- (8.19 km) The Egan Inn
- (8.28 km) Whitefield Cottage ~ Sky Above, Lake Below!
- (9.48 km) Country Blossom Bed & Breakfast
- (13.96 km) Lake Dore RV Resort
- (14.83 km) White Birch Cottages
- Restaurants near Bonnechere Caves:
- (8.09 km) The Granary Restaurant
- (8.11 km) Green's Chip Truck
- (8.14 km) Rio Tap & Grill
- (7.79 km) The Axe And Paddle
- (8.27 km) Milano Pizza
- Attractions near Bonnechere Caves:
- (0.55 km) Fourth Chute
- (5.20 km) Whitetail Golf Club
- (7.79 km) Centennial Flame
- (8.09 km) Angel Antiques
- (8.19 km) Bonnechere Museum