Ontario Abandoned Places will be rebranded as Ominous Abandoned Places

The Morningstar Mine

Abandoned Mine in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Apr 21 2011

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Recent status Abandoned
Location # 2623

UPDATE: JUNE 24, 2012

Entrance to the mine has been gated by the City of Thorold after numerous rescues in the gorge. This notification will be removed when (and if) the gate is once again compromised.

There aren(a)t many places in the Niagara region to enjoy underground exploration, but this is a good one! It is located at the Morningstar Mill (an open-access historic site) in Saint Catharines / Thorold. The mine entrance itself is, surprisingly, wide-open. However, a slightly dangerous descent down into a gorge via a knotted rope (permanently left behind) is required. This is not a sheer cliff-face descent, but angled enough to bother anyone with a fear of heights.

The mine itself is a single tunnel extending 100 m or so into the bedrock. It was an access tunnel used to mine zinc ore from the area when surface access to the ore became problematic.

The tunnel is right beside a gorgeous waterfall, making this a prime and picturesque area for exploration - where else are you going to find an accessible tunnel and waterfall right next to one another in Southern Ontario?

There are some old (a)relics(a) left over inside the tunnel which I will not feature in the gallery. There must be some surprises!

Directions:

Exit Highway 406 South at St. David(a)s Road. Head west on St. David(a)s Road to Merittville Highway (the stoplights in front of Brock University). Turn south and the first intersection is Decew Road. Turn west on Decew Road and drive 1.7 km to the parking lot for the Morningstar Mill on the right-hand side (2401 Decew Road - check it out on Streetview). Tunnel entrance is just north of the mill itself but you will have to walk along a path following the gorge a ways until you come to a blue rope. Descend and backtrack toward the falls once you get to the bottom of the gorge.

Expect to get dirty!

Comments

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7 months ago

The mine has be reopened as of August 1st, 2023.

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8 years ago

Just went here today, snapped some pictures. The bars look bent enough to squeeze through, I would've went in but 1st , water looks rather deep so I'd recommend rubber boots to any who try , and 2nd My buddy wouldn't come with and no way I'm going in alone....I suppose I've watched to many horror films. Anyway, anyone who wants to try with me , send me a pm. I'll upload the pics when soon.

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9 years ago

Thinking about heading back with an adventurous friend and squeezing through the opening in the bars.

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11 years ago

The water is higher when i went just yesterday and inside the mill was closed .

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11 years ago

I've been down there ones .

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11 years ago

Went here yesterday, it was a beautiful place, although the mine was gated and not accessible!

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12 years ago

Friend and I use to go here alot when we were teens,that was back around 1977. If you walk along the path on the far side of the ravine far enough you can follow it down to the lower river. We would go there in the summer and swim in the gorge under the falls.

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12 years ago

Here is a link to the video we made of us exploring the area! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9bqAnWwdwk Enjoy!

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12 years ago

Don't expect a rope to always be there... It disappears from time to time. I would take some insurance with you just incase (your own rope).