Les Sentiers de l'Estrie: Zone Sutton

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Historical Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

I don't know a lot of French, but I think a pass is required to run this trail. Maps for the first 3 zones can be purchased at the Information Center in Sutton, Quebec.

My French isn't great, so I apologize if I misspell or mispronounce anything. This section of Les Sentiers de l'Estrie extends from the Vermont/Canadian border to Mont Echo. After passing through customs, the trail follows Chemin de la Vallee Missiquoi for approximately 2,6 km/1.6 miles to a parking area (on the left). It climbs a short distance up to an old woods road and follows it to the right, alongside a barbed wire fence. It traverses over some long switchbacks, near the brook.

It passes by a cellarhole (on the right), then it becomes harder to navigate. *While it shows this portion as being closed on the 2019 edition of Les Sentiers de l'Estrie map, it's still passable.* This portion's only closed due to the overgrowth of Birch saplings that obscure the tread of the trail. You'll only be able to see a few feet in front of you as you push through the thicket of growth. Just pay very close attention to the blazes.

The trail turns right to follow along the ridgetop, where you'll pass by 3 viewpoints (all on the right). After the 3rd viewpoint, the trail descends through another thicket of Birch saplings. The trail is little more than an animal path, that's hardly visible. If you make it through, you'll arrive at the trails of Diable Vert/ Green Devil. Here, there are many intersections with maps, so it's easy not to get lost.

Les Sentiers de l'Estrie stays left, along the uppermost trails. It turns left off the Green Devil trails where Sentier des Falaises (yellow)/the Cliff Trail turns right (downhill). It continues a short distance to where the trail is closed, again. Here, there are signs to discourage passage; you'll have to turn back or find another access further north.

Flora: Hobblebush, Eastern Hemlock, Blackberries, White Birch.
Fungi: Black Earth-Tongue, Chaga, Birch Polypore.
Fauna: Bluejay, White-Tailed Deer, Blister Beetle, Grouse, Wren, Red Squirrel.