Alpine touring and off-piste skiing: a place for everything

– JOINT RELEASE –

The Mont Sutton ski resort, the Town of Sutton, as well as the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and the Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton (PENS) have joined together to remind everyone of the guidelines to be respected for skiing, alpine touring and off-piste skiing activities. These rules are essential for the safety of users, but also for the preservation of the precious fauna and flora of Sutton.

Offered by Mont Sutton on some of its trails, alpine hiking has become popular with the craze for outdoor activities. Overflows are regularly observed, notably on the lands of the Réserve naturelle des Montagnes-Vertes (RNMV) belonging to CNC and on the trails of the PENS, where the practice of alpine hiking, whether on skis or snowboard, is formally prohibited. Sutton is proud to offer a wide range of activities on its territory, but reminds users that they must respect the measures put in place.

Reminder of the rules in effect:

  • Users must use only Mont Sutton’s trails and open ski runs for alpine touring and skiing.
  • The users must be holders of a Mont Sutton pass or have purchased a ticket for the alpine touring activity.
  • The practice of backcountry skiing and off-trail skiing is strictly forbidden in the RNMV.
  • The trails of the PENS are exclusively reserved for hiking, walking or snowshoeing.
  • Only the uses indicated on the network maps and on the on-site signage are permitted.

Harmonious cohabitation, respect for commitments and safety

People who venture off the marked trails take a risk to their safety and the safety of others by unduly increasing the response time of emergency crews in the event of an accident.

The RNMV is a place with very sensitive and unique environments. The status of nature reserve was conferred to this territory by the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks in order to preserve its integrity and to limit uses that are not compatible with protection, such as skiing. While NCC is happy to make much of the RNMV accessible, for example by granting rights of way for the PENS trails, it must enforce the restrictions imposed by such status.

Sutton is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Let’s make sure that activities are carried out in the right place to ensure the safety of users, while respecting nature!

Mont Sutton, Town of Sutton, CNC and PENS Issue Table

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