Paille en Queue Trail

A stroll through a dwarf forest filled with strange trees evocative of Dr. Seuss. The trail is well worn and easy to follow, although there is little shade. It is not the easiest to access as neither end is marked, nor does it connect to any other trails. It is possible to park nearby on the western end. The eastern end connects to the road at the round-a-bout for Vacoas/Petrin/Chamouny/Plaine Champagne. There doesn’t appear to be anywhere good to park in this area.

Route:

  • Type of trail: One Way/ Out and Back?
  • Start/End point: Trailhead off Plaine Champagne Road
  • Length: 2.3 miles round trip
  • Duration: 45min – 1 hour
  • Lowest point: 2114ft
  • Highest point: 2399ft

The west trailhead is between the police station and the section where the road splits. It is a small road on north side with a boulder blocking it. Park anywhere around here – there seems to be space to the west.

The other end is at the at the round-a-bout for Vacoas/Petrin/Chamouny/Plaine Champagne. It is a dirt road with a white boulder near the entrance.

From either direction the trail essentially meanders across the plateau and crosses a few streams that are passable without getting your feet wet. There is a pine forest on the eastern end where there are a couple of junctions, although if you have a grasp of where you are going they should not be a problem. When you reach the road in the pine forest coming from the western end, turn right/east and continue in this direction until you reach the main road. If coming from the east end, watch for a major trail that will diverge on your left/west. There is no problem following the footpath. Return along the same route or along the road. Hitchhiking back to my vehicle has worked well for me.

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