Sugarloaf Mountain

Amazing view and very nice hike. Perfect for family and friends hiking

Great place for fall colors and enjoying nature! Hike to the summit is short and a little steep, but good for an afternoon adventure.

Short but moderately difficult hike, depending on which view you’re accessing. The trails are well maintained and it’s a beautiful area. Definitely worth it.

A sweet and wonderfully sticky yeast bread laced with large pearls of sugar that caramelized into gooey pockets when baked... is not what this is. Sugarloaf Mountain is, in fact a large mound of dirt and rocks that you can walk up to get some gorgeous views of the surrounding area!

Sometimes parking can be tight and the online schedule isn’t always correct about when it is open, but besides that good trails, some nice places to do free climbing. And overall good view with an easy to do hike.

The gate to the parking lot opens @8A.M. My sis and I decided to go on the blue trail (5miles). We were not smart enough to bring more than one water bottle on a 90 degrees weather. We had multiple heatstrokes. We couldn’t go any farther so we decided to call the office(?) at the end of the trail where cars passes by. Lady on the phone was really nice and helpful. She even stayed on the phone with us until she found a ride for us (Red line on maps is where we got ride). Thank you again for your help. Trail is nice and clean and has an amazing view. Probably should take about 2 hours total. Would definitely go again, but be more prepared.

Beautiful day. Excellent hike

Took my 4 year old today and it was a great. Loads of parking is a huge bonus. Park near the top for a gentle hike or further down for a more challenging climb.

I visited this place for the first time. Beautiful view. Now, as a non-hiker this was a little challenging BUT, very rewarding! There are a lot of rocks to walk and shift over, a few fallen trees you have to sorta climb over. (Not too hard) Those steps however, MAN! Them things will take you out! Lol. There were plenty of areas to stop for breaks though so do it your own pace. Everyone there was very friendly and few shared very helpful tips! Overall a great experience, and as crazy as it sounds, I do it again! Something to think about though...I wore shorts, but I would suggest wearing pants. Someone I was with kept getting these green spiky things stuck to them and I have no idea what that was but it's a no. Also, if you have some hiking shoes or boots wear those. Trying to walk on rocks and walk downhill you might slide a little bit. You want to have some sort of stability. Last they have these, for a lack of better word, hiking sticks that a lot of other hikers had that seem to be very helpful from what one of them told me I would suggest getting a pair of those as well. I hear they have them at Costco.

Lately, I haven't been hitting the gym as much, so I decided it was time to jumpstart my fitness with a nice hike. We headed to Sugarloaf Mountain, and it was just as refreshing for the soul as I remembered. I won't go on too long since I've shared my love for this place before, but it truly is one of my favorite hiking spots, that now holds a special place in my heart bc it is the first hike we've completed with my 3yr old son on my back. The trails are well-marked, complete with info on distance and difficulty levels. If you make it to the Summit area--the very top--you're in for some breathtaking views!

Wow. My family loves to hike (walk?) and we are so lucky to have Sugarloaf nearby. Really a great place to connect to nature and take in the views. Will come back often. We didn't really have the right gear or anything but were able to hang in there just fine on the trails.

What a nice view! This is a fairly challenging hike, and also close to a winery. The Catoctin Mountains aren't Mount Everest. Yet hiking this is a pretty good workout. Have been here multiple times. Due to some people being less than respectful, there are some new rules in place. Please check their website. The fauna and flora are great. Also kudos for the trail markers. These people put effort into that. Parking is usually a cinch, but during busy times, it could be a bit of trouble. Families of multiple generations can do this. A wonderful view of Frederick area can be seen at the top.

The views and ambience are five star - especially during the autumn with the abundance of colors. Picnic areas. Hiking trails. And more. One star off (almost took more off) cause the speed bump to enter and the spiked hump to leave the mountain -- they are way way way high - and they tore the heck out of my wheelchair accessible van.

An excellent place for hiking less than an hour drive from DC. Not too crowded on a weekend (maybe in the summer but not in winter even when the weather is nice and warm). Some ascents and rocky terrain but since it's a small mountain not too challenging. Free entry but donation accepted. Closes at 4 pm (new regulation).

Beautiful fall Foliage, some of the trails can be really hard to trek. But we made it. Always bring lots of water and snacks to restore all your energy. Some trails are sooooo long. We got a little lost since we couldn't decide which trail but we were there for 5 hours. It was a long time before we made it out. Good thing we were there around 10 ish in the am. It was a good hike, hopefully it will stay open. Since the issue with the Frederick county /stronghold is on going. So we will see.

Parking was is VERY limited, but I guess that is what makes this place so great, very little people! Beautiful trails up to the top. Bring water and snacks (but please pack out your trash!!). Took the paved road down, and so happy we did. Feeling it today for sure! Lol 2 hours up (with small dog, lots of breaks), one hour down.

This was not a particularly pleasant hiking experience. The signage is extremely limited both for drivers looking for parking and for hikers looking for trails. The trails are maintained pretty well with a few spots where it appears they just... completely stop? And the views at the summits are fine but not spectacular. I would encourage you to take a little extra time and drive to Harpers Ferry instead.

Such a pristine spot. The trails are clearly marked. The hiking here is mostly for beginner to intermediate levels, although there's one steep trail (red). What I like most about Sugarloaf Mountain is that getting to the top of it doesn't take forever. It's a lovely view when you do summit. This isn't for extreme climbers; rather a place for everyone. Picnic tables are available at various locations. I recommend parking in West View parking lot, the one that's highest up. I find it to be quite peaceful here. Wonderful way to spend a day or half day.

Well maintained and magnificent views. Great place for outdoor picnic. Children will love.

Trails are well marked and provide a range of difficulty. Views are magnificent. Parking is plentiful with a local winery about a mile from the exit for refreshment.

The drive on the way up was a little nerve-racking but there was a lot of parking when we reached the top. My group took the intermediate trail up and it had lots of stairs with a good slope incline. Once you get to the top, there are spectacular views.

Sugarloaf Mountain is one of my favorite hiking places, and you can enjoy a glass of wine afterwards down the road The Sunrise Trail (orange) is the steepest rocky trail among the three trails that leads to the top; it's my favorite one to go up. It takes about 15 minutes. I would not come down on this trail, especially if you have little ones. The Monadnock Trail (red) has many stairs, so also good to go up. I like to come down on the A.M. Thomas Trail (green). I also enjoy Mountain Loop Trail (white). Looking forward to the next visit for Northern Peaks Trial (blue). :)

#Sayyestonature I'm so glad I came to do the hike on a weekday! Easy in finding parking and only saw like 5 groups of people during the whole hike. We did the blue trail with total of around 7 miles. The closest parking lot would be west view lot. It's definitely social distance approved activity and if you are comfortable, you can almost do the whole trail without a mask!

Looking for an outdoor adventure? Look no further...I think we took the green trail which included over 100 steps to get the peak and it was worth it! I am not sure how busy it gets on the weekends so I would suggest getting there earlier rather than later. There were tons of kids on the trail and families having little "snacky hours" at the top so be prepared for that! It is a kid friendly and pet friendly trail but if you're looking for something more romantic, this may not be the place...

I did an 8 mile hike here by combining the blue loop with white loop. This was a well maintained and well marked park with different loops of various lengths. There is a summit that is less than 1 mile up from the parking lot, but I missed that and instead did my loop route. There is a White Rocks overlook that I stopped at on the Blue Loop which I hear is similar in views to the actual summit so that sufficed for me. The rest of the hike though was very much the same scenery (trees, rocks, and flowers) without many views. Very shady (perfect for hot days) but also very rocky (nearly twisted my ankle a few times). Can spot an occasional deer, vulture-looking birds, snake... The hike varies from easy, flat stretches to some more rocky, steep sections. Some parts have more people than others (where people join from other loops or parking lots), but deeper into the blue loop there are less. My biggest qualm is that after driving 1.5 hours to get to Sugarloaf, we then had to spend 30 minutes circling for parking (this was around 1pm on a Sunday). I believe we arrived to the East View Parking Lot which had very few spots to begin with (around 5) and there were staff there angrily telling arriving cars to leave. When we tried to ask them for other ideas on where to park, they did not even respond and continued yelling at us to keep driving. A bunch of cars eventually started parking along a pocket in the road that was not private property (there are two mansions here), so we followed suit only to see later that the staff then let in a bunch of cars to other parking lots located in the mountain. Overall, scenic but summit/views were not as great as I thought it would be. Parking can be a bad experience. Tip: there are portable restrooms at the start of the trails. There is also a winery a few minutes from the entrance.

This is a great mountain with a wide variety of trails that are offered! You can also just skip it all and drive to the top for a good enough view, and there are picnic tables there too to eat. But, the hikes are decent and you can choose short distance to long; really up to you on how you want to hike! From what I remember, I never had trouble parking as there was always space.

Love this place, especially in the fall! Nice clean park and perfect for dogs. Plenty of parking once you get towards the top of the mountain

We definitely have to come back as we didn't realize the green trail leads to the top! I only realized this by reading the other reviews here haha. But we still had a great time walking around and enjoying nature, but we didn't get to see much views other than trees. I think we got a bit lost at the end and ended up at the Potomac view parking lot which had a pretty view! We parked in the west view parking lot and walked over to the east and started on the blue trail, then came down the yellow, then blue, then blue & white (see the trail map I highlighted). According to my Apple Watch it took us about 2.5 hours with a total of almost 6 miles.

Great place for a short hike with an amazing view we usually go up one way and down a different way so we get to see more of it!

It's a bit of a drive but once you get there it is pretty quiet. Don't expect to see rocky mountain wonder-it's quite leisurely but at least feels like being on a hill.

Love the park but really annoying it closes at 4 now especially when the sun don't set till 7 now. Such a nice day outside too. 4:30 or 5 would be so much better.

This was a convenient and pleasant day trip with good proximity to DC. Pros: Dog friendly: The pups loved this hike! I kept my pups on leash because they are a bit disobedient but I saw several pups off leash :) Easy hike: Not a super challenging hike but still a good little workout. If you're into cross- country running, I bet you could run the Sugarloaf Mountain and Northern Peaks Trail pretty easily. I took this trail and it was just under 6 miles, one-way, from start to finish. Trails: Easily defined trails, very clear and pretty well-marked. Pretty farmland: The earlier stages of the trail are situated in beautiful farmland, filled with lambs and cows happily grazing and roaming Not too busy: I've seen other reviews of this mountain saying that the Sugarloaf Mountain and Northern Peaks Trail is really busy, but I personally encountered only a couple of people on the whole hike. Cons: Views: No breathtaking views from the top, however I bet that in the fall, this would be a bit more impressive of a view with all the foliage (full disclosure, I went in early spring when there weren't too many leaves on trees yet). Not a super high peak, though if you're looking for a little easier of a hike, this might be a pro, rather than a con! Muddy: Not really a huge deal, but if it has rained anytime around when you plan to hike, expect the trails to be quite wet and muddy, with big puddles

Wow, what a beautiful and semi-challenging short hike! The views are spectacular and the ability to reward yourself at Sugarloaf Winery afterwards is such a nice treat! I took my 80lbs goldendoodle there and took the orange trail up to a viewpoint. The hike starts of easy but gets a bit tougher when you get to the rocks. My pup did fine and navigated her way through the rocks with ease. I recommend using a longer leash so that the dog doesn't pull you down if his momentum makes him go further than anticipated. Parking is free and we found plenty of spots when we went. Remember to end your hike at the winery. It was a splendid day and something I would love to go back and do again!

This hike was wonderful! Pros - lots of parking, beautiful views, lots of options for hike lengths, very well marked trails, close to DC, and FREE (donations encouraged!) We did a 6.25 hike starting in the west parking lot and going counter clockwise. I recommend taking that direction because you have more time alone on the the trail. We took a 15-20 min break at white rocks and the whole thing took about 3 hours. It's a moderate hike except the first 15 min which were strenuous. Cons - bathrooms are portopotties, risk of snakes and bears - but both of these are just risks of the lovely outdoors Overall, I will definitely go again for some fresh air, beautiful views, and blood pumping adventures :)

First time visitor from Arlington, VA! I set out to hike this on Thanksgiving Day, shooting to leave pretty early in case it was busy for the holiday. It's about an hour drive so I arrived around 8:30AM. There were about 5 cars at the base of the mountain, and about 5 more at the halfway point where I parked. I brought my pup, who isn't out of shape, but also isn't in great shape (love him though!). So, I opted for the sunrise trail (orange) and it was basically straight incline, short and sweet. It really didn't take long at all. Maybe like 20 minutes up with no stopping. We stopped at the top, super windy and my pup didn't like that. So we took some pics and headed back down to the picnic area, to have a picnic! The view at the summit is gorgeous, and was a great switch up to my hikes/trails in Arlington! The trail was VERY well maintained, better than some national parks I've been to. I was worried it would be muddy due to the rains over the week, but there was no problem! Next time I will bring a lo leash, since it was straight incline, coming back down meant that my dog was jumping and pulling me down. I am looking forward to coming back and trying out other trails that are a little longer!

Today was our first time hiking Sugarloaf Mountain, and I can now see why my friend recommended the hike for us. The views are amazing! We were able to see the Potomac river from the top of the green trail. If you take the red trail as well, it meets the top of the green trial and you'll be able to see the fantastic view as well. I did the hike with my husband, and my boys (4 &6) and going up and down took us about an 1hr & 30mins.

A decent hike with 4 different trails that are different lengths and levels of difficulty (1 mi. To 7 mi.). There is plenty of marking at the base of the mountain as well as the east view and west view parking lots. The west and east view lots are located higher up on the mountain if you wish to have an easier hike or just want to see some nice views, park here. There are lots of spots to get a great view of the flat lands surrounding sugarloaf. The trails are easy to moderate with just a couple sections where it is a bit steep. Sugarloaf is free and dog friendly if you want to bring Fido with you. There is really nothing around the mountain (only about 15 mins. From 270) but one positive is that there is a nice winery with indoor/outdoor seating only mins. from the entrance.

Sugarloaf mountain is one of the great treasures of Maryland. I have hiked every train at sugarloaf several times. The stronghold trust does an excellent job maintains the trails with the help of volunteers. Be aware that on busy days parking will be difficult due to the popularity of the trails.

Sugarloaf has a couple of hiking trails. I usually scramble up the side of the mountain. It's a lot more fun that way. Wear good approach shoes and be careful if you do. Once you get to the top, you get a beautiful, scenic view. Great place to just chill. Stellar location to watch the sunset. As beautiful as this place can be, it is often tainted by the sight of graffiti, broken beer bottles, and the smell of pot. For rockclimbers, you can set up top-roping in certain areas. Most climbs seem to be in the 5.8-5.9 range. Not bad for folks new to climbing outdoors. No bolts allowed. From the summit to parking lot, it's less than a 30 minute hike down. It's about 45 minutes away from Washington D.C. Parking has never been an issue whenever I come here, but that's usually later in the day. It's dog friendly!

I feel terrible that I've lived in Maryland for almost 20 years and just went to Sugarloaf Mountain for the first time. This is a really cool local attraction. Yes it's a pretty small mountain but in this part of the state it's still a unique feature. The suggested donation to access it is very reasonable and the trails, maps and markings are all in excellent condition. It's extremely easy to find your way around without getting lost. Be aware, on a nice weekend day this site gets quite crowded so it's definitely not a place to get away from other people. Arrive early, or come on a weekday if you want to avoid the crowds.

Invigorating options for the novice hiking enthusiasts. Parking fills up fast at the base of the mountain and the mid-level east/west lots, but there's at least three more lots to be considered further in. I noted the nice reading spot one fellow had settled down in, just off to the side of the bathrooms' roof. The view to be had there is almost as nice as the vantage point from White Rocks, with a few rock cliffs along the way that equally lack aesthetics. All much quieter than trying to lounge at the picnic tables where the families run extra rampant. Spent a few hours on the blue trail with a small party ranging in age from teens to forties. Markers are painted at frequent intervals to assure hikers of proper directions. A few steep stretches for extra cardio, the occasional stream to leapfrog across. Most foot traffic is polite. Track and field kids doing training exercises along white trail. Two dog owners had their pets unleashed, one of which had terrible enough temperament that I wanted to punch him in the face for not watching it better. The signs about bear cub spottings made me glad that the spring growth hadn't been at full thickness. Note to self, check the weather report and pack a poncho.

Perfect place for an early morning/afternoon hike. The Orange trail is our favorite and we've done it a few times. Great elevation and great workout as the entire thing is uphill and can get pretty steep sometime. But only about 0.7 miles on the way up (same on the way down) and I've seen a lot of people bring their kids. Love this place, private parking, diff hikes for diff levels of difficulty

Always a good hike! Multiple different start points depending on the time you have and pretty views at the top!

Wow, I am so happy to find a great hiking spot close to home. We parked in the East lot and hiked from the white trail to the blue trail loop (about 6 miles). The trails here are stunning - lots of greenery and challenging enough to be a great workout. I also want to comment on how well organized the trail system is here - all of the trails are consistently marked by colors on the trees, making it impossible to get lost. There is also a lot of parking! The woods are definitely dense - in retrospect, we should have brought bear spray, just in case. Be aware that some of the trails seem rather isolated. Additionally, there was no view on the trail that we took, which was a little disappointing. However, there is a spectacular view at the Potomac Viewpoint, which you pass on the drive down from the West and East upper lots. I would also recommend wearing proper hiking shoes, as some of the downhill areas are steep with loose footing. Overall will be returning, and excited to check out the winery nearby next time.

I went late October and it wasn't the easiest hike but fun. There's a lot of ups and downs on the Blue Trail (~5 summits) I went for a afternoon hike with few of my friends and we saw the sunset at the end. The hike should last about 3-4 hours depending on how many breaks you take. Game Plan: 2:00 PM - Arrive to Sugarloaf Mountain West View Parking. Begin Hike. 5:00-6:00 PM - Arrive at summit for sunset Parking lot address: Sugarloaf Mountain West View Parking Lot (Sugarloaf Mountain West View Parking Lot, Sugar Loaf Mount Drive, Dickerson, MD 20842) What to wear: Comfortable clothing (in layers) and shoes suitable for hiking like boots. What to bring: Water and snacks. Flashlight for the way back down after sunset. Map of trail can be found here: http://www.k9trailblazers.org/sugarloaf/sugarloaf_hike_072608.htm Watching the sunset is definitely recommended!

This is a great day hike for those in the D.C. area, about an hour's drive from the city. Sugarloaf is owned by the Stronghold corporation, and they help maintain and improve the land using funds from a trust fund, membership dues, and gifts. It is free to hike and park, although they do have a donation box at the entrance. The highest elevation is a little over 1,280 feet. Oak trees dominate most of the mountain, but you can also see some black gum trees, black birches, and eastern hemlocks. There's a couple of parking lots, although they fill up quickly on the weekends. Try to park in either the East or West View lots. There are 4 circuit hikes: +Blue/Northern Peaks Trail: 5 miles starting from the West View lot. +Purple/Alternate route to White Rocks: 1.5 miles by itself, adds 1/2 mile to the total distance if using as an alternate to the blue trail. +White/Mountain Loop Trail: 2.5 mile loop around the summit. +Yellow/Saddleback Horse Trail: 7 mile loop around base of the mountain. There are also 3 summit area hikes: +Green/A.M. Thomas Trail: 1/4 mile trail to the summit. +Orange/Sunrise Trail: Steep 1/4 mile trek to the summit. +Red/Monadnock Trail: Leaves the blue trail for a 1/4 mile hike to the summit. Last time I was here, I started on the white trail from the East View lot and then joined up on the blue trail to hike to White Rocks. We mistakenly ended up on the yellow trail on the way down the mountain, which added a few extra miles and time. It all worked out though, and we were able to hike down to the entrance and back up to the parking lot. All in all, it took us about 4.5-5 hours to complete the hike. Wear proper shoes, especially if you're planning to hike some of the longer trails. I don't think any of the hikes are particularly difficult, but sometimes the rocks can be slippery. This is a popular hiking destination, so expect lots of people. We saw tons of groups ranging from children to older adults, as well as dogs. Since there are plenty of trails ranging in varying degrees of difficulty, you can pick and choose which trail to walk depending on your level. The view at the summit is pretty nice, although not as great as those in Shenandoah. But it is free, closer to the city, and well-maintained. Trails are generally well-marked too. We saw a family of white tailed deer here, as well as a dead snake. I've heard there's also raccoons, foxes, and rabbits around.

Had a really wonderful time visiting the mountain this weekend! Easy parking and very clearly marked trails. We took started by hiking to the summit on the orange trail (about 1/4 mile straight uphill) and then took the red trail down to the mountain to catch the blue trail, which was followed the whole way around. It was incredibly peaceful and not too crowded. Also very dog friendly! Would definitely recommend.

Hiked with an old friend today - packed a picnic and ate on the summit. Gorgeous views. Orange trail up -- not an easy stroll. A good workout. Red-blue-white down the mountain - much more chill. We had some confusion coming down as the trail requires a stretch back up before returning to parking and we weren't sure if somehow we were heading back to summit. Group of four women had the same question. Great hike!

I don't like rating nature; nature is awesome, beautiful even at its worst. The outdoors always beats the indoors. I'm not a seasoned hiker by any means, but like any 9 to 5 normal person, when I do have the time I'm going to climb a friggin mountain. But if I HAD to rate sugarloaf, I would rate it a 3 compared to other hikes I've been on. Here are the Pro's: Different trails = different challenging levels Nice picnicking areas DOG FRIENDLY (Woof!) Family friendly Roads if you REALLY wanna park at the summit and tons of parking FREE Annddd here's why it's subpar compared to other trails: Trails not well blazed or marked (definitely have a map--although we had one we still found ourselves disoriented at times) No option to hike to the summit other than follow the roads Most of the views were obscured (I guess you can't control that but IMHO the views were not breathtaking) Most of the hike was through a forest w/ little stimulating areas Here's how to modify your hike to make it better: 1) Bring Fido 2) Park at the base of the mountain (entrance) and hike backwards (use white/yellow/blue trails to the summit). I feel like this is a crucial modification. We followed a trail we found on hiking upwards and found ourselves at the summit way early in the hike. The issue is the climax of the hike was too early 3) bring picnicking stuff so you can drive up after your hike and take advantage of the tables!

Sugarloaf Mountain is a very popular hiking destination, too popular perhaps. I decided to hike here on a Friday morning in early January, and I was amazed at how many people I saw hiking, easily more than a dozen and a half. Unfortunately, many of the hikers were of the noisy variety, with their voices carrying a good half mile into the distance. If you want an escape from the busy city life of a quiet mountain retreat, look elsewhere; if you can't find peace and quiet here on a weekday in January, there is no hope of ever feeling alone here even way out in the middle of the blue trail away from the summit. So it goes. The park is privately owned and offers free admission. It opens at 8am and closes an hour before sunset. There are two visitor parking lots located most of the way up the mountain just shy of the peak. Each parking lot has an overlook area providing spectacular views. The approach to the peak from the East parking lot is fairly steep and involves some light scrambling, but is otherwise pretty manageable. The approach from the West parking lot is considerably easier even offering up a stone staircase for a portion of the jaunt. Because the peak is so easily accessible from either parking lot, this part of the natural area sees a lot of hikers (many inexperienced) quickly bounding up to the top in search of instantly gratifying views. My hike was a little bit more involved. I was able to cobble together a 5.9 mile route with a lot of ups and downs adding a couple of additional points of interest. I began at the East parking lot, followed the Sunrise Trail to the peak, followed the Green A.M. Thomas Trail down to the West parking lot, continued onto the White: Mountain Loop Trail, veered off onto the Blue: Northern Peaks Trail, passing by White Rocks and a cairn, before regrouping again with the White: Mountain Loop Trail which brought me back to the East parking lot. I think the two views in the White Rocks area were beautiful, and far less busy than the main peak. By putting in that extra effort, you can be treated to a little bit of privacy amid the grandeur. I also liked the 10 foot high rock cairn along the trail, but that was occupied by a couple in love, so I really never had a moment to linger there. Also, since the natural area is so busy, there is not much wildlife to see. The trails never really go on long enough to get that sense of escape either. I suppose one could cobble together a pretty short hike with nice views, ideal for a slightly adventurous date, but for anything more serious-minded than that, you will likely be disappointed.

Elevation is all about perspective, relative distance to the ground, not an absolute concept. Getting high in some places, like Colorado, is easier to do than in, say, the District of Colombia and surrounding suburbs. But it can be done. And in fall foliage season, the sight of sweeping hardwood forests in patchwork autumn colors, well even the Rockies can't pull that off, except in bits and pieces of aspen and cottonwood separated by vast swaths of rock and pine. So Sugarloaf Mountain has an undeniable appeal; it's a beautiful place for a 3-hour long hike that takes in all the summit overlooks, starting from the West View parking area. My advice is head direct on Red Trail to the summit, savor the views, then make your way to the Blue Trail loop, which partially follows the Orange and White trails, but basically is a slender and rock-strewn ribbon winding through trees that are utterly spellbinding in October sunny splendor. Mid-70s, clear skies, leaves on trees and covering the ground, raptors soaring on thermals over the exposed rocky tops, farmland with apple cider and pumpkins for the picking, historic mansions and rolling fields and equestrian trails and the Potomac River and an Appalachian skyline; pop Mandolin Orange's "This Side of Jordan" in your music device, and bang, it's the ultimate outdoor adventure, all wrapped up in a nostalgic, seasonally-adjusted bow. Try doing that in the Sierra Nevada in October, and it just isn't the same. Monadnocks* like Sugarloaf have got serious game. And 7 miles in the woods won't do you any harm, neither. It just might make your next visit to the District all that much more wild, like it did to mine. Hard to find fault with that! (*) "A mountain or rocky mass that has resisted erosion and stands isolated in an essentially level area."

best sunset in MD. come late in the afternoon and hike up from the west view parking lot and stay till sundown. Bring a flashlight to make sure you can head down the steps safely with limited light! please no trash! no need to be a super hiker, paths well maintained. it's more of a chill place to appreciate the scenery versus an outdoor adventure. plethora of trails around the mountain but honestly the only to see is at the top. assume 30+ min from parking lot to the top unless your on a mission and want to hurry.

Sugarloaf is a nice half-day trip from the DC area. Its privately owned, but free to enter (it's donation-based). It's about a 45-50 minute drive from DC. I did the blue trail to White Rocks and then to the summit, and it probably took around 3 hours total for a 7-ish mile hike. The trails are very nicely marked. There aren't a lot of viewpoint areas, but it's a nice hike in the woods with some decent ups/downs but overall not overly strenuous. There were lots of dogs and families, as well as rock climbers, runners, and then casual hikers like me. There's also a vineyard close by for those interested! Overall a great trip out here and I'd definitely like to come back in the fall to see some fall colors!!

Great place to soak in nature for both amateur and well-seasoned hikers. Lots of different trails to pick from, some with excellent (but not exactly *impressive* viewpoints of the surrounding areas), some that are easier than others. There's a decent amount of people here on a good day, but since the area is so large, the trails are mostly empty and quiet! We couldn't find parking at the base of the mountain before the entrance, so drove up to the East lot and parked on the road since the lot was also full. We took the white/blue (and a combination of other trails), and my Fitbit averaged 15 miles and 170 floors (about 28,000 steps)! The flexibility of the different trails definitely allows you to choose the difficult of your hike. And bonus point, DOG FRIENDLY!

Hidden Gem in on the edge of Frederick County Maryland near the Montco Border. Lived in the area for all these years and read many articles about the Sugarloaf but never gave it a second thought till the other day back. We'll impression now changed completely, this hiking wonderland is bang for buck best of the best hiking outdoorsy spot in the local area. Easy access from I-270 and near the Sugarloaf Mountain Winery (no connection) this mountain has small parking area at the entry gate with winding road up to larger parking area just a hop, skip from the top. For technical types the climb is ~ 1000' (feet) of whatever you make out of the elevation change. The parking lot at the main entrance weighs in at around 200' (feet) and its up up and away from there. If youre in any kind of reasonable shape, skip the drive up and walk.. What a concept, walking through the woods... As the local posers drive SUV's up the road, you'll enjoy the scenic woods and trail sounds and scents. The sign at the upper parking are said Bears and Slithering Critters inhabit the woods, but sticking to the main trail, ensures no sightings will be made. Thats not to say go poking around under logs, or thick brush, or off the beaten path, if so that's on the hiker. Respect the mountain is the best advice here. There are porta-potties for those that need them, and packing plenty of fluids and bug-off is well advised. There is one section of the Orange? trail that gets the heart pumping but its only when the incline steepens at the snow fence. For the most part the average hiker will be just fine. There is an abundance of hiking sticks laying around so pick one up and it will come in handy for balance and traction when the going gets tough. At the top there is plenty of scenic views, rocks to perch atop, to test balance, and rock climbing walls where roping up with climbing gear was happening. The main entrance has a spot for donations but few if any paid. Its worth noting that whomever owns and maintains the property, is doing the public a great service and most generous and patriotic. The beauty, scenic views, scents, wildlife, freedom to roam, is well worth the price of admission. If you go, use common sense, dont get in over head and enjoy. Sugarloaf is for real adventure for the suburban hiker.

A wonderful hiking spot with great options for beginner to expert hikers. I spent a good 6 hours hiking here in the on a pretty Sunday in the spring 2013 and was able to get 12 miles in. The first 3 miles going up and down some pretty rocky areas, and the last 9 were spent going around the mountain on a more flat terrain (though we were lost for 2 of those miles). Unfortunately, I don't remember the color of the trails I used. It's not as gorgeous as say...Great Falls, at least when I went it was pretty brown, though there is pretty green land surrounding it. So maybe 3 stars for views & scenery, but the hike it well worth it. I would have been back more often however my east coast allergies couldn't take the outdoors thing any longer. There is a wonderful winery next door. Perfect for afterwards.

* Family-friendly hike; not very strenuous at all (don't need to be a hiking pro) * Free parking/entrance...but scarce! (maybe like 15 spots at the bottom, max?--- "DONT MOVE THE CONES!!" ...totally could fit like 2 more cars if those cones werent there...) * Well-patrolled...had to have seen the sheriff drive by 10 times while we were waiting for the group to gather... * Close to DC * Trail markings are excellent! * Views OK, a couple good ones! * Careful about plugging the address into your GPS...mine took me to a ranch on the other side. But that just might be mine...