Sugarloaf Mountain

Great place to hike with both short and long loops options. We went in June so the trail was well shaded throughout the hike. Parts of the trail was a bit rocky and there are some climbing that you have to do, but overall it was a good hike. If you choose to do the big loop, be prepare to spend at least 4 to 4.5 hours on the hike so be sure to bring snack and water to replenish.
Many thanks to the trail users that keep the trail clean by taking your trash out of the mountain. There are porter-​johns and trash cans at trail heads.

I love this mountain! There’s plenty of trails to try so you don’t get tired of going to the same mountain over and over. I usually park at the bottom and take the white trail up to add a bit to the hike, but you can park near the peak and just hike up too — those trails (green, orange, and red) are pretty steep but they’re short. Each time I go I try to go on a different trail or in the opposite direction to make it interesting. No bad things to say about this place! Definitely go on a weekday or later on in the day when not so many people are out — the parking lot at the very bottom can fill up quickly but there’s always room at the lots on top of the mountain.

A very nice place to hike if you live in NoVA or Maryland area. I did not go with intention of seeing girls dressed up (1^st photo) and did not see one ;)
Google map gives you direction to East Side Parking. You will reach the base at the intersection of Sugarloaf mountain Rd and Comus Rd. There is a donation box at the entrance but no parking fees.
Here are some of the useful info on the parking situation;
* its one-​way loop connecting east and west side parking lots
* west side has more space and close to the overlook
* plenty of parking spaces and Johns porta pottys at each parking lot
* no other restrooms
There are many trails crisscrossing all over the mountain. so do your home work before heading there. The overlook with wonderful view of potomac river and beyond is 10 minutes hike from West side parking. We planned to reach the overlook at the end of our hike and it was worth it. You can have your lunch or small break at the overlook.
The trails well covered by trees so you can go any time of the day. Expect some flies buzzing over head in the summer time.
Its good weekend trip and one of the must-​visit places in DC area.

The trail maps are WILDLY inaccurate. The blue trail, which is is supposed to be 5 miles, is actually 8! There are tons of rocks on the trail so beware if your ankles roll easily. The views are beautiful, but it’s not worth how badly my feet hurt from walking on jagged rocks (not to mention walking three miles more than I had anticipated!)

The best place to hike in Maryland!!! Just a 45-​minute drive from D.C. and you’re looking at bucolic countryside and stunning mountain views.
Tip: make sure you allow plenty of time before sunset — the park closes, and it’s not fun to navigate trails in the dark!

First hike of the year took place here yesterday and I don’t regret picking this hike. It’s been almost 7years since I’ve hiked here and coming back was the best decision I could’ve made. We decided to park on the East View Parking even though we started our hike on the West View parking– the Blue Trail. Both parking lots are walking distance, so if you choose a lot and it’s full the next one isn’t too far off.
The blue trail is pretty challenging but we were able to finish it within 2 ½ hours, which in my book is excellent! It’s about a 7mile hike with challenging rocky routes, that was my favorite part! The only confusion most people might encounter on the blue trail is that after you get to enjoy White Rocks, and continue on the trail towards the end you end up on a road for a millisecond. Although the that second night confused some people, because you have to pass a mini lot and stick to your left. You’ll see the markers, this marker will say «towards west view parking» that’s where you will want to continue. We encountered a gentleman on his own who came out of the yellow trail (I believe this is more difficult than the blue), trying to figure out where on the road will lead him to the connecting yellow trail. So it’s very important you grab a map that’s provided at the parking lots. It doesn’t take a brainiac to figure it out but even I had a moment of concern.
One thing I advise everyone now that the season is getting warmer, is to go early! My boyfriend unfortunately overslept and we didn’t arrive there until noon (also if you finish early, you can beat traffic), the sun was out and it’s probably the reason it took us a bit longer to finish. If you go early, you get the morning breeze and beat the scorching sun. Regardless it was a nice day out and it wasn’t busy on the trails, so going hiking on a weekday is definitely a plus.
There also happens to be a winery «Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard» about a mile from there. That would be a nice treat, super cute place.

It’s nice if you like long walks in the forest, but it gets boring, there isn’t much scenary once you start the trail.

As nature goes in this part of Maryland, this is pretty good! Not exactly the place to go for solitude or astonishing views, but I think it’s probably the best in Montgomery County. Nice views of farmland and the river from the top. It’s about 1200 feet tall, and probably the longest trail is 5 miles long. Some people were doing some rock climbing on the boulders at the top of the green trail, all tied in with top ropes.
We went on the Friday after thanksgiving, and it was suuuuuuper packed. We had to drive around for 20 minutes to find parking.

Great hiking with lots of options depending on how far/​how strenuous of a trek you’re up for. From the parking areas, the hike up to the summit is short, so, surprise surprise, that’s where foot traffic is heaviest. Once you get a ways out from the summit, it quiets down.
The trails are decently marked with tree blazes but the downside is that many of the markers that the park map indicates are on the trail are not actually there — you definitely won’t get lost, the trails are quite obvious, it’s just nice to get a relative sense of how far you’ve gone relative to the total loop. (There are several trail junctions/​intersections, so plan ahead & do yourself a favor and save the map on your phone or snag a copy at the entrance/​trailhead so you don’t wind up hiking further than you intended — we ran into a handful of groups without a map looking for directions).
Trails are dog-​friendly, the main road is a good climb for cyclists, and people tend to be pretty chill. We hiked a modified loop around the blue to get just over six miles with our dogs and they were exhausted afterwords. Pretty good elevation change for the area.
Remember to carry-​out to keep the park clean! Bring water! Oh, and the drive to the parking lots is one-​way, so enter at the sign off the main road to access any of the three lots.

We have been here a couple times hiking and really enjoyed it. The trails signage can be a bit difficult to follow, hence the ⁴⁄₅ stars. Enjoyed the blue trail. Terrain varies with option for all abilities. The yellow trail was wide and easy, the blue has a lot of altitude changes and rocky trails but still fun. Took our dog. She loved it. Parking can be difficult if you don’t arrive early.

Best little ‘mountain’ hike in the area. Lesser known fact: sugarloaf is a monadnock. Look it up. It’s cool. Climb around the top. There are lots of cool caves and crannies to explore and duck into.

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.»

We parked at the east view parking lot and were able to catch a beautiful view before reaching the summit. We took the Orange trail up, which is a bit more of a challenge, but a 6 year old was able to make his way up. So, it’s disable for mostly anyone.
You need to wear proper footwear. Glad I bought Merrill shoes for this trip. The summit offers a gorgeous view which is probably best during the mid October month with changes in foliage.
A great trip and right next to the winery!

My family and I have this thing where after a hike we always decide if it’s a «hike» or a «walk» depending on conditions. The verdict here is unanimously a hike. The trails at sugarloaf mountain are are rocky and parts can be very steep. Wear your hiking boots, flip flops or sandals are not appropriate. For a short, but intense climb the views are absolutely fabulous, blue ridge mountains and fields all the way. I loved that it was dog friendly, but scrambling up big rocks might be too much for small dogs. My dog loved it, but I could tell that he was exhausted. Facilities here were limited to porta potties, there were no water fountains and no garbage pails up at the top. It was strictly pack-​in pack-​out. The best part though about this park and why it earns 5 stars is because it’s completely free to visit.

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!

On a Tuesday, 80 something degrees, hardly anyone here, and absolutely beautiful! Lots of picnic benches, so bring a lunch. A short climb to the top offers an awesome view. You can see for miles!

Can I say it now? Is it safe to?
We hopped the fence and snuck in before the park opened trying to catch the sunrise, but we were beaten to the top by a 50y/​o power walker waited who until the park opened. What slowed us down was the scenery on the way up.
It’s interesting that a park would not only have trails that technically go to the top, but also has a road that allows you to drive there as well. First world problems, I guess.
The summit is pretty sweet, it’s a scene you’d find in a Disney movie when the explorers find a pristine new land, and by «pristine» I mean to say that there’s only one power plant in the valley. (It’s off to the right on the river.)
The parking lot at the base was just a orgy of beautifully-​formed metal and plastic, minus my car, which has that dent in it serving as a constant reminder of why I can’t live in NYC. In fact, it’s not really a parking lot, as so much as a collision of roads, with little offshoots serving as parking spots. So I would get there early, unless you want to wait for people to pack up and go.

This is a great hike! If you can find it! Ah, but with GPS these days, what can’t you find???
So once you enter, there is a long road up the mountain with twists and turns. So if you aren’t an avid hiker, you can just stop at the overlooks for the views.
But for the full experience! Hike! I like starting at the base, but if you get there later in the day, there is be limited parking and you will have to stalk people for a spot. Or else, just drive on in, pick up a map, which they mow have moved so they are more visible from the road. Then park in one of the overlook lots. There are a lot of different trials that intersect with each other, so study and map it out carefully. At time it can be confusing as to which path you are on. Don’t forget to climb the highest point! It can be a challenge, and there are two directions to approach it. I won’t tell you which approach is easier ;) and yes, I have done them both.
The trails are mostly shaded with trees and as you ascend there is a breeze… so think fall with the color change :)
Happy hiking!

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.

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!