Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most visited natural attractions in Maryland. Only 45 minutes from DC and an hour from Baltimore, the parking lots fill up early on the weekends. In classrooms across the state, it's taught that Sugarloaf is the only mountain in the Piedmont Plateau region of Maryland. The 3-peaked mountain is easily visible from I-270, Urbana, and even as far as Northern Virginia.
The first place Sugarloaf can be found in the record books is 1707, when it was sketched by a west-bound explorer. This time period was when pioneers started spreading out of Southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay; Sugarloaf would’ve been the first mountain they encountered. The name “Sugarloaf” comes from its shape; pioneers commonly baked a type of bread called “sugar loaf,” and the bread’s domed, gently sloping top resembled the mountain. The mountain was used as a Union outpost, lookout, and hospital in the Civil War.
The main peak is 1,282 feet tall, while the two shorter peaks are 1,071 and 1,015 feet. All three are accessible by trail, but the most popular by far is the tallest one. There are 4 routes to this peak, but my favorite and recommendation is the White Trail.
The White Trail starts with a gorgeous view from the parking lot that you makes you feel like you don’t have to climb at all, but trust me, you won’t regret the sweat. The trail actually starts on a decline, making you double take at your map because you feel like you’re supposed to go up, but it will turn up short enough. After a shallow climb, you take a left at the blue trail, admiring the vibrant green fern meadows along the way. Lots of woodpeckers inhabit this side of the mountain. The wind starts to kick in as you climb in elevation. You reach the short but steep red trail. You can see the top, but it’ll be the steepest part of your journey. Then you’re there! The view expands over the Potomac across the green countryside as you take a seat on a large boulder and have your picnic.
So why do I recommend this route over the others? It’s not as short as the others, but still only just over a mile (one-way), and for not-so-extreme outdoorsmen, it still gives an authentic experience of feeling alone in the woods. A lot of people mistakingly choose the Orange Trail because it’s the shortest, only to see that it goes right up the steepest face of the mountain, so you spend the whole time scrambling over steep boulders. The Green Trail is also shorter but mainly a staircase; not an authentic woods experience. The Blue Trail is the steepest and longest option. The Blue and Green Trails also start from a different parking lot that lacks a beautiful view over Montgomery County.
If you’re planning on hiking Sugarloaf, get there early. And if you want what I think is the most accessible but also most authentic experience, start on the White Trail!
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