Sugarloaf Mountain

Every year during July the cycling clothing company Le Col runs the “8848 Challenge” where you have to climb the elevation of Mount Everest (8848 meters) before the month ends and they give you a discount on a jersey they make for the challenge. Last year, I participated in the Virginia Gravel race Gravista which happened to be in July and had close to 9,000 feet of elevation gain, which put a pretty big dent in the challenge for me. This year, I started out July on the Jersey Shore drinking and loafing around and when I did ride my bike, I couldn’t find a hill in New Jersey if my life depended on it. I put together this route to get back on track without killing myself with TOO much climbing. Cycling up Sugarloaf Mountain seemed like the closest option to do so while still getting out of the DC area.

The Route

On this route, you’ll find charming Maryland countryside filled with farmland and fields as well as wooded sections with diverse wildlife on one of the only mountains in Montgomery County.

The route starts with a left turn out of the parking lot for Hoyles Mill Trail and over Tenmile creek before we turn down the road leading to the historic small town of Barnsville. Before leaving Barnesville you’ll take a right turn onto your first patch of smooth, well maintained gravel road that grazes along a wire fence separating the road from rolling grass covered hills.

After a couple miles on gravel, you will turn back onto pavement toward Stronghold incorporated and Sugarloaf Mountain. It is likely the parking lot will be full on nice days, so look out for traffic, but prior to climbing the mountain, the route takes you around the back where there is a little to no traffic. After passing the parking lot and continuing on Sugarloaf mountain road, you will be greeted by another gravel section that rolls through and around the southeast portion of the mountain. This kicks off a 10 mile portion of the route that is full of beautiful farmland and has very low traffic. If it’s sunny out, make sure you have some water and sunscreen because there is very little sun cover in this area.

The route brings you back to the entrance of Sugarloaf with another two mile gravel section, then you follow the switchbacks up to the top of the mountain. You can stop on the way up and catch the East View and see miles out over the surrounding farmland as there are no other mountains obstructing the view.

You can choose to hike around and reach the summit or begin the descent down the winding switchbacks. The traffic up and down the mountain is one way, so you don’t have to worry too much about vehicles surprising you from the front as you come around the turns and wind your way back to the entrance.

The route takes you back the way you came through Barnesville, but then veers off onto W Old Baltimore Road where you get to experience a couple more small climbs in case Sugarloaf didn’t do it for you. There’s also a small creek crossing in a gravel section that went up over my bottom bracket when I tried to ride through, so consider yourself warned.

About Sugarloaf Mountain

Unlike the Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, there is very little elevation gain to be had by climbing the Maryland Sugarloaf. It is designated as a Registered Natural Landmark and is maintained by Stronghold, Incorporated. The mountain is home to a host of wildlife, including a couple snakes you don’t want fang-side down on your flesh: the timber rattlesnake and the northern copperhead. There are also woodpeckers, owls, over 500 species of plants, flying squirrels, and raccoons, but none of these will kill you as easily as the snakes.