Sugarloaf Mountain · MD
Mountain Loop Trail
A white-blazed loop of about 2.5 miles circling the base of Sugarloaf Mountain through mixed forest, often combined with the summit trails for a fuller tour of the mountain's overlooks.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the hiking plan today.
Today's best: hiking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- − 88°F air — Above hiking's comfort zone (32–85°F)
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
- − 82 min of daylight — You need at least 124 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 2.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 636 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.2591, -77.3888 — MD.
Park
Part of Sugarloaf Mountain (official site →).
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Nearby Trails
Frequently Asked
How long is Mountain Loop Trail?
Mountain Loop Trail is a 2.5-mile route with 636 feet of elevation gain — moderate — some sustained climbing or technical sections; expect to work for it but no specialized skills required. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Mountain Loop Trail?
Mountain Loop Trail is natural dirt singletrack — soft underfoot, holds water, slow to dry after rain. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Mountain Loop Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Mountain Loop Trail is in Sugarloaf Mountain, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.