Sugarloaf Mountain · MD
Northern Peaks Trail
A blue-blazed loop of about 5 miles from the West View lot over Sugarloaf's northern peaks, with views from White Rocks and the Bill Lambert Overlook. Rocky, rooted footing with several short, steep pitches.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the trail running plan today.
Today's best: trail running
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Score breakdown
- − 88°F air — Above trail running's comfort zone (28–78°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 125 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1484 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.2826, -77.3859 — MD.
Park
Part of Sugarloaf Mountain (official site →).
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Frequently Asked
How long is Northern Peaks Trail?
Northern Peaks Trail is a 5-mile route with 1484 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 Northern Peaks Trail?
Northern Peaks 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 Northern Peaks Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Northern Peaks 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.