Sugar doesn't come in loafs any more, but we're stuck with dozens of mountains named for that shape - including one in Frederick County, Maryland. This Sugarloaf is a monadnock, meaning it stands alone and is not part of a range. It's a popular hike because it's the only game in town, mountain-wise.
While Sugarloaf rises 800 feet above the surrounding land, many of the parking lots are halfway up the mountain, saving you some elevation gain. However, we chose to loop around on the blue trail, which traverses some ups and downs to visit other sub-peaks. It's about 5 and a half miles, with 1,375 feet of elevation gain total. That makes it a decent workout, and good training for other peaks.
The first photo above is from the main peak; the second one is from White Rocks. The latter has a nicer view, and a bit more privacy (although the entire mountain is popular).
