Sugarloaf Mountain - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Sugarloaf Mountain
Country:	United States
State:	Maine
Nearby Town:	Stratton
Rating:
Directions:	Sugarloaf Ski Resort is located at: 5092 Sugarloaf Access Rd. Carrabassett Valley, Maine 04947
Total Hike Distance:	3.40 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Very Difficult
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	One-Way, Shuttle Hike
Hike Starts:	Sugarloaf Mountain
Hike Ends:	Caribou Valley Road
Trails Used:	Sugarloaf Side Trail, Appalachian Trail
Backcountry Campsites:	Yes
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams, Springs
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	Appalachian Trail Conservancy 799 West Washington Street Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 (304) 535-6331 (Managed by the Maine ATC)
Best Season:	Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	This hike starts at the top of the quad at the Sugarloaf Ski Resort. On weekends during the summer, you can take it near the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. Otherwise, you'll have to hike to the ridgeline - which ads another 2-3 miles to this route. We did a hike from the top of the quad to the summit of Sugarloaf which has outstanding views in all directions. From here we took the blue-blazed side trail down for 0.6 miles to the Appalachian Trail. It's hard to find among the cell towers and rocky summit - so watch the blazes carefully. From the Sugarloaf Summit, we descended to Caribou Valley Road - sometimes very steeply. A hiking stick is recommended for this as is a camera. The forest eventually opens up in the last mile for views to the Crocker Mountains which are North on the Appalachian Trail. This is a shuttle hike, so you'll need someone to pick you up or drop you off at Caribou Valley Road. The dirt road is located one mile from the turn-off to the ski resort - then follow it for about 15 minutes until it dead ends at a creek.