Sugarloaf Mountain (the smaller one, not the ski resort), is located in town T5 R7 WELS, near Mount Chase, Maine. From northbound ME-159, turn left onto Grondin Road, and stay on Grondin Road until you reach the trailhead (a little over 7 miles). I used the directions from AMC’s Maine Mountain Guide, and climbed this mountain in mid-September on the way into the north entrance of Baxter State Park. You will (and should) second-guess yourself on this drive, as the road is more of an ATV trail.

It’s probably best to park at the last four-way intersection and then walk down to the trailhead. The trail itself enters a beautiful deciduous forest dappled with light on a slightly inclined but manageable grade. At some point, the leafy green gave way to mostly evergreen, and the trail continued to become more steep, as I started to catch views through the trees of the surrounding mountains.

Shortly before the summit a series of rock ledges and boulders faced west with great views of Katahdin and its attendant mountains. From here, it’s a pretty short scramble over some steep rock to the summit.

I enjoyed the breeze at the top and the views of the marshes, lakes, ponds, mountains, and forest all around. Then a quick drink of water, and back down, about 1.92 total miles in 42 minutes. There are very few switchbacks – this is basically a mile up and a mile down for a beautiful view.

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