Sugarloaf Mountain, at 4,250 feet the third highest peak in Maine, rises above Carrabassett Valley in Franklin County. Its north face is home to the Sugarloaf ski resort, but the summit itself is the domain of hikers: a windswept, open crown with panoramic views taking in the Bigelow Range, the Crockers, Spaulding Mountain, and Mount Abraham.
The main hiking route uses the Appalachian Trail from Caribou Valley Road, an unpaved logging road about a mile north of the ski resort entrance off Route 27. High-clearance vehicles are advisable; the road can be rough and is typically passable from late spring through fall. The trail descends briefly to cross the South Branch of the Carrabassett River before climbing steadily. A steep, boulder-strewn section demands real scrambling effort. Above that crux, the grade moderates and the ridge opens up before the junction with a 0.6-mile spur leading to the summit. The round trip is roughly 6.5 miles with about 2,300 feet of gain. Sugarloaf is commonly paired with Spaulding Mountain, 2.7 miles along the AT from the summit.
The summit is exposed and open, offering some of the finest views in the state on clear days. Lightning is a serious hazard once the sky builds on summer afternoons. The best hiking window is June through October.
