North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf via Sugarloaf Trail
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North and Middle Sugarloaf Hike Details
Trail: Sugarloaf Trail
Miles: 3.3
Hours: 1.5 hiking, 3 total
Level: Easy/Moderate
North and Middle Sugarloaf Hike Overview
North Sugarloaf (2,310′) and Middle Sugarloaf (2,539′) are beautiful mountains near Bethlehem, New Hampshire. The Sugarloaf Trail is very popular because North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf offer stunning views overlooking the White Mountains. North Sugarloaf has a small lookout with views of Mount Washington, and Middle Sugarloaf has a huge lookout with views overlooking the entire White Mountain National Forest. You are sure to fall in love with the short hike to North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf!
Note: Although the hike to North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf is short, it gains about 1,000 feet of elevation, so there are some steep sections near the summits. The parking lot is small, so I recommend arriving at the trailhead early in the morning. If you are hiking this in the winter or early spring, you will have an extra two miles roundtrip because the road will be closed. You can check the road status here.
North and Middle Sugarloaf Hike via Sugarloaf Trail
April 24, 2021
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf had been on my bucket list for a while, but I avoided them for years because of their popularity. I decided to hike them when the gate on Zealand Road was closed, hoping it wouldn’t be as crowded. Alex, Meadow, and I started the hike to North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf on a beautiful April Saturday. The weather was perfect and warm for April, so we were excited to take advantage of it!
We began the hike on Zealand Road because the gate was still closed around 4:45 PM. The first mile of road walking was easy with minimal elevation gain, so our pace was quick. We soon reached the trailhead for Sugarloaf Trail and began the official climb to North and Middle Sugarloaf. The beginning of the hike followed along a river and intersected with two other trails. We turned left to stay on Sugarloaf Trail, which was flat for another 0.3 miles.
Alex and I both knew that the easy trail would soon turn into a steep climb, so we mentally prepared ourselves for what was to come. The last 0.5 miles to the North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf junction were tough! This hike was our first of the season, so our legs were burning! We turned right to hike to North Sugarloaf first since Middle Sugarloaf has better views.
The final push to North Sugarloaf was relatively easy and quick! When we reached the summit at 5:30 PM, we were in awe of the beautiful views of Mount Washington! We didn’t realize there were other viewpoints on the summit, so we only enjoyed the one we found for a few minutes before hiking to Middle Sugarloaf.
The hike to Middle Sugarloaf was a little steeper but worth every step for the incredible views! We were speechless when we reached the summit because our legs were burning and the views were amazing! We felt like you could see all of the White Mountains. We explored Middle Sugarloaf and enjoyed the views for a half-hour before beginning our descent. I felt like I could have stayed up there for hours, taking in the views.
At 6:30 PM, we began our descent back the way we came. The hike down was easy and quick, and before we knew it, we were back on Zealand Road. We ran into a few hikers on the way back to our car, coming from Mount Hale and Zealand Mountain. By 7:00 PM, we were back at our car and starting our drive home. I absolutely loved the North Sugarloaf and South Sugarloaf hike, and I’m excited to hike it again!
Have you hiked North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf? Which was your favorite summit?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!