Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation: South Sugarloaf (Blog Hike #957)

Trails: Old Mountain and Pocumtuck Ridge Trails
Hike Location: Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation
Geographic Location: south of Deerfield, MA (42.46794, -72.59524)
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: 9/10 (Difficult)
Date Hiked: September 2023
Overview: An out-and-back up the back road to Mount Sugarloaf.
Park Information: https://www.mass.gov/locations/mount-sugarloaf-state-reservation
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=946406
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 14)

Directions to the trailhead: North of Springfield, take I-91 to US 5 and SR 116 (exit 35).  Exit, go north on US 5, then almost immediately turn right on SR 116.  Drive SR 116 south/east 1 mile to Sugarloaf Street and turn left on Sugarloaf St.  Park in the paved parking area at the base of Mount Sugarloaf on the right, which is reached after only a couple hundred feet.

The hike: Jutting 500 feet above the west bank of the Connecticut River, Mount Sugarloaf anchors the south end of western Massachusetts' short and narrow Pocumtuck Mountain Range.  The north-south Pocumtuck Range extends for only 11 miles and rises less than 900 feet above sea level.  The range's "mountains" consist mostly of arkose sandstone covered by a thin layer of igneous trap rock.  Mount Sugarloaf got its name from early European settlers who thought it looked like one of the "loaves" that sugar was cut into for shipping during that era.

            Established in 1907, Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation is one of the oldest state parks in Massachusetts.  The reservation consists of 533 acres on and around the mountain, and parts of the park near the Connecticut River are used by the nearby University of Massachusetts Amherst for agricultural research.  Mount Sugarloaf has two peaks: South Sugarloaf and North Sugarloaf.  Both peaks are contained in the reservation.

            The reservation's main attraction is its auto road to the summit of South Sugarloaf, which features an observation tower that allows visitors to take in its famous views from the south end of the Pocumtuck Range.  You could drive to the observation tower, but why drive to something that you can reach via a reasonable hike?  Two hiking trails lead to the summit of South Sugarloaf: one very steep trail that goes directly up the mountain's south face and one less steep trail that winds around to the mountain's north face.  This hike takes you up and down the longer and less steep route.  While some climbing and a couple of steep areas are still encountered, this hike is doable by most people in decent physical condition.

Trailhead at base parking lot

            Two trails leave from the southeast corner of the base parking lot.  The trail on the right is the one that goes straight up South Sugarloaf's south face.  Thus, I chose the one on the left to begin the longer and slightly more gradual route.

Hiking the Old Mountain Trail

            The trail approaches but never crosses the summit road before curving left to begin treading a gently undulating course along the reservation's west boundary.  Red paint blazes mark this portion of the trail, which the trail map calls the Old Mountain Trail even though nothing on the ground says such.  A housing development comes in sight on the left, and a power line corridor stands uphill to the right.

Climbing Pocumtuck Ridge

            After passing under the power line, you join an old road at 0.45 miles.  Now the climb begins in earnest, and the trail climbs moderately toward the saddle between North and South Sugarloaf.  At 0.65 miles, you reach the intersection with the Pocumtuck Ridge Trail at said saddle.  The trail going left leads to North Sugarloaf, so you want to turn right to head for South Sugarloaf.

Trail intersection at the saddle

            The grade intensifies and the blazes turn to powder blue as you head south toward South Sugarloaf.  At 0.75 miles, the trail follows the shoulder of the summit road for a couple hundred feet before beginning a pair of switchbacks that takes you up the steepest part of the climb.  0.9 miles into the hike, you reach the first overlook.  This east-facing viewpoint offers fantastic views of Mount Toby and related hills across the Connecticut River.

View east from first overlook

            Continuing south, the grade moderates, and you reach the summit parking lots near 1 mile.  Walking through the parking lots brings you to some picnic tables and the observation tower only a few hundred feet later.  Climbing the spiral lighthouse-style staircase to the top of the observation tower gives fantastic 360-degree views.  The straighter-than-you-might-expect Connecticut River flows off to the south, while the Berkshire Mountains dominate to the west and the Pocumtuck Range rises to the north.  You earned these views while others drove to them, so take some time to enjoy the reward.

View south from observation tower

View west from observation tower

            When you are ready, retrace your steps down to the parking lot to complete the hike.  If you want to add more distance, you could take a detour onto the Pocumtuck Ridge Trail and head for North Sugarloaf and its views.  I do NOT recommend taking the more direct trail back down the mountain's south face: its steepness poses a footing/safety risk, which is greater while hiking downhill than while hiking uphill.