Sugarloaf Mountain (Maryland)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sugarloaf Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Sugarloaf Mountain, sunset |
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| Elevation | 1,282 feet (391 m) |
| Location | |
| Location | Frederick County, Maryland |
| Range | Blue Ridge Mountains (outlier) |
| Geology | |
| Type | Monadnock |
| Age of rock | approx. 500 million years[1] |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Drive |
Sugarloaf Mountain is a small (1,282 foot; 391 m) mountain and park about 10 miles (16 km) south of Frederick, Maryland, USA. The closest village is Barnesville, located nearly at the foot of the mountain. The peak of this relatively low mountain is approximately 800 feet (244 m) higher than the surrounding farmland. Because of its geological & recreational interest, it was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969. It is a notable example of an admission-free, privately-owned scenic park.
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[edit] History
During the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War in 1862, Union forces occupying the summit, which was being used as an observation and signal station, first spotted the Army of Northern Virginia on September 5 as it crossed the Potomac River into Maryland. The following morning as the small Union force on the mountain began to retreat in the face of the oncoming Confederate Army, they ran into the unsuspecting 1st North Carolina Infantry and a small skirmish ensued. The Union force was able to escape, but it was later caught by Confederate cavalry at Urbana.[2]
In the early 1900s Chicago businessman Gordon Strong bought substantial land holdings on and around the mountain. In 1925, the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, on commission from Strong, proposed an automobile objective development for the top of the mountain, but that was never carried out.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, briefly considered using Sugarloaf as his Presidential retreat, but he was persuaded by Gordon Strong to choose the nearby Shang-Ri-La site on the Catoctin Mountain, which today is known as Camp David.
| Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland | |
| National Natural Landmark | |
 Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland
|
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| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| State |  Maryland |
| County | Frederick County, Maryland |
| Established | June 1969 |
| Owner | Private owner |
| IUCN category | ? |
| Nearest city | Barnesville, Maryland |
 Location of Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland
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| Website: Stronghold, Inc. Sugarloaf Mountain | |
Gordon Strong set up a trust fund in 1947 that maintains a trail system and other tourist facilities at Sugarloaf Mountain. The mountain and its immediate environs continue to be open to the public, but they are privately owned by Stronghold, Incorporated.
[edit] Geology
Sugarloaf Mountain is an example of a monadnock — an isolated hill or small mountain rising abruptly from gently sloping or level surrounding land. It appears to be either an outlier to the east of the main mass of Catoctin Mountain, or a root remnant of the ancient Appalachian land mass.
The bedrock is the Lower Cambrian Sugarloaf Mountain Quartzite, a massive white quartzite interbedded with softer sericitic quartzite, slate, and phyllite. The formation is divided into upper, middle, and lower members.[3]
[edit] Tourism
Sugarloaf Mountain is an area tourist attraction, free of an admission charge, and open to the public. Activities include hiking, rock climbing, picnicking, and sightseeing. The mountain is known to locals for its scenic views.
 The scenic overlook at Sugarloaf Mountain |
Seen from 2.5 miles (4km) to the east |
 View at the top during fall |
 Sugarloaf Mountain as seen from Maryland Heights |
 Oblique air photo of Sugarloaf Mountain, facing southwest, January 2009 |
[edit] Rules
Visitors to Sugarloaf Mountain are asked to obey the following rules:
- Motorists must strictly obey the posted 15 m.p.h. speed limit, due to the narrow, winding roads.
- Park only in designated parking areas.
- No campfires, grills, or other use of fire.
- No overnight camping.
- No firearms.
- Mountain bikes are permitted only between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and only on designated trails.
[edit] Directions
From I-270: Take exit 22 (SR-109). Turn left off ramp (turn right off ramp if exiting from I-270 north), following signs to Sugarloaf Mountain. Go 2.9 miles, then turn right on Comus Road. When you see parking spaces on sides of road, take the second road on the right to scenic viewpoints on the mountain.
[edit] External links
- Page by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
- Sugarloaf Mountain website by Stronghold, Inc.
- Brief overview of climbing areas
Coordinates: 39°16′09″N 77°23′43″W / 39.269208°N 77.395248°W
[edit] Notes
- ^ Choukas-Bradley, Melanie. Sugarloaf: The Mountains History, Geology, and Natural Lore. University of Virginia Press 2003 ISBN 0-8139-2168-6 p. 11
- ^ Sugarloaf Mountain - A Signalman’s Lot Marker
- ^ Geologic Map of the Frederick 30' x 60' Quadrangle, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, Scientific Investigations Map 2889, USGS, S. Southworth et al., 2007
