Sugarloaf Mountain
This 1,282-foot mountain in Dickerson—just a 45-minute drive from Bethesda—is the highest spot in Montgomery County, and arguably has some of the best hiking. Try the seven-mile loop from the West View parking lot to the summit. Follow the blue trail through a thick forest of oak, tulip poplar and Eastern hemlock trees. Continue along the quarter-mile red trail to the summit. The last push is steep, but worth it for the quartzite cliffs and bird’s-eye views of Montgomery County and beyond. With 15 miles of trails within the recreation area, visitors have plenty of well-marked options to shorten the route. (www.sugarloafmd.com)
