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Sugarloaf Reservoir Loop
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Distance: 5 mi. / 8 km
Altitude (max): 7486 ft. / 2281.83 m
Altitude (min): 6781 ft. / 2066.97 m
Elevation Gain: 825 ft. / 251.4 m
Elevation Loss: -844 ft. / -257.16 m
Altitude (max): 7486 ft. / 2281.83 m
Altitude (min): 6781 ft. / 2066.97 m
Elevation Gain: 825 ft. / 251.4 m
Elevation Loss: -844 ft. / -257.16 m
Season:
July-October Climb an ATV trail through a burn up most of Sugarloaf Mountain to near the wilderness boundary and then drop back down to the trailhead on some singletrack on the Deadman Trail. This is a fun little loop that puts you within a few hundred feet of the Sugarloaf Mountain summit if you want to drop your bike and hoof it up to the top.
The ATV trail is clearly marked as "no motorized use" but seems to be largely ignored by the ATV users, which makes for a wide open and clear two-track trail. Unfortunately this means some fine silt and dust on the trail. This trail is also clearly a snowmobile trail so all-in-all provides a well-maintained riding path that meanders up the mountain and past the reservoir. It later connects with the Sugarloaf Trail, which soon becomes singletrack for the rest of the loop. The meadow and trail connections between the Sugarloaf Trail and Deadman Trail can be confusing because of low human and high bovine use. The singletrack descent on the Deadman Trail is described and pictured on the Russel Mountain Lookout Loop.
Trail Notes
- Find an ATV track at the south of the Deadman Trailhead parking area.
- 1.0 mi., the trail splits at the junction with the Clear Creek Trail. Take a right. Mud Lake will be on your left shortly after this turn.
- 1.9 mi., the trail splits just before arriving at Sugarloaf Reservoir. To complete the loop shown here, you will take a left and follow the trail through some meadows and then toward the Sugarloaf Mt. summit. If you want to cut the loop short, take a right at this intersection where the trail will travel south of the reservoir and then dissipate within sight of the Deadman Trail across the meadow. Otherwise, left is your best bet for staying with an established track.
- 2.4 mi., meet the Sugarloaf Trail 1887 and take a right.
- 2.7 mi., Arrive at a trail junction. Go right.
- 2.9 mi., Arrive at another trail junction. Go right. Eventually this trail will disappear but you should be able to follow the rock cairns or wood posts down a gradual ridge that connects with a meadow where the Deadman Trail skirts the east of the meadow. If you completely lose the trail, just head to your left and you'll connect with the Deadman Trail quickly. Go right on the Deadman Trail and follow this back to the trailhead.
Pictures from Sugarloaf Reservoir Loop
^ Sugarloaf Reservoir with Sugarloaf Mountain in the background.
^ The beginning of the climb in the Twin Lakes burn of the early 90s.
^ Mud Lake
^ The trail gets rocky and steep before topping out. This is getting near the connection with the Sugarloaf Trail with Sugarloaf Mt. summit visible through the trees.
^ View north into the heart of the Wallowa's from atop Sugarloaf Mountain
^ The first trail junction on the Sugarloaf Trail. Left goes to the wilderness. Right goes to the Deadman Trail. Go right.
^ The trail sign at 2.9 miles.
^ View from the Deadman Trail (right), looking back at the confusing section. The trail disappears several times coming down the small ridge in the middle of the picture. No worries, just head for the side of the meadow. Sugarloaf Mountain is seen in the top left of the picture.
