Mount Sugarloaf Summit Day Trip
Welcome to Mount Sugarloaf Summit in South Deerfield, Massachusetts
Mount Sugarloaf Summit in South Deerfield, Massachusetts (MA), has spectacular panoramic views of the Connecticut River, Pioneer Valley and Berkshire Hills.
This post updates the original (2023) with images from my October 2025 visit.
There are two summits in Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation, a MA state reservation, and this post helps you plan a fun visit to the South Sugarloaf Mountain Summit.
From the top at 652 feet high, and on a bright sunny day, you can see the Western Massachusetts horizon for miles.
How to get to Mount Sugarloaf Summit |
You can hike or drive up the paved, narrow auto road to the south summit.
From the free parking lot at 300 South Sugarloaf Street at the intersection of MA-116, you can hike a fairly steep, and challenging in sections, one-and-a-half mile loop trail. According to reviews, hiking up counterclockwise means you have a shorter, steeper incline.
During the season through October 13, the auto road is open 9 a.m. to sunset. It’s fairly narrow, and there are a couple of sections where you’ll likely need to pause and let other vehicles by.
At the top, there is a $5 parking fee for MA residents ($20 for non-MA residents); the day I visited in 2023, the ranger told me that there is no fee after 5:30 p.m. On my recent October 2025 visit, there was no staff person at the pay station by the front of the parking area.
There are two (adjacent) paved parking areas and a porta potty; there are also bathrooms under the observation tower.
What to see at Mount Sugarloaf Summit
Viewing the Pioneer Valley autumn landscape and Connecticut River from Mount Sugarloaf Summit.
Once you hike up to or park at the top of South Mount Sugarloaf, walk past the ranger station to the three-tiered observation tower. There is a covered pavilion area with picnic tables (and a grill) and a sizeable grassy area below the tower you can walk around to see stunning views.
The Connecticut River and Pioneer Valley vistas from the Mount Sugarloaf summit observation tower.
You’ll climb up a narrow metal staircase to reach levels two and three. I enjoy the views from all three levels, and find you get the best photographs from the first (the most space to spread out) and second levels (best vantage point).
As the season turns to autumn, visiting the south summit is an incredible spot for fall foliage. The top of Mount Sugarloaf offers dramatic vistas of the surrounding hills that pop with autumn colors.
Tip: Looking South to Sunderland offers the best fall foliage views. By standing on the edge of the grassy area right below the observation tower, you can get really good views too.
Check the weather forecast before visiting because you’ll want to see these Pioneer Valley views on a bright day with clouds. The image below was captured on a late autumn afternoon.
Tip: Bring lawn chairs or a blanket to have a picnic on the grounds below the observation tower and enjoy the views for a while.
Tip: Check out the scenic (binocular) viewer as well the edge of the summit grounds pointing at the Connecticut River.
Whether you want a hiking excursion that gets the blood pumping with stunning views as a reward or a family outing to see the beauty of the Pioneer Valley, the South Mount Sugarloaf Summit is an awesome day trip.
And your dog on leash is welcome.
Have you been to this summit in autumn? What’s your favorite Western Massachusetts mountain summit to hike up to or visit?
Leave a comment below to share tips.
