Take a Tour

Take a tour of the "Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape." Frederick County is in the late stages of considering their small area preservation plan and overlay for this part of the southwest county. Sugarloaf Alliance supports the Plan and Overlay as currently drafted. These photos come from Sugarloaf Alliance members. We'd love to add photos of your favorite spots west of I-270, too! Contact us through th website for more information.
This photo of Sugarloaf Mountain was taken from Park Mills Road on the west side of I-270, looking across some of developer Natelli's "interchange property." -Photo by S. Trainor
Sugarloaf Mountain Road. -Photo by B. Poteat
Zebra Swallowtail butterfly in a native plant garden. -Photo by S. Trainor
Spring in the woods. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
This creek begins on developer property west of I-270 and flows down through preserved area and into the Monocacy River. -Photo by S. Trainor
Sugarloaf Mountain from a farm off Thurston Road. This is the property where the shooting range and then a wedding venue were proposed. -Photo by Orlando Morales
View along Dixon Road. -Photo by Orlando Morales
Monocacy National Battlefield. -Photo by Orlando Morales
Fall view of the mountain, along Sugarloaf Mountain Road, next to Stronghold property. -Photo by B. Poteat
Winter view from a farm on Peters Road. -Photo by K. Stoner
Black Dog Farm, purchased by developer Natelli in late fall, 2021. The property is located along Rt. 80 west of I-270, adjacent to other developer Natelli "interchange properties."
Eagle in nest, spotted while kayaking along the Monocacy River. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Paw Paw flower in mixed deciduous woods, downstream of developer property. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Trees reflected in a woodland pond. "Woodland ponds are important for many species including dragonflies, amphibians and bats....[T]hey often have clean water - an asset which can enable them to become very high quality wildlife habitats" (Million Ponds Project). -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Monocacy River, boundary of the Planning Commission recommended Sugarloaf Plan. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Oak woods, in Sugarloaf Plan in preserved area off Flint Hill Road. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Wooded creek bed in winter, downstream from developer-owned property. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Trout Lily in mixed hardwood creek bottom, downstream of developer properties. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Cattle grazing, Monocacy National Battlefield, within the Planning Commission recommended boundary of the Sugarloaf Plan. -Photo by I. Rosencrantz
Monarch caterpillar in native plant garden at the edge of woods. -Photo by S. Trainor
Tributary to Bennetts Creek. -Photo by Orlando Morales
Twin Hills farm on Park Mills Road, just west of I-270. This acreage is part of developer Natelli's "interchange properties" and will not be preserved unless the full Overlay and Sugarloaf Plan boundaries are drawn at I-270. -Photo by Orlando Morales
Flint Hill United Methodist Church, Park Mills Road. -Photo by Olando Morales