The Sugar Knob hike up Pond Run Trail and down Racer Camp
Hollow Trail has some of the best stream scenery in the George
Washington National Forest. This is one of several great loops
in the Great North Mountain Area with fantastic
camp sites all along its route.
Just before
the bridge over Waites Run start the hike up Pond Run Trail. Pond Run Trail is both blue and green blazed
(green blazes designate deer study areas
and can be found throughout the Great North Mountain region).
It will cross the run a number of times as it winds its way
up
the valley. After 2.5 miles cross
a wooden ford placed over wet land area and arrive
at the ridge.
At the trail intersection you can make a quick
side trip by going directly ahead on the white blazed lookout
trail for 100 yards and a great view
to the west. Return to
the trail and turn right (left if you didn't go
to the
lookout).
In 0.5 miles the forestry road will turn right uphill,
continue straight on the blue blazed trail as it winds around
the mountain for 1.3 miles before reaching the intersection
of the orange blazed Mill Mountain Trail that continues
straight ahead.
Turn left continuing on the blue blazed trail as
it descends slightly on its way to Sugar Knob. In 0.6 miles
arrive at the four way intersection of the Peer Trail, to your
left, and the Stony Creek Trail, to your right.
Continue straight
on the blue blazed trail for 0.9 miles as it passes over Sugar
Knob then descends continuing to another four
way intersection.
Turn left downhill on the orange blazed Racer Camp Hollow
Trail as it passes several great
camp spots and crosses the
run several times before turning right uphill in 1.6
miles.
After climbing uphill for 100 yards the trail will turn
left
traversing the mountain for another 0.9 miles and reaching
the junction of the pink blazed Old
Mail Path and wildlife
clearing.
Turn left downhill
into the clearing and at the bottom of
the clearing enter the pink blazed Old Mail Path as it winds
downhill before arriving in 1.0 mile at a wooden
foot bridge and crossing Waites Run. Continue downstream
on the
pink
blazed trail for another 0.5 miles before arriving at the yellow
blazed FS road.
Turn left downhill on
the FS road and in 0.4 miles pass
a closed gate. Continue downhill on the FS road with Waites Run
now on your left for 1.0 mile and crossing a bridge arriving
back at the parking area.
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Hiker
Reviews For The Sugar Knob Hike (5 Most Recent)
This hike is very easy to get to from 66, though if you're going by Google directions, you could have difficulty finding the trail if you following them exactly. From 66 W to 81 S, you get on 55 W. Aftera bout 20 miles on 55, the directiosn say make a left onto Waites Run Rd--- this is incorrect. I think it has been noted previously that Waites Run Rd not called this at this point-- it's called Sanfield Rd (also marked with a 5/1 in a small white circle). It's fairly close to a gas station / car wash. Besides that, very easy to get to.
Did most this hike in combination with White Rocks. A nice slow uphill hike through the woods, most of the time along a creek. Not terribly difficult but tiring with a full backpack on. Nothing overly notable about this hike--but nice. No great overlooks or water features, and not a lot of wildlife (2 deers and a fat squirrel).
There is a large campsite along Racer Camp Trail at the intersection of the orange and blue trails to the south. nice fire ring, and a handy board/counter nailed into a tree that was useful for cooking.
We had the trail mostly to ourselves the first day of hiking, only passing a group of others setting up a campsite. Ran into a few others on day 2--but not at all crowded.
Overall, a beautiful weekend and nice to get out. The trail was well blazed and easy to follow, and generally pretty nice.
By:
J&D
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 30, 2008
My husband, dog, and I just got back from this hike - it was beautiful! We did this as a backpacking trip spread out over two nights. I am a beginner, and this was well-suited to my level - challenging, but not overwhelming. A few months ago for my first hike, we did the first part of Little Schloss, which was way too much for me. But Sugar Knob was perfect.
Sugar Knob has gorgeous streams - we slept next to a stream each night. Not much for views though. We saw several other groups, but it was Labor Day weekend after all (we had the campsites all to ourselves). As far as pests, we had some mosquitos, flies, and bees - but no ticks! I guess it depends on when you go. Our dog usually gets a ton of ticks.
Overall, I highly recommend this hike! Be sure to bring the Hiking Upward directions - they're incredibly accurate (great site).
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 21, 2008
***Ticks*** Just posting this as a warning to anyone hiking Sugar Knob or any hike in the area. This morning I did about a mile of the hike with my dog. A mile in I notice two ticks on his face near his eye - upon further inspection we found about 10 more at that point. We decided do head back b/c of the number of ticks. When we reach the car and inspected him again we pulled another 10-12 off. In all today I believe I have fould 50-60 ticks from the mile up and back.
I it were just us we could have continued on but it was not worth it with the dog. Thx.
By:
Bohnfire
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 17, 2006
Directions to the trail and trail description are mostly accurate, however some clarification is necessary. Parking for the Sugar knob loop is just beyond the bridge over Waite's Run on the LEFT, but the trail-head, Pond Run Trail, is located just BEFORE the bridge over Waite's Run on the RIGHT and it is pretty well hidden especially during the summer months. Secondly, when the trial decription says to turn left on the orange-blazed Racer Camp Hollow trail as it passes several great camping spots, be aware that once you pass these camping spots (which do not have access to flowing water), there is not another suitable camping spot for another 1.6 miles. The Racer Camp Hollow campsites are close to the halfway point- we passed them by in search of water but did not find another campsite for almost two miles. I have not done this hike during the winter but would imagine that the views are much better without all the leaves...
Note: Bohnfire, it should also be possible to park on the left side of Waites Run Road 70 yards before the bridge. See Photo
By:
Mike
Rating:
Date of Hike: Monday, June 12, 2006
All info listed here is still 100% accurate. Season has been very dry this year but water was plentiful during the entire hike, even along the ridge. There is a great camp site when first reaching ridge (this in my opinion was the nicest site on the loop). We camped further on at the Sugar Knob Camp area. There is a spring below the shelter owned by the PATC (locked but for rent I understand). No views at this camp. We had heavy rains all night and I wished we’d brought a tent rather than a tarp. Temperature reached into the low 40’s. Rain stopped shortly after sunrise. Hike back to the car was very muddy in areas due in great part from horse travel on the trail, especially the Racer Camp Hollow Trail. There are lots of connecting trails and opportunities to create other loops and/or side trips. We’ll be back to explore more. I believe if I were to do it again I’d try returning via Tuscarora Trial, over White Rocks for the view and then down Old Mail Trial. See the description for White Rocks Hike Number 27.
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