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This is a great trail if you want to ride
the mountains but also want to minimize steep grades.
 | Basic Conditions:
 | Accessible trailer parking on a large open
field called "Turner Farm" with plenty of turn around room.
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The trailer parking
lot as seen from the back, looking toward the entrance. |
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| The equestrian trail is a well marked
7-mile loop around the base of the mountain with mostly gentle grades. Most of the
trail is through wooded areas with some small stream crossings.
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Trail marker poles
are found at intersecting trails |
Round yellow blazes
appear at good intervals along the trail |
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| There are some rocky areas where slow
speeds and careful stepping is required, however the rocks are generally larger granite
areas, not the shifting rocks found in many Maryland mountains.
 Just rode this trail
10/07/2000 - Sorry to report that many of the previously smooth sections have now been
covered in HUGE rocks. Unfortunately this makes for very few spots that can be
considered passable by a barefoot horse or even one with only front shoes.
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| Potential Hazards:
| Hikers unfamiliar with horses.
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| Mountain bikes. They are prohibited during
weekends from November through May.
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| Rocky sections require attention to
footing.
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| Rules & Restrictions:
| Park closes at sunset
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| No hunting permitted
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Park Map
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on it to view larger map.
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Visit an informative Sugarloaf Mountain site.
It includes a downloadable version of the trail map.
| Directions to the Park:
| Take Route 270 to Exit 22 Route
109 Old Hundred Road south.
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| Follow 109 South for about 5
miles.
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| Turn right onto Comus Road (State
Route 95) The Comus Inn will be on the righthand corner
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| Follow Comus Road for 4.2 miles
to the park entrance plaza. Pass the intersection with Sugarloaf Mountain Road on
your right and the "official" Stronghold Inc entrance on your right.
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| Remain on Comus Road by taking
the right fork at the brick wall, following signs to the Stronghold Mansion.
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| Follow the road as it passes the
mansion and turns to gravel.
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| At the intersection with the stop
sign, look across the road and slightly to your right to locate the entrance to the field
for parking. Turn right then immediate left into entrance in split rail fence.
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| Directions to the trails:
| Once you are tacked up, turn to
face the parking area entrance and look to your left for the trail that enters the woods.
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| Follow this trail until it
intersects a paved road and turn right onto the road.
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| Turn left at the intersection
with the next paved road (it isn't far and there isn't much traffic).
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| Look for the trail entrance on
your right (again, it isn't far and there isn't much traffic).
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Please write if you have any questions or
comments: e-mail
 Visitors
since 07/22/2000
Last updated 10/10/2000
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