Ride 6
Panorama
Scenic Beauty
This ride bobs and weaves through the trees so although not scenically spectacular, the panoramic view at the top warrants a few minutes of stoppage time, especially if the chairlift isn’t currently depositing hoards of downhill riders.
Safety
100% car-free once you exit the parking lot. Trails are considered mountain bike specific but present little in the way of technical features.
Fun
Off the charts on the fun scale. Unless you hate climbing; then this ride might be your worst nightmare. The climbs are long but the gradients are gradual. And what goes up, must come down. Woo-hoo!
The beginning of Trail #10.
Even baby waterfalls bring a sense of calm.
Sugar Mama downhill trail as you descend off the top of the mountain.
Driving directions
Drive approximately 3 hours north of Moncton to the city of Campbellton and follow the highway signs into Sugarloaf Provincial Park. Park at the large lot at the bottom of the ski hill and drop into the Headquarters Visitor Centre for maps.
Route description
To find the entrance to Trail #10, leave the main parking lot and ride towards the campground. If you reach the campground gate, you have gone too far. You can ride Trail #10 clock-wise or counter clock-wise. Both directions are good.
After looping around Trail #10, climb up Panorama and then descend the downhill Sugar Mama Bike Park Trail back to your car in the parking lot.
Notes
1. The provincial park put extensive work into upgrading their trails over the last few years. This route showcases some of the best ones in the park. Even though trails are rated green (easy) and blue (intermediate) on the mountain bike scale, the wide smooth surface makes this route accessible to many.
2. If the Sugar Mama Downhill Bike Park trail seems scary or busy, just skip it. Instead, turn around and ride back down Panorama. But if you’ve ridden everything so far without too much trouble, Sugar Mama would be a shame to miss. Trust your ability and enjoy all the downhill goodness.
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