The Lake Sunapee region has dozens of hiking trails & scenic walks. From short, easy strolls for the whole family to expert-only marches up steep mountain trails, there are hikes to suite anyone.
Are you new to the area and not sure where to start? May we suggest three relatively easy hikes to Lake Sunapee scenic overlooks: Clark Lookout (Short & very easy), Sunset Hill Trail (fairly easy), and the The Eagles Nest (medium),
Before you hit the trails be sure to check out our page of Hiking Safety Tips
Bradford
| Bradford Bog The Bradford Bog is a great and easy walk in a rare environment. Planks line the path through the rich fauna, like Rhodera, Bog Rosemary, Mountain Holly, Pitcher Plants, and Sundews, for 0.6 miles; it’s an easy walk along the planks. At the end is an observation tower to view the bog from above. Easy |
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Mount Sunapee Summit Trails
| The Province Trail leads from the base of the Mount Sunapee ski area to the summit of Sunapee Mountain, and receives heavy use in the summer months. Almost all of the trail is part of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway. The trail head is at the end of Old Province Road in Goshen. Expert |  |
| The Newbury Trail leads from near the shore of Lake Sunapee to Lake Solitude on Sunapee Mountain. Lack of parking makes this trail less desirable for large groups during the busy summer season. The trail has become part of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail, and is marked with its trapezoidal white blazes in addition to earlier orange blazes. Expert |  |
| The Andrew Brook Trail leads from Mountain Road in Newbury to Lake Solitude high on the flank of Sunapee Mountain. It also provides access to the 75-mile loop Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail and the 50-mile Monadnock Sunapee Greenway Trail. There are 3 crossings of Andrew Brook and several of side brooks, only some of which are bridged. Expert |  |
Goshen
| Gunnison Lake’s Ruth LeClair Trail One of the state’s best-kept secrets, Gunnison Lake, fondly called “The Goshen Ocean” by local residents, is a tranquil spot for canoeing and bird-watching. For a pleasant walk, take the Ruth LeClair Memorial Trail, a three-mile loop around Gunnison Lake. Easy |
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New London
| Clark Lookout at Lake Sunapee Clark Lookout is a spectacular scenic overlook on the North end of Lake Sunapee. Just a short 10 minute hike up a small hill, it is a perfect spot for a family picnic or just to relax a bit while viewing the most amazing view of Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee. Easy |
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| The Molly-Charles Trail A short trail filled with interesting sights, The Cordingley Preserve, in which it is located, was originally purchased by William R. Cordingley in 1913 from the Currier Farm. The trail is formed by one main loop of generally flat terrain which is about 0.3 mile and two side trails which make the full trail nearly a half mile. Easy |
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| Knight’s Hill Nature Park Protected by the New London Conservation Commission and maintained by the Outing Club, the Knight’s Hill Nature Park is nearly 100 acres of trails. The park is open 8 am to 6 pm year-round. A program of free events runs from July through mid-August. Easy |
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| Low Plain Trail The Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area at Low Plain exhibits an array of interesting wildlife and is located off of Route 11 in New London. Unlike most trails in this woody area, this comprises of marsh, ponds, and bogs with forest on the edges. Easy |
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| The Philbrick-Cricenti Bog Trail One of the most unique hikes in the area is located in central New London. The bog has been forming since the glaciers receded: a pond, at least twenty feet deep formed and arctic plants spread across the surface. Easy – but not for small children or pets. |
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| The Webb Forest Trails The Webb Forest Trail encircles and inter-connects with the Wolf Tree Trail through the 2,000 acre Webb Forest. The Great Brook Trail travels for 1.6 miles one way along the Great Brook, providing great views of the brook and its cascades. The Bunker Loop Trail travels uphill until it reaches the Bunker Homestead and then connects to the Wolf Tree Trail. Medium |
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Newbury
| The Eagle’s Nest Overlook on Mount Sunapee Located almost 500 feet above Newbury Harbor, the Eagle’s Nest overlook is a rocky outcropping with a break in the tree line that gives a spectacular view of the southern tip of Lake Sunapee. The hike is about half a mile up the steep and rocky Mt. Sunapee Newbury Trail and then turns onto a short side trail along the mountain flank .2 miles to the Eagle’s Nest. Medium |
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| The Fells Trails Five trails wind through The Fells, a wildlife refuge and historic site. The five trails emphasize different aspects of the grounds. The longest is the John Hay Forest Ecology Trail at 1.5 miles of easy terrain. There is an entrance fee to The Fells & trails. Medium. |
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| The Sunset Hill Trail The Sunset Hill Path trail head is right across the street from the Fells Reservation main gate in Newbury and goes 2 miles to a stunning overlook above Lake Sunapee at the peak of Sunset Hill. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the top. Medium |
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Sunapee
| The Sawyer Trail Located on Route 11 in Sunapee, right next to Dewey Field, Sawyer Trail provides an excellent sample of all the greatness of the forest while being welcoming to all skill levels. For his senior project Sawyer Webb, for whom the trail is named, made this interpretive trail with twelve points of interest called stations. Easy |
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Warner & Wilmot
| Mount Kearsarge Two trails ascend Mount Kearsarge from Winslow State Park: The Barlow Trail and the Winslow Trail. The Barlow Trail, marked with yellow blazes, is longer at 1.7 miles, but is an easier and more gradual climb; in some locations the trail has been shaped into steps. On the Southern side of the Mountain is Rollins State Park in Warner. The climb from Rollins is comparatively easier than the hike from Winslow. Medium |
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| The Cook Interpretive Loop This is a delightful trail with many unique attractions. It’s 1.3 miles long and should take about an hour and a half to travel. It forms a loop that is intersected by several other trails which crisscross within it: there are ten intersections between the Cook Loop and the other trails. Medium |
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More information:
The Fells/Hay Estate
Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition
Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Club