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The Summit 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. This route is sandwiched between the ski trails and the park boundary which accounts for some of the wanderings. Proposed ski development may obliterate this trail, so hike it while you can!
Note that while the state park and ski area are called "Mount Sunapee", the USGS calls the peak "Sunapee Mountain".
Distance: Ski area parking to summit, about 2.0 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 1500 feet
Maps:
USGS Newport
Free map of Mount Sunapee State Park Hiking Trails available from Guest Services at base lodge
Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway online section map
Location: Dartmouth - Lake Sunapee Region
NH 2003-2004 map M-4
DeLorme NHA&G 34-K2 to 26-A2 - Newbury/Goshen
Mount Sunapee is located on NH Route 103 at the S end of Lake Sunapee
Trailhead:
There are two trailheads on the W side of the parking area at the Mount Sunapee Ski Area, elevation about 1280 feet. Watch for signs or ask ski area personnel which one is currently preferred. The trails join about .6 miles up.
43.3324°N, 72.0795°W (WGS84)
Take exit 9 off I-89 and follow NH Route 103 about 15.2 miles to the Mount Sunapee traffic circle. Go 3/4 of the way around the circle and turn R on the entrance road to Mount Sunapee ski area, continue to parking lot at end of road.
Alternate Trailhead:
The SRKG Trail has its own trailhead at the end of Old Province Road in Goshen, useful if you wish to walk the entire SRKG Trail to get a certificate or if you want to avoid the crowds at the base lodge. It joins about .5 miles up.
43.3309°N, 72.0900°W (WGS84)
Take exit 9 off I-89 and follow NH Route 103 about 16.4 miles to Brook Road, follow Brook Road 1.3 miles L (S) to Old Province Road. (This is about 4.2 miles N from NH Route 10 in Goshen.) Go L (E) up Old Province Road .5 miles to where a driveway turns L and the road is no longer maintained.
Park on the roadside and be careful not to hinder the use of any driveways.
Far End: Summit of Sunapee Mountain, elevation about 2726 feet
Owner: Mount Sunapee State Park
Maintainer: Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail Club for SRKG portion, Mount Sunapee State Park for trail from base lodge
Special regulations: No fires or camping
The Summit Trail (Sunapee Mountain) climbs in the woods between the Lower Ridge and Daydreamer Ski Trails. If you took the lower entrance, at .5 miles there is a sign where the SRKG Trail joins from the R.
Continue slightly uphill on the joint trail until an unmarked path on the L is reached, this is the former route from the base lodge. If you came up that way and found the better trail coming in from the R, take note of this point if you expect to come down the same way.
The trail now runs in the woods parallel to the ski trails, which are very obvious in winter. It ascends near a ridge and passes near the park boundary, then angles S around the mountain. After reaching a point nearly W of the summit, it switchbacks uphill to the summit lodge at 2.0 miles.
If you are looking for the survey marker, it is outside the ramp between the summit lodge and the adjacent ski lift.
On the descent, this trail heads initially heads S which is to the R of all ski trails, before swinging W. All of the other hiking trails start down the edge of the most easterly (Porky's) ski trail.
Parking lot plowed in winter.
Map Notes: The USGS map does not show this trail, and it is roughly sketched on the park map.
Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway online section map
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