Mount Sunapee and Lake Solitude: Autumn Views from a Familiar Mountain
- Stephen Warner
- 26 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Mount Sunapee may be best known as a friendly ski resort tucked into the mountains of southern New Hampshire, but come autumn, the whole area transforms into something else entirely. The lifts go quiet, the slopes turn golden, and the trails that weave through the forest lead to stunning lookouts and hidden lakes you’d never see from a chairlift.
One of the best ways to take in this landscape? A moderate hike to Lake Solitude, White Cliff Overlook, and optionally, the Mount Sunapee summit — all doable in a few hours, with serious payoff.
Trail Info
Trailhead Name | Newbury Trail |
Distance (all out and back) | Eagles nest: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km + White Cliff Overlook: 5.6 miles / 9.0 km ++ Sunapee Summit: 7.4 miles / 11.9 km |
Estimated time | 2 - 5 hours |
Elevation gain | Eagles nest: 500 ft / 150 m + White Cliff Overlook: 1,850 ft / 565 m ++ Sunapee Summit: 2,200 ft / 670 m |
Highest point | 2,743 ft / 836 m (Mount Sunapee) |
Permits / fees | None |
Parking | Paved lot by red caboose |
Toilets? | No |
Dog friendly? | Yes |
Know before you go
There’s no parking directly at the trailhead. You’ll park near the red caboose (part of the Newbury B&M Railroad Museum), then walk up Newbury Heights Road, turning right on Lake View Ave to reach the trailhead.
The trail gets rocky and rooty, with potential for slick sections in wet or icy weather.
There are multiple routes to reach the summit of Mount Sunapee. This post covers the Newbury Trail approach, which is scenic and moderately strenuous.
Alternate approaches
Distance: 4.7 miles (7.6 km) out and back
Elevation gain: 1,500 ft (460 m) gain
Details: A shorter, more direct route to the summit that follows ski trails and service roads. Less forested, but good if you're after quick views.
Distance: 6.2 miles (10 km) out and back
Elevation gain: 1,700 ft (520 m) gain
Details: Approaches Lake Solitude from the east. A quieter route that still links up with White Ledge Overlook and the summit if you want to extend.
The Trail
After parking by the red caboose, it’s a short road walk to the official start of the Newbury Trail.
Even the road walk had it's own form of beauty.
Let's begin! The trail starts subtly, but it doesn’t take long to wake you up
Right away there’s a small stream crossing, which may vary depending on season.
From there, the climb begins. It’s a steady ascent most of the way. Your legs are sure to be working much of the way. Orange blazes mark the trail.
Early in the hike, you’ll see a small rock cairn marking the side trail to Eagle’s Nest Lookout. It’s about 0.4 miles round trip with a mild 100 ft of gain.
The view is fine as it's partially shaded and not too expansive. Unless you're only doing a short hike, this one's skippable in favor of the bigger payoffs later on.
Back on the main trail, it continues to climb — rocky and rooty in parts, but well-marked and manageable.
As you near Lake Solitude, you'll pass a few signed junctions. Just keep following signs for Lake Solitude, White Cliff, or Mount Sunapee Summit. All lead the same direction.
Shortly before the overlook, there’s a side trail that takes you down to the lake itself. This is a worthwhile detour. The still water and colorful tree reflections feel like something out of a painting.
Then it’s on to the White Cliff Overlook — an exposed ledge offering a stunning panoramic of the lake, ringed by hills and dense forest. The contrast between the bright water and colorful foliage is easily one of the best moments on the trail.
From here, retrace slightly and continue up toward the summit. The forest begins to thin and the trail briefly opens up — and then you emerge onto what looks like a dry ski run.
And suddenly, you get big open views of Lake Sunapee, surrounded by patchwork hills and turning leaves. On a clear day, the foliage feels endless.
To reach the true summit, just head up the ski slope until you hit the top of the first chairlift. The summit itself is tree-covered, so for views, pick your favorite slope and hike down just enough until the lake spreads out below you.
But the summit isn't necessarily where the best views are since it's not above treeline. My advice is to pick your favorite slope and venture down just enough until you get that expansive lake view.
Trust me — it’s worth it.
SS Reflections
Mount Sunapee holds a special place for me. It’s where I first learned to ski. As a Florida native (don’t worry, not that kind of Florida Man), I wasn’t exactly born into powder culture (or more like "Ice Coast" culture here in the Northeast). And spending much of my adult life in places like Virginia, South Carolina, and Hawaiʻi didn’t help my snow credentials either.
But coming back here to hike was a whole new experience. The familiar slopes looked totally different under golden trees instead of snow. It reminded me that mountains aren’t just about winter thrills. They can also be quiet, colorful, and deeply peaceful.
This hike turned something familiar into something quietly unforgettable