| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Sunapee, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Province Trail, Summit Trail, Goshen Trail, Center Road, Brook Road, Old Province Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 2, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Small parking area for a half dozen or so cars at the Province Trail. We were the fourth or so there around 9:15am. There were many more when we returned at 3pm that had parked across the street in what appeared to be another parking area. One car parked at the Goshen Trail. There’s room to fit more but not a whole lot and it’s not very well used. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing but small brooks. Even with high water they weren’t any problem. Just little step overs. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Province Trail was occasionally blazed in yellow. It’s part of the SRKG as well and had some of those markings as well. Note that there’s another trail not mentioned in the guidebook that bears left at the beginning whereas this one bears right (follow the sign for the Greenway). So long as you know that, the trail is easy to follow. There were two awkward step on or over blowdowns at the end of this trail right before it joins Summit Trail. Summit Trail had one large pine blowdown not long after its jct with Province Trail. It had been partially delimbed. It had another mid-sized blowdown shortly before the summit. Probably a few smaller ones in between. Summit Trail is blazed in red. I don’t recall how frequently but it’s not tricky to follow other than making sure you don’t stay on the ski trail when you cross it. I thought it was obvious but multiple people at the summit had intended to hike up Summit Trail but accidentally took the ski trails the entire way. Also, I’m the woods around the ski trails, the trail seemed to go two different ways at a point. They go to the same place though. Goshen Trail is not signed so you have to have a GPS or know what to look for. It’s very occasionally blazed in blue. Once you’re on it it’s easy to follow though as it’s just an old road. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A few seen mostly at the summit. No issues. Should be okay trails for dogs although one lady went down the ski trail rather than back down the Summit Trail as she thought it was too hard for her dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
They’re out but I didn’t really notice them until we stopped at the car on the way back. Too windy on top for them and I didn’t notice them elsewhere. I’d expect them to be bad starting this weekend. Bring big stuff and maybe a head net! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Province Trail (Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsage Greenway), Summit Trail, Goshen Trail, road walk (Center Rd, Brook Rd, Old Province Rd)
This was my first time to the summit of Sunapee. I’d only been to the ledges above Lake Solitude once 10-12 years ago. We made a loop by walking 1.8mi along the road. The last 0.5mi on Old Province Road is up a BIG hill though be warned. Not the nicest way to end a hike haha. I also did an out-and-back on the lower portion of Summit Trail.
Note that there was no sign for Province Trail and there was another trail that split left from it almost immediately. It was marked by a purple square with hikers on it. Someone said it was a ski trail though... anyway, stay right. It was cold and windy to start and the trail was still a bit wet from the previous days of rain. It quickly dried though...until we came to many mud pits and puddles on Summit Trail (generally the mid-upper portion of it). Waterproof boots would be preferred by most.
The summit has only restricted views. You can’t go inside obviously but people were using the picnic benches and all although people were pretty good about social distancing. Usually around a dozen or so people at the summit at any time although we’re basically the last ones there when we headed down around 12:30pm. You can sneak around the backside to get a much more open view that includes Moosilauke. Much colder and windier up there though. From where we were you got a nice view of Washington and what I believe were the Ossipees (maybe the Sandwich Range??). You follow the ski trail and then road for a bit, crossing a small snow field, on the way to Goshen Trail which is off to the right and unsigned. Once you’re on it it’s obvious though, the trail was a stream for a short ways before it drained. It got better after that but was still very wet overall. Shortly after the drainage there was a road that led down to a little shed and pond that I visited.
The snow was basically nonexistent on the trail other than the little snow field along the road to get to Goshen Trail. Great day out with friends and family :) |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-05-05 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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