Best Hikes in the Dartmouth-Sunapee Region

Best Hikes in New Hampshire’s Dartmouth-Sunapee Region

We should probably start out by defining the Dartmouth-Sunapee region of New Hampshire, since defining regions on a state or national level is fairly subjective. While there are plenty of other ways to slice and dice the Granite State, the map below does a good job of dividing the state into seven distinct regions. The Dartmouth-Sunapee region, located along the western border with Vermont, is home to Lake Sunapee, Mt. Sunapee ski resort, and Hanover/Dartmouth College. These attractions have made this part of the state popular year-round, both among New Hampshire residents and visitors from Massachusetts and other New England states. While the White Mountains region very clearly boasts the best hiking in New Hampshire, Dartmouth-Sunapee is also home to several beautiful hiking trails, albeit significantly less challenging than those to the north. Below we highlight several of the best day hikes in the Dartmouth-Sunapee region of New Hampshire.

1 – Lake Solitude (Mt. Sunapee)

The hike to Lake Solitude, located just below the summit of Mt. Sunapee (2,726 ft.) has long been our favorite hike in the region. While the summit offers beautiful views of Lake Sunapee, the view from the cliffs overlooking the much smaller Lake Solitude are arguably even more impressive. There are two trails leading to Lake Solitude, the Andrew Brook Trail and the Newbury Trail. They’re both moderately challenging, but nothing too crazy. Even though it’s about a half mile longer each way, we usually prefer the Newbury Trail since it offers some views of Lake Sunapee along the way

Distance: 4.8 miles (Newbury Trail); 3.8 miles (Andrew Brook Trail)

Difficulty: Moderate

2 – Mt. Cardigan

Mt. Cardigan is about as close as you’ll get in the Dartmouth-Sunapee region to one of the 4,000 footers of the White Mountains. At 3,155 ft. above sea level, Mt. Cardigan is the tallest peak in the region and its bald rocky summit offers views of the White Mountains, Lake Winnipesaukee and some mountains in Vermont.

Distance: 2.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Read More: Best Winter Hikes in New Hampshire

3 – Mt. Kearsarge

Mt. Kearsarge is a familiar landmark in the region for anyone who has spent any time on I-89. As a “monadnock”, the mountain towers over the surrounding landscape, and despite not even being a member of the 3,000 footer club, Kearsarge is one of only 12 mountains in New Hampshire with a prominence of over 2,000 feet.  Kearsarge is a hair shorter than Mt. Cardigan at 2,936′ and about 30 miles farther south so the views are only slightly less impressive but still some of the best in the region.

Distance: 3.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

4 – Cole Pond

There are no sweeping views on this hike, but the hike to Cole Pond in Enfield, NH is one of our favorites in any season. If our dog were making this list he would rank this hike #1.

Distance: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Read More: Best Hikes in New England

5 – Moose Mountain

Moose Mountain is a short hike in Hanover, NH which also happens to be along the Appalachian Trail. There is a small clearing near the summit that offers views of Mt. Cardigan and Mt. Kearsarge.

Distance: 3.8 miles

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

6 – French’s Ledges

French’s Ledges is much shorter than some of the summits on this list, but still offers 360-degree views including an impressive view of Mt. Ascutney. There are several routes to the top and the network of trails can be a bit confusing to make sure to pay attention to the map.

Distance: ~3 miles

Difficulty: Easy

7 – Smith Pond

Like Cole Pond, there are no views on this trail, but Smith Pond itself is very scenic. The pond is dotted with small rocky islands, making it look almost Acadia-esque (maybe a bit of an exaggeration). Watch out for porcupines! There is also the option to branch off to the nearby Halfmile Pond which is another beautiful and underrated spot.

Distance: 2.6 miles

Difficulty: Easy