Newbury, New Hampshire
Mount Sunapee is the big mountain with the best snow, right in your backyard. For the past five years,Mount Sunapee was ranked with the best snow surfaces in the East in the annual SKI Magazine Reader Survey. All this great snow covers a mountain with more than 1,500 vertical feet of fun. Choose from 66 trails and slopes serviced by 11 lifts. There are nine glades, three dedicated bump runs and three terrain parks sculpted for all sizes and levels of bravado.
The newly-added Canopy Zip-Line Tour will be available this winter on weekends and holidays. Guests can enjoy a 2 1/2 hour guided tour with eight zip-lines, three rappels and a rope bridge. Riders soar almost a mile above and through the treetops as they descend South Peak.
In 1909, summer resident Herbert Welsh asked area residents to help save Mount Sunapee from lumbering operations. Through his efforts and the Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests, 656 acres were acquired. This included the summit, Lake Solitude and almost the entire north side. By 1934, the Society had acquired 1,185 acres on the mountain, which was turned over to the State of New Hampshire for a state park in 1948. On December 26, 1948 Mount Sunapee opened with the 3,300 foot North Peak single chair, three trails, two rope tows and the North Peak Lodge.
In 1982, snowmaking arrived with the capability of covering 6 of the 24 trails. More trails and lifts were added. From 1987 to 1989, triple chairs replaced the North Peak and Summit lifts. The Spruce Triple was added and snowmaking pumping capacity continued to improve. November 25, 1989 was recorded as the earliestopening date in 41 years!
On July 1, 1998, Tim and Diane Mueller, owners of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, acquired the first lease ever given by the State of New Hampshire to operate Mount Sunapee. That summer, the Summit Triple was replaced with a high-speed quad, and the Sun Bowl lift was replaced with a quad chair lift. Snowmaking capacity increased and we purchased three new grooming vehicles and a Pipe Dragon for grooming the half-pipe. A halfpipe and a terrain park were created to enhance the skiing/riding experience.
2007-2008 marked Mount Sunapee's 60th Anniversary and its 10th Anniversary under the management of Tim and Diane Mueller. Snowmaking was added to Eastside trail in the Sunbowl area. Eighteen energy efficient snow guns were added that will allow Mount Sunapee to operate more guns and make more snow during marginal snowmaking weather conditions. The new Sunapee Espresso Coffee Bars were added to the Sunapee and Summit lodges featuring premier coffee grinds, espresso, specialty coffee drinks and gourmet baked goods. The SoBe Freeride Zone added a 4,000 watt sound system from top-to-bottom, which definitely amped things up in the "Zone".
2009-2010: Mount Sunapee purchased 10 more energy-efficient HKD snow guns helping lower energy usage by 14% over the past three years. Mount Sunapee now has 58 of these guns. A gladed trail (Paradise Glades) was cut on South Peak for novice skier and riders. Mount Sunapee’s energy management program expanded in 2009-2010 to include recycling of glass, plastic and aluminum in the base lodges. Elliot Slope was incorporated into the “603” Terrain Park.
2010-2011: The 11th lift was added at Mount Sunapee. A 130’ SunKid carpet lift was added to the South Peak Learning Area. This lift, called Middle Carpet, will have a huge impact on the ski and snowboard learning programs at Mount Sunapee. Mount Sunapee spent $180,000 upgrading the snowmaking system. Mount Sunapee has been ranked with the best snow surfaces in the East for the past five years in the Annual SKI Magazine Reader Survey. Bob Skinner’s Ski & Sport came on as the title sponsor of the “603” Terrain Park through the 2012-2013 winter season. Trails: 66
Overall ratings:
Beginner 19, Intermediate 32, Advanced 7, Expert 8
Dates of Season:
Late November to Mid April *
*weather dependent
FACTS:
Trails & Terrain:
•Terrain: 233 acres
•Snowmaking: 97% of terrain
•Lifts: 11 including 3 quad chairs (one high-speed), 2 triple chairs, 1
double chair, 5 surface lifts
•18 miles of terrain on 66 marked trails including varying degrees of bowl
and tree skiing
•Terrain Difficulty: 29% Beginner, 48% Intermediate, 11% Advanced, 12% Expert
•Longest Run: 2.0 miles (The Ridge Trail)
•Terrain Parks: nine glades, three dedicated bump runs, and three terrain parks
sculpted for all sizes and levels of bravado including the SoBe Free Ride Zone
w/4000 watt audio system
Snowfall & Temperatures:
•Average Snowfall: 100 inches annually
•Average High Temperature: 33 degrees
•Average Low Temperature: 10 degrees
Elevation:
•Summit Elevation: 2743ft/837 meters
•Base Elevation: 1233ft/376 meters
•Vertical Drop: 1510ft/461 meters
HOW TO GET THERE:
Planes:
Manchester - Boston Regional Airport, Manchester, NH 59 Miles. Logan International Airport, Boston, MA 104 Miles
Lebanon Municipal Airport, Lebanon, NH 25 Miles
Automobiles:
Traveling from Southern areas(Boston, MA, Manchester & Nashua, NH):
Take I-93 North 64 miles to I-89 North towards White River Jct. Follow I-89 to exit 9 for
Rt-103. From the off ramp, take a right on 103 West. Follow Rt-103W approx. 15 miles to the rotary. Mount Sunapee is on the left.
Locations South off I-89:
Take Exit 9 when traveling on I-89N. Take a right off the exit and follow Route 103 West for 16-17 miles. You will go through the towns of Bradford & Newbury. You will come to the Mount Sunapee traffic circle and we are located on the left.
Locations North off I-89:
Take a right off Exit 12A when traveling on I-89S and follow to Route 11. Turn right onto Route 11 and follow to Route 103B which will take you to the Mount Sunapee traffic circle.
From Vermont:
Take Exit 8 on I-91 (in Vermont), and go east on Rte. 103 through Claremont and Newport. We’re on the right off the Mount Sunapee traffic circle.
From Plymouth:
Take Rt 93S to Exit 23. Take a right off the exit onto Rt 104. Left onto Rt 4. Left on Rt 11/Rt 4 ramp. Follow Rt 11. Left on 103A to end. Right onto 103W for about 3 miles.
From Keene:
Take Rt 10N to Goshen. Right onto Brook Road to end, right onto Rt 103E for about for 1 mile.
From Seacoast:
Take I-95 south, to Rt 101 West, to I-93 North. Take I-89 North to exit 9, right on to RT-103 and follow straight to Mount Sunapee approx. 16 miles.
From Laconia:
Take Rt 3 to Rt 11. Left on 103A to end. Right onto 103W for about 3 miles.
Additional area information:
New London - Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce: 1-877-526-6575
Newport Chamber of Commerce: 603-863-1510