For a full description of sites and resources along the Lake Sunapee Scenic Byway, please download the Tour of the Lake Sunapee Byway - in PDF format.
The Lake Sunapee Byway meanders through a rural New England landscape, with forested hills and fields. The intermittent glimpses and occasional panoramic views of Lake Sunapee and the undeveloped mountainsides around the lake are the true scenic gems of the Byway. These are the views that distinguish the Lake Sunapee Byway from other scenic drives in New England.
As the landscape is mostly forested, views of the lakes and mountains are relatively few in number, but truly impressive in their natural beauty. Good views of Lake Sunapee from the car are found in Georges Mills, Sunapee Harbor, Mount Sunapee State Park Beach, Newbury Harbor, and Herrick Cove. Views of Mount Sunapee are best seen from the car on Route 11 in Sunapee heading south near Dewey Field, Route 103 in Sunapee heading east, and Main Street in New London west of Colby-Sawyer College. Out of the car, views are best appreciated from a boat on Lake Sunapee, or via hiking trails to Clark's Lookout, Sunset Hill, and Mount Sunapee. Mount Sunapee’s summit is also accessible via ski lift during the winter and select days during summer events.
The Lake Sunapee Byway passes through several centers of cultural activity: the villages of Sunapee Harbor, Newbury Harbor, and New London, as well as The Fells and Mount Sunapee Resort. These locations offer a wide variety of community events, drawing in the local population as well as visitors from farther afield. Each community has its own unique local flavor and character.
Music, theater, and the arts are the focus of many cultural events along the Byway:
Visitors also flock to the Lions Club Car Show at Mount Sunapee every summer, where 300 classic and antique automobiles and trucks are put out on display, and to art shows and other events at the New London Historical Society.
The popularity of local foods and products has been growing over the past several years, and there are several cultural activities along the Byway related to local food:
The region offers a variety of family-oriented activities and events, including Hospital Days and ChocolateFest in New London, Chowderfest and Christmas in the Harbor in Sunapee Harbor, Old Home Days in Newbury and New London, Teddy Bear Picnics and other children’s events in Sunapee, Fourth of July fireworks and parades, and educational programs at The Fells.
The villages that are centers for cultural activity today were also cultural and commercial hubs in the history of the region. The history of the region is tied to Lake Sunapee, a common thread among the three communities.
Residents are proud of their towns’ history, working to protect old buildings and create museums of historical collections. Many cultural events also have some historical context or event associated with it, such as Old Home Day in Newbury.
The Lake Sunapee Byway offers a diversity of four-season recreational opportunities because of the lake and the mountain in such close proximity to each other. Lake Sunapee, the smaller lakes nearby, and the Sugar River provide access points for boating, swimming, and fishing. The variety of watercraft on Lake Sunapee on a summer’s day —sailboats, pontoon boats, motorboats, personal watercraft, antique wooden cruisers, rowing sculls, kayaks, canoes — point to the widespread enjoyment of boating by residents and visitors alike. Boat rentals are available at Sargent’s Marina in Georges Mills and Sunapee Harbor; kayak rentals are available at Sunapee Outfitters on Route 103 in Newbury and Village Sports on Main Street in New London.
Mount Sunapee State Park is a major recreation destination along the Byway, offering a beach, boat launch, and campground in the summer, skiing and snowboarding at Mount Sunapee Resort in the winter, and year-round hiking trails. Other winter activities along the Byway include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, ice boating and snowmobiling. In the State of New Hampshire, there are over 6,000 miles of snowmobile trails, twice the mileage of the state highway system.
The Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway is an 88-mile hiking loop around Lake Sunapee and crosses the byway at several points. There are also hiking trails on many parcels of conserved land, including Knights Hill Nature Park and the adjoining trail network in New London, Dewey Woods in Sunapee, and the large area of protected land around The Fells and Sunset Hill in Newbury. Organized races, such as the Lake Sunapee Bike Race, the Horror at Harding Hill mountain bike race, and Hospital Days Triathlon draw crowds of competitors and spectators. Another way to travel the Byway is on a road bike; the New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s bike route maps, show all state-numbered highways along the Byway as suggested bike routes.
Driving the Lake Sunapee Byway provides an experience of driving through a rural landscape dotted with small villages. Lake Sunapee is the second-most visited lake in New Hampshire, yet it is located in a natural, rural setting, which is an important draw for visitors and is highly prized by residents. The excellent water quality of Lake Sunapee is a source of pride and also much concern for all towns on the lake. For example, each of the three towns contributes to the Lake Sunapee Protective Association to prevent the infestation by milfoil and other invasive species.
Large sections of the byway corridor are fields or forests, providing privacy for residents and a peaceful environment for travelers.
There is a strong desire to maintain the rural character of the region and protect open space, wildlife habitat, and agricultural land. Lands have been protected from development through a variety of mechanisms, involving both public and private land acquisition and conservation easements. Visitors can enjoy many of these natural areas in person via hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowmobile trails. Protected lands along the Byway include: