Honestly, people talk about Lake Winnipesaukee like it’s the only body of water in New Hampshire worth driving for. Don't get me wrong, Big Win is great if you like chaos and bumper-to-bumper boat traffic. But if you actually live here, or you've spent enough time in the Dartmouth-Hillsborough corridor, you know Lake Sunapee is the real prize.
It’s cleaner. It’s quieter.
And, weirdly enough, it has three lighthouses despite being over a thousand feet above sea level.
Why the water is different here
Most people think lake water is just, well, lake water. But Sunapee is a bit of an anomaly. It’s the fifth-largest lake entirely within New Hampshire’s borders, sitting at 1,093 feet of elevation. Because it’s fed by cold underground springs rising from a bedrock aquifer, the clarity is startling. On a bright July afternoon, you can look over the side of a boat and see rocks or lost sunglasses 30 feet down.
The Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) is basically the lake's guardian. They’ve been around since 1898—making them one of the oldest environmental groups in the country. They’re currently dealing with some drama regarding the aging septic lagoons at the Mount Sunapee Resort. There’s been a lot of pushback from locals and the Newbury Conservation Commission to get the state to modernize the system because, frankly, nobody wants effluent leaking into Beck Brook and eventually the State Beach. It's a real-world struggle between tourism infrastructure and preserving that "exceptionally pure" water status.
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The Lake Sunapee "Must-Do" list that isn't just swimming
Look, the beach at Mount Sunapee State Park is great, but it’s often the first and only stop for tourists. If you want the actual experience, you have to branch out.
- Sunapee Harbor: This is the "downtown" vibe, even though it's tiny. You’ve got the shops, the ice cream, and the MV MT Sunapee II. If you want to hear the history of the steamboat era—back when the Armenia White (a 101-foot beast) hauled 650 passengers at a time—this is where you start.
- The Lighthouses: You’ve got Loon Island, Burkehaven, and Herrick Cove. They aren't the giant seaside towers you see on the coast; they’re smaller, quaint, and completely functional. Seeing them from a kayak at sunset is basically a religious experience.
- The Fells (John Hay Estate): This was the summer home of John Hay, who was Abraham Lincoln’s personal secretary. It has 83.5 acres of gardens and trails. It’s a bit fancy, but the history is legit.
What people get wrong about the fishing
There's a lot of legend surrounding the "Sunapee Trout" (Salvelinus aureolus oquassa). People still ask about them.
Here’s the cold truth: they’re gone.
The Sunapee trout was a unique, pale-colored char that turned a flaming "golden halo" color during spawning. But back in the day, someone thought it was a good idea to introduce lake trout. The lake trout basically out-competed and bred the golden trout out of existence. Today, you're mostly looking at landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, and pickerel. If you’re fishing for salmon, remember the season is specific—usually April 1 to September 30. And don't even think about "power loading" your boat at the Sunapee Harbor ramp; the town actually has an ordinance against it because it chews up the ramp bed.
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The Mount Sunapee factor
You can't talk about the lake without the mountain. It’s 2,893 acres of state land managed by Vail Resorts. In the winter, it’s the primary ski hub for southern NH, but the summer "Play-All-Day" packages are what keep the local economy humming.
They’ve got this aerial challenge course and mountain biking that’ll make your legs feel like jelly. It’s a weird contrast—the quiet, historic vibe of the John Hay Estate on one side of the lake and teenagers doing backflips on mountain bikes on the other.
Life on the shore
The real estate market here is... intense. As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, the median home price in Sunapee is hovering around $707,000. It’s a "balanced" market right now, but "balanced" in New Hampshire means you still need a lot of cash and a lot of patience. You’ve got three main towns: Sunapee (the west side), Newbury (the south), and New London (the east). New London is where you go if you want the "Ivy League" feel near Colby-Sawyer College, while Newbury is the gateway to the state park.
Survival tips for first-timers
If you’re planning a trip, don't just wing it.
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- Parking is a nightmare: If you aren't at the State Beach by 10:00 AM on a Saturday, just turn around and go get a burger at Bubba’s instead.
- Respect the "No Skicraft" zones: Little Sunapee (the smaller sister lake) has strict rules against jet skis. People live there specifically for the silence. Don't be that person.
- Ice Out is a holiday: Locals track "Ice Out" dates like they’re betting on the Super Bowl. The record for the earliest was March 18, 2016. If you’re here in the spring, checking the official report from the Osborne family is a tradition.
Practical steps for your visit
Stop by the Sunapee Harbor Riverwalk for a quick half-mile stretch to see the dam that controls the lake's height. If you have a boat, download a depth map specifically for the "Hedgehog" area—that's the deepest point, roughly 105 to 112 feet depending on who you ask and how much it rained recently.
Check the LSPA website for any cyanobacteria bloom alerts before you dive in. While the water is usually pristine, 2026 climate patterns mean we have to stay vigilant. Finally, if you're hiking, hit the Eagles Nest overlook in Newbury. It’s 500 feet above the harbor and gives you the best view of the southern tip without having to pay for a helicopter ride.
Pack out your trash. This isn't a theme park; it's a watershed that provides drinking water and habitat for everything from mink to moose.