SRK02 & Simpson Reserve, Sunapee NH

• 4-star hike
• 4 to 8 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 650 to 1200 feet
• Sunapee, NH | Sunapee Region
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The image shows a traditional wooden covered bridge with a gabled roof, spanning over a rocky stream. The bridge has prominent truss structures on its sides and is painted in red with white accents. There are decorative plants placed at the entrance of the bridge, and a large white building can be seen in the background against a backdrop of leafless trees and a clear sky.

Sugar River Covered Bridge in Sunapee, NH

Section two of the 76 mile Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway loop combines 4.8 miles of mostly forested trails with 2.8 of road hiking. Highlights along the route include scenic views of Mount Sunapee, a beaver pond, and the attractions of Sunapee town's harbor and town. In addition to the point-to-point SRK section, in this article we've also picked out a out-and back route featuring some of the best trail, which would combine well with a visit to the town of Sunapee and its attractions. Scroll to the 'Simpson Reserve' section if you're more interested in that.

SRK02 To Sunapee Office
This section of the SRK begins at Easternmost trailhead at the foot of Sunapee Mountain for those taking a clockwise route. After two-and-a-half miles on road, the route finally meets with a forest trail and enters the Webb Forest Preserve provided for public access by Harding Hill Farm. Here you'll find many tall pine trees, a network of cross-country ski trails and an overlook close to Blueberry Mountain with partial views of Mount Sunapee. In conjunction with SRK way-finding chevrons, our map will come in handy to navigate which directions you'll want to take at each of the junctions.

Expand ↓ Map

3★ SRK02 to Sunapee Office
7.5 mi one way, moderate, gain 650 ft (1200 ft N-S)
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

4★ Frank H Simpson Reserve
3.8 mi out & back, moderate, gain 540 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

North of Hells Corner Road is the Frank H Simpson reserve and the Red Water Creek wetland and beaver pond here is anything but a hell-scape. This undisturbed preserve is a haven for wildlife - we saw deer drinking from the creek, but if you're extremely lucky you may spot a moose, which are known to graze here too. Much of the trail here is flat, and though close to wetland there are only occasional areas of mud.

Hiking around Baisdell Hill requires hiking some light to moderate hills. We added a short side-trip to be the first to ever bag the hill on Peakery.com where we found a camouflaged cell tower mast and no views. Then it's downhill through Tilton Park to the town of Sunapee where the trail picks up the origins of the 27 mile long Sugar River and follows it for a short distance to the start of SRK section three.

The image shows a panoramic view of a natural landscape featuring a wetland area with tall grasses and reeds. There are trees surrounding the wetland, predominantly coniferous, with some bare-branched deciduous trees. The sky is clear with few clouds and what appears to be a contrail from an aircraft. The sunlight suggests it might be morning or late afternoon.

Beaver Pond in the Frank H Simpson Reserve.

Frank H Simpson Reserve
If you're looking for a great trail rather than a full SRK circuit then this lightly used out-and-back route begins at Sunapee's Tilton Park and playground, diving into the woodland around Baisdell Hill and heading South towards the Frank H Simpson Reserve and wetlands. Initially the trail starts out behind a disc golf hole and can be identified by the green SRK way-finding chevrons attached to trees. The trail here can be faint, but it becomes stronger the more you progress. Don't be alarmed by the initial steeper slope - this only persists for less than a couple of hundred feet, after which the gradients are all more gentle.

After crossing Stagecoach Road we were reminded that we were heading into wetlands by immediately sinking our boot into mud on the trail. We can provide some reassurance however that on our fall visit after some rains, the mud was only a very occasional feature of this route. Most of this trail is under tree cover - some dense and some light - but the grassy and reedy wetlands around Red Water Creek and the beaver pond provide a sunny respite. Keep your footfalls light if you want to catch glimpses of the wildlife that visits these wetlands. Although this recommended part of SRK ends at Hells Corner Road the trail continues across the road and into Webb Forest Preserve for a further couple of miles should you want to extend your hike.

The picturesque lake town of Sunapee sits around a sheltered lake harbor from where you can embark on a sightseeing cruise of the lake, rent a kayak, or just admire the views with an ice cream in hand. The Sugar River also begins here, flowing for 27 miles into the Connecticut River on the New Hampshire-Vermont state border - we're big fans of the Sugar River Rail Trail by the way which is linked at the bottom of this article. Between the harbor and the marked trailhead you'll also find the Sunapee River Covered Bridge and a short waterfall.

The image shows a serene lakeside scene with a clear blue sky. There are multiple docks extending into the water, with one featuring a small white boat with a red canopy partially covered by a tarp. Alongside the docks, there is a larger boat named “Lake George” moored to the right. The calm water reflects the boats and surrounding greenery.

Sunapee Harbor offers a museum, restaurant, ice cream and lake cruises.

The image shows a scenic view from a covered porch looking out onto a small river or stream flowing between buildings. On the left, there is a building with signage that is partially obscured, and on the right, there are what appear to be lakeside cabins. The setting suggests a tranquil, possibly tourist-oriented location. The foreground includes part of the porch with wooden railings and outdoor furniture.

Lake Sunapee outlet and the origins of the Sugar River.

The image shows a natural forest scene with a focus on a group of white mushrooms growing on the side of a tree trunk. The tree trunk is covered with green moss, and there are fallen brown leaves scattered around the base of the tree. In the background, there are more trees and rocks, indicating that this scene is deep within a forest.

Mushrooms on the lightly trafficked and forested trail around Baisdell Hill.

Tangents:
• Trailspotting: SRK Greenway
• Official: SRK Greenway, Simpson Reserve
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

Trailspotting Nearby
4★ Mt Sunapee (1-10 mi) · 3★ Sunset Hill (2-4 mi) · 5★ Sugar River Rail Trail (10 mi) · Show Map

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