Sunset Hill, Lake Sunapee NH

• 3-star hikes
• 2 to 4 mile options
• Easy & Moderate | Gain 540 to 740 feet
• Newbury, NH | Sunapee Region
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A white signpost with multiple directional signs in front of a white house surrounded by greenery under a clear blue sky. The top sign reads ‘The Fells,’ followed by ‘John Hay Estate’ with an arrow pointing to the right. Below that, another sign states ‘Open to the Public’ with an arrow pointing straight ahead. The next sign lists ‘Gardens, Trails, Historic House’ and also points straight ahead. The bottom sign indicates that this location is listed on the ‘National Historic Registry.

The historical Fells estate includes over 80 acres of woodland trails and gardens.

Two trails are better than one, and even more so if you can combine them into a loop, as we discovered at Lake Sunapee's Sunset Hill. Inset off the eastern shoreline of the lake, and part of the John Hay Estate at The Fells, we also present two separate out-and-back trails which feature differing terrain up to the shared summit.

Both trails to the summit are fairly wide and offer gradual climbs, though we consider the Kidder Tract Trail a little trickier due to the rocks and roots towards the top. Make sure to stray slightly westward of the true summit of the hill to find the best views, although they only offer a partial panorama of the lake.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 3★ Hay Reservation Trail 2.5 mi out & back, easy, gain 550 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

⬤ 3★ Kidder Tract Trail 1.8 mi out & back, moderate, gain 540 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

⬤ 3★ Loop Trail 3.5 mi loop, moderate, gain 740 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

⬤ Hay Reservation Trail
A gentle climb along a wide woodland trail, passing by the cellar remains of a farmhouse that once stood on this land by the intersection with Old Country Road. Park for free in the John Hay Estate lot.

⬤ Kidder Tract Trail
Begins with an easy gravel walk through birch forest and small grassy meadows, before the trail becomes the more conventional but short New Hampshire rocky hillside climb. Parking is available for several vehicles by the trailhead.

⬤ Loop Trail
This part-loop combines both trails in their entirety, connecting them with a short stroll along the quiet Chalk Pond Road and a return to the Hay Trail along the remains of the Old Country Road South. As the old road is not maintained as a trail, expect some poor conditions; we found light mud here, despite the other trails being dry.

A person stands on a rocky outcrop, looking out over a scenic landscape that includes a body of water, possibly a lake, with land and hills in the distance. Trees surround the area, and the sky is clear and sunny.

Partial Lake Sunapee panorama from the summit of Sunset Hill.

A split view with two scenes: on the left, a person walks down a forest trail surrounded by green trees with sunlight filtering through the foliage; on the right, a close-up of the forest floor shows dry leaves, fresh green leaves, and a butterfly with orange, black, and white wings resting on the ground

Expect mostly gentle and easy trails. | Mourning Cloak butterfly.

A view of a landscape featuring a large body of water, possibly a lake, with numerous green land masses, which could be islands or peninsulas. There are forested areas as well as clearings. In the foreground, there is a property with buildings and a winding driveway. The background shows rolling hills and mountain ranges in the distance under a blue sky scattered with clouds

Topography of The Fells and northern Lake Sunapee.

Tangents:
• Forest Society: Hay Forest
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Hay Trail, Kidder Trail
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

Trailspotting Nearby
4★ Mount Sunapee (1-10 mi) · 4★ Simpson Reserve (4 mi) · 5★ Sugar River Rail Trail (10 mi) · Show Map

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