Newbury: Skiing at Mount Sunapee and history at The Fells

Newbury offers several distinct areas of interest to help you plan your trip: Mount Sunapee is known for downhill skiing and mountain activities, Mount Sunapee State Park for trails, water activities, and camping, and The Fells for gardens, woodland trails, and history. When looking for accommodations, it helps to first decide which of these themes you want to shape your stay. Skiing at Mount Sunapee, activities in the state park, and a visit to The Fells each offer a different focus.

Winter and summit experiences at Mount Sunapee

Mount Sunapee offers downhill skiing; the resort is located in Newbury. Skiing is seasonal. For specific ski days, check current operating status before planning your trip. Mount Sunapee State Park is also located in Newbury and in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region; it offers activities throughout the year. A 18-hole disc golf course is located at South Peak, and its summer operation may be seasonal. Skiing and disc golf therefore appeal in different seasons—a useful distinction if you are considering a stay outside the ski season.

There are also different ways to enjoy the summit: trails in Mount Sunapee State Park lead to the summit of Mount Sunapee, while an aerial tram ride offers access to viewpoints at the summit. The ride may operate seasonally. The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway also passes through the state park. The routes have different focuses: the Greenway is about traversing the park, while the other trails have Mount Sunapee itself as their specific destination.

Water activities and camping in the state park

For boating, Mount Sunapee State Park offers boat rentals and a boat launch. Restrictions apply to use of the launch; if you plan to use it, check the applicable conditions in advance. Boat rentals and access via the launch are separate aspects of a park visit.

The park also has a campground, offering family camping in a natural setting. Campsites include shelters and platforms. Camping in the state park focuses on camping and campsite amenities; when looking for accommodations for a stay that includes skiing at Mount Sunapee, the focus is instead on winter activities.

The Fells: woodland trails, gardens, and history

The Fells is located on a hillside in Newbury and offers views of Lake Sunapee. Three generations of the Hay family used the estate as a summer home. This history gives the site its cultural focus; visitors can also hike on the woodland trails. When planning, you can therefore consider a scenic visit and an interest in the estate’s history together, without equating them with the winter sports offerings at Mount Sunapee.

The Fells offers seasonal tours of its six gardens. The estate also includes a 22-room Colonial Revival-style house; house tours are tied to operating periods. The garden tours and house visits therefore have their own scheduling requirements. If these offerings are important to your stay, check current dates or operating periods in advance.

Choose a focus for your stay

Mount Sunapee State Park focuses on hiking, water activities, and camping; The Fells has a historical and scenic focus. Compare these themes based on the season of your trip and the activities that matter to you.

For the broader travel overview: Merrimack County.