Trails on Sullivan County lands lead to Sam's Overlook, where on clear days the view reaches all the way to Vermont. This viewpoint sets the tone for a region where forests and wetlands, river trails and cultural sites offer a wide range of discoveries.
Trails Between Forest and Viewpoints
In Unity, Sullivan County has more than 2,100 acres of undeveloped land with forests, fields, streams, wetlands and mountain views. Hiking, fishing, gardening and snowmobiling are permitted on designated trails on County lands. The Unity Mountain Trail combines outdoor activity with insights into the County’s cultural and natural history. This four-mile hiking and walking trail leads to a viewpoint near its summit; birds and other wildlife are often spotted along the way.
The trails differ clearly in length and character, making it easy to choose a shorter or longer outing: The Glidden Ridge Trail is a moderate, two-mile route through northern hardwood and hemlock forest. A viewpoint offers mountain vistas. The Barrette Trail, by contrast, is an easy half-mile loop that runs alongside wetlands and through an old spruce-fir forest. Together, they offer a short loop with changing scenery and a longer hiking route rated moderate.
The Sugar River Recreational Rail Trail runs for nine miles between Newport and Claremont alongside the Sugar River; two historic covered bridges are among the route’s notable landmarks. In Claremont, the Sugar River Rail Trail is suitable for hiking, biking and birdwatching. Horseback riding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also possible activities on the rail trail. The combination of the river and historic bridges offers a different way to experience the landscape than the forest trails near Unity.
Art, History and a Special Harvest Season
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park is located on the Connecticut River, north of the town of Cornish in Sullivan County. It preserves the home, studios and gardens of artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The park includes more than 120 original sculptures and the world’s largest collection of his works. The buildings are open Thursday through Monday. Art lovers will find a tangible connection here between the artist’s preserved work and living spaces and an extensive collection.
Claremont Opera House is also a historic venue, hosting theater, concerts and community events. Fort at No. 4 offers another way to engage with history: its educational field trip program includes guided and self-guided tours that illustrate life in Charlestown in the years before and during the French and Indian War.
In Unity, Sullivan County’s Public Cidery is available by appointment from September through October for apple cider pressing. Volunteers explain the process to visitors. The pressing takes about an hour and a half and includes washing, grinding and pressing the apples, filling jugs and helping to clean the equipment. This seasonal event combines a hands-on experience with insights into the production process.
Activities Throughout the Seasons
Mount Sunapee State Park offers year-round recreational activities, including alpine skiing at Mt. Sunapee Resort. The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway and Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway pass through the park. The two routes connect at Lake Solitude; in the park, they continue via the Summit Trail and Province Trail to Goshen. For hikers, it’s not just the individual trail that matters, but also the connections between several named routes.
More seasonal and sporting opportunities are available at Arrowhead Recreation Area, which offers seasonal skiing, snow tubing, hiking with views of the town and a downhill mountain biking trail. Moody Park has mountain biking trails for riders ranging from beginners to advanced. Along Lake Sunapee, which lies between Sullivan County and Merrimack County, seven sandy beaches and six boat ramps extend along eight miles of shoreline.
Claremont also offers a convenient rail connection: it is home to the only Amtrak station on New Hampshire’s western border where the Vermonter stops. If you plan to use the train for your trip, check the schedule in advance, as schedules may change.
Discover more destinations: Claremont, Sunapee, Acworth, Cheshire, Carroll, Belknap, Grafton, Rockingham.
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