The Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway (SRKG) is offering a series of exciting summer hikes in the Lake Sunapee region. The hikes, as always, offer a variety of terrain and conditions.
Please contact the hike leader in advance to get the details. All hikes are free and led by volunteers. Please be aware that some of the hikes are much more difficult than others, and participants are encouraged to evaluate their capabilities carefully before joining any group. Bring water and a snack, but please leave dogs at home.
The SRKG is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that maintains over 75 miles of hiking trails that circle Lake Sunapee and reach the summits of Mount Sunapee, Ragged Mountain, and Mount Kearsarge. For more information, go to srkg.org.
June 23 (Sunday) Summit Mount Kearsarge – the highest point on the Greenway.
Starting at Kearsarge Valley Road in Sutton, hike up onto Bear Mountain using the Lincoln Trail and on to the summit of Mount Kearsarge. The distance is about 10 miles round trip. The trail is difficult with significant elevation. There are excellent views. (D) Dave Gardner, 927-4033 budahbing@nullyahoo.com.
June 29 (Saturday) Start and finish at the Mount Sunapee parking lot using the Elliot ski trail to the Sunbowl access road to the rim trail connecting to the Newbury trail and then completing the rest of trail one going by Lake Solitude and down the Summit trail to the parking lot. (M/D) Four hours Andy Hager, 526-2846 andrew@nullhagerinvestments.com.
The Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition summer hikes are free to the public. Please call the volunteer hike leader to learn starting location and time. (E) Easy; (M) Moderate; (D) Difficult, Be prepared for summer conditions. Remember to bring water, bug and sun protection, snack and poles.
July Hikes
July 13 (Sat) Loop trail on Ragged Mountain partly on SRKG trail #9 over the summit of Ragged. Fine views. 5 miles. (M/D) Lee Carvalho 735-5719 / leecarvalho6@nullgmail.com.
July 21 (Sun) Easy loop trail to Clark Pond in New London. 1.5 mi.; 1 to 1.5 hours. Trail replete with plant and tree ID tags (E ) Dan Allen, 763-5320 /natanddan@nullmyfairpoint.net.
July 23 (Tue) Help move a short section of the Ragged Mountain trail! Bring your loppers and handsaws, or a shovel, ready for a 1.5 mi. climb from Proctor Academy to work site. (M/D) Gerry Gold 526-2857 /geecubed@nullyahoo.com.
August Hikes
Aug 3 (Sat) Explore the varied flora and views of trails on the Cook Easment in New London. 3 miles (M). Brian Faughnan/David Cook. 526-7838 / bwfaughnan@nullcomcast.com.
Aug 17 (Sat) “The Road Less Traveled Trip” to Pillsbury/Sunapee Highlands in Goshen and Newbury. Follow Goshen Historical Society trail to hstoric Franklin Pierce lead mine. Using snowmobile trails, we will join the Five Summers Trail to the Monadnock/Sunapee Greenway and Lucia’s Lookout. 6+- miles (M/D). Tom Lawton 863-6918 /telawton@nullyahoo.com.
Aug 18 (Sun) Easy historic Old Province Road walk from Ring Brook in Newbury to South Sutton and picnic at Sutton’s Old Home Day. 3.5 mi. Time: 2 hrs. (E) Sue Reel 927-4920. sreel@nulltds.net.
For SRKGC information go to www.srkg.com. SRK Greenway Trail Guides are available at local book stores. The SRK Greenway Coalition is an all-volunteer non-profit organization with members throughout the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge region and beyond.