Tours and Guided Trips in Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Lake Sunapee is one of New Hampshire's great lakes, and the best way to understand it is with someone who knows the water. You can ride a narrated tour boat past islands and lighthouses, book a dinner cruise, or head out with a licensed fishing guide on the lake and the rivers around it. In the fall, licensed bird-hunting guides work the uplands nearby. This guide rounds up Lake Sunapee tours and guides in the Dartmouth-Sunapee region, with background on the lake so you know what you are looking at.

Lake Sunapee at a glance

Lake Sunapee sits in western New Hampshire, in Sullivan and Merrimack counties. It is the fifth-largest lake located entirely within the state. A few numbers help with the scale:

• About 8.1 miles long and from 0.5 to 2.5 miles wide.
• A maximum depth of 105 feet.
• Roughly 6.5 square miles of surface.
• About 70 miles of shoreline.
• Eleven islands.

The lake touches three towns: Sunapee, Newbury and New London. Its outlet is at Sunapee Harbor, where water flows west into the Sugar River and on to the Connecticut River.

The name comes from the Abenaki and Algonquin "Soo-Nipi," usually translated as "wild goose waters." The lake also gives its name to the Sunapee trout. The driving loop around the lake is about 25 miles, with many miles of water views, and the surface sits 1,093 feet above sea level.

The lighthouses

One reason a boat tour is worth it: Lake Sunapee has three lighthouses, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two you are likely to spot are the light on Loon Island, shown in our hero photo, and the Herrick Cove light. They are best seen from the water, and a narrated cruise is the easiest way to see them with context.

A short history of boating on the lake

Lake Sunapee became a popular vacation area after the B&M Railroad reached Newbury, long before the automobile. The steamboat era began when the Penacook, later renamed the Mountain Maid, started carrying passengers to Little Island, where an owner had put a bowling alley. The pilothouse from one of them, the Kearsarge, survives and is displayed at the Sunapee Historical Center.

Tour boats returned to the lake later in the century. The MV Mount Sunapee II, a 52-foot boat, was launched in 1965. The larger MV Kearsarge, 65 feet and named for the original steamship, was built and launched on the lake in 1970 as the Sunapee Belle, a replica of a Mississippi River boat that operated as a dinner boat. Riding one of today's boats is a small link to that long tradition.

Lake Sunapee Cruises

Lake Sunapee Cruises operates two boats on the lake:

• M.V. Mt. Sunapee II, which runs narrated scenic tours of the lake.
• M.V. Sunapee Lake Queen, a dinner boat.

The company also offers breakfast and dinner cruises and private charters, which work well for family reunions, birthdays and company outings. Narrated tours are the best first-time introduction to the lake: you see the islands, shoreline and lighthouses while a guide explains what you are passing. Check the company's website for the current schedule, as sailings vary by season and day.

Tip: Arrive early on busy summer days so you are not rushing to the boat.

Fishing guides

The lakes and rivers of the Dartmouth-Sunapee region offer a mix of still water and moving water. A guide can save you days of trial and error, and in New Hampshire you can check whether a guide is licensed. NH Fish and Game publishes a list of licensed fishing guides, and to appear on it a guide must hold a current New Hampshire guide license. All three fishing guides below appear on that list.

NH On The Fly

NH On The Fly is a licensed fishing guide listed in Claremont, west of the lake toward the Connecticut River. As the name suggests, it is a fit for anglers interested in fly fishing.

3D-Fishing Guides

3D-Fishing Guides is a licensed fishing guide based in Newport, a short drive south of the lake.

TBC Guides

TBC Guides is a licensed fishing guide based in Hanover, home to Dartmouth College at the north end of the region. It is a good option if you are combining a lake trip with a visit to the Upper Valley.

Before you go: Anyone fishing in New Hampshire who needs a license must have one, whether or not they are with a guide. Ask your guide what is required for your trip and buy your license ahead of time through NH Fish and Game.

Hunting guides

In the fall, the woods and fields around the lake draw upland bird hunters. NH Fish and Game also keeps a list of licensed hunting guides, with the same requirement of a current state guide license. Both guides below appear on that list.

Granite State Gun Dogs

Granite State Gun Dogs is a licensed hunting guide in Cornish, in the Connecticut River valley northwest of the lake. As the name suggests, the focus is on hunting with trained dogs.

Silver Lion Kennels

Silver Lion Kennels is a licensed hunting guide in Acworth, south and west of the lake.

Hunting seasons, licenses and rules are set by NH Fish and Game and change from year to year. Talk with your guide well ahead of time and confirm all requirements with the state.

Planning your day

A family day

Take a narrated cruise in the morning, then explore Sunapee Harbor. Families who want more time on the water can book a private charter for a group.

An angler's weekend

Book a guided day early in your trip, then use what you learn to fish on your own afterward. Splitting guides between still water and rivers gives you a feel for the whole region.

A fall trip

Pair a guided upland hunt with a scenic cruise if the boats are still running, and enjoy the foliage around the lake.

Tips for booking a guide

• Confirm the license. Check the NH Fish and Game lists before you book.
• Ask what is included. Equipment, transportation and meals vary by guide.
• Be honest about experience. A good guide adjusts the day to your skill level.
• Book early. Popular seasons fill quickly.
• Check the weather plan. Ask what happens if conditions are poor.

Being a good visitor on the lake

Lake Sunapee is a shared resource with year-round residents, summer camps and protected wildlife. Keep wakes low near shore and docks, pack out what you bring in, and clean, drain and dry boats and gear when moving between waters.

FAQ

Can you take a boat tour on Lake Sunapee?

Yes. Lake Sunapee Cruises runs narrated scenic tours on the M.V. Mt. Sunapee II, dinner cruises on the M.V. Sunapee Lake Queen, and private charters.

How many lighthouses are on Lake Sunapee?

Three, all on the National Register of Historic Places.

How big is Lake Sunapee?

About 8.1 miles long, with roughly 6.5 square miles of surface and about 70 miles of shoreline.

How do I know a fishing or hunting guide is licensed?

NH Fish and Game publishes lists of licensed fishing guides and licensed hunting guides. A guide must hold a current New Hampshire guide license to be listed.

Sources

• Lake Sunapee, Wikipedia (size, depth, elevation, shoreline, railroad, islands, towns, outlet, name, Sunapee trout, lighthouses, steamboats, tour boats): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sunapee
• Lake Sunapee Cruises official site (boats, narrated tours, dinner and breakfast cruises, charters): https://sunapeecruises.com/
• NH Fish and Game, Licensed NH Fishing Guides (NH On The Fly, 3D-Fishing Guides, TBC Guides; license requirement): https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/fishing-new-hampshire/licensed-nh-fishing-guides
• NH Fish and Game, NH Licensed Hunting Guides (Granite State Gun Dogs, Silver Lion Kennels): https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/nh-licensed-hunting-guides