Trails / New Hampshire / Southern New Hampshire

Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

Monadnock State Park to Mount Sunapee State Park (Jaffrey to Newbury), mostly private land

The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway links two southern New Hampshire summits, Mount Monadnock (3,165 feet) and Mount Sunapee (2,743 feet), with about 49 miles of trail, old farm roads, and short road walks. The volunteer Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Club maintains it, mostly across private land.

Wikipedia traces the idea to a 1919 proposal by a former Appalachian Mountain Club president; the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests laid out the original trail in 1921, and it was re-established after a 1974 study.

The hike

SectionHiker’s trip plan describes the route south to north, from Monadnock’s summit to Sunapee’s, in three to five days. From Monadnock, the first shelter, Spiltoir, comes at about mile 6.1, with Howe Reservoir just beyond. Kaleb, a hiker whose 2024 account is posted on the trail club’s site, climbed the White Dot Trail and reached Spiltoir about 8 miles from the start.

North of Spiltoir, the Greenway passes through the village of Nelson (about mile 12.6), where SectionHiker notes there is no store, and continues to Crider Shelter at about mile 18. Pitcher Mountain (2,153 feet) is next, followed by a blueberry ridge to Hubbard Hill that Kaleb describes as a highlight. The Fox Brook tent platform comes at about mile 24.7, and Jackson Hill, Oak Hill, and the village of Washington follow; SectionHiker mentions the Washington General Store for resupply. General Washington Shelter is at about mile 31.3.

Kaleb calls the climb of Lovewell Mountain (2,473 feet) one of the hardest of the trip. Max Israel Shelter sits on a spur near mile 37.3, and Steve Galpin Shelter, at Moose Lookout, is near mile 42.5. The last stretch climbs onto Sunapee Ridge past Lucia’s Lookout and Lake Solitude, the last water, then over the White Ledges to the summit of Mount Sunapee at about mile 48. The descent to the trailhead at the ski area adds about 2 miles, according to Kaleb.

The Greenway connects with longer trails: Wikipedia says the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail continues south from Monadnock and the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway continues north from Sunapee. SectionHiker suggests a shorter overnight on the northern section, from Sunapee to the Halfmoon Pond boat launch in Washington.

Tips

Treat all water, and carry extra in dry spells; the club says no source on the Greenway is safe untreated.
Bring a stove. The club bans wood and charcoal fires on the trail.
Leave dogs at home if starting on Monadnock; pets aren’t allowed in the state park.
Use road crossings to bail or resupply, as Kaleb did.
Respect private land. The club says most landowner agreements are revocable.

Camping

No permit is needed. The trail club says to camp only in designated areas, which its guide describes and signs mark, and that sites aren’t guaranteed to be empty. SectionHiker lists the sites as free and first come, first served, each with a pit toilet: Spiltoir Shelter, Crider Shelter (on a 0.2-mile spur), the Fox Brook tent platform (one platform for four or five tent campers), General Washington Shelter (no tent space), Max Israel Shelter, and Steve Galpin Shelter. Kaleb’s account describes the lean-tos as fairly new, about six-person, three-sided shelters with composting toilets.

Monadnock State Park says camping on the mountain is against state law and allowed only in its designated campground sites. Wikipedia says fires on the Greenway are allowed only in established rings at state park campgrounds.

Inside Intel: Kaleb’s 2024 account singles out Spiltoir Shelter as being in great shape and calls Max Israel Shelter a good stop with room for a tent nearby. He found Crider Shelter empty and without cell service.

Trail facts

Distance: About 49 miles end to end (trail club); about 53 to 55 with approach trails
Route type: Point to point
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Campsites: Spiltoir (about mile 6.1), Crider (18.1), Fox Brook tent platform (24.7), General Washington (31.3), Max Israel (37.3), Steve Galpin (42.5); mileages from SectionHiker
Water: Ponds, streams, and springs of varying quality; can be scarce in dry spells
Permits: None
Fires: Not allowed on the trail; stoves only
Dogs: Not permitted in Monadnock State Park; leashed in Mount Sunapee State Park (Trail Finder)
Trailheads: Monadnock State Park (Jaffrey); Mount Sunapee State Park and ski area (Newbury)
Last verified: October 11, 2026

The Lowdown

Shelter floors from Spiltoir to Steve Galpin:

Most Greenway camps are three-sided shelters, and Fox Brook is a single tent platform. Our side-sleeper tips cover thicker pads, knee pillows, and roomier bags.

See the tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.