Lake Sunapee

Lake Sunapee is located within Sullivan County and Merrimack County in western New Hampshire, the United States.

Photo by Arch Weathers

  • Is the fifth largest lake located in New Hampshire covering about 4,155 acres in area (1,681 hectares)

  • Is approximately 8.1 miles (13.0 km) long (north-south) and from 0.5 to 2.5 miles (0.8 to 4.0 km) wide (east-west), covering 6.5 square miles (17 sq. km)

  • Has a length to width ratio of about 4 to 1 and a water to land ratio of 6 to 1

  • Has a maximum depth of 112 feet (34.1 m)

  • Contains 11 islands - Loon Island, Elizabeth Island, Twin Islands (2), Great Island, Minute Island, Little Island, Star Island, Emerald (Burkehaven) Island, Isle of Pines and Penny Island

  • Is indented by several peninsulas and lake fingers

  • Has four public boat ramps and one private ramp open to the public to access the lake at Sunapee Harbor, Georges Mills, Mount Sunapee State Park, Burkehaven, and Blodgett Landing

  • Contains three lighthouses

  • Has a 25-mile (40km) driving distance around the lake with many miles of lake water view

  • Is 1,093 feet (333 m) above sea level

  • Has an outlet in Sunapee Harbor, the headway for the Sugar River, which flows west through Newport and Claremont to the Connecticut River and then to the Atlantic Ocean

Boat Ramps

There are four public boat ramps on Lake Sunapee and one private ramp open to the public to access the lake at Sunapee Harbor, Georges Mills, Mount Sunapee State Park (State Beach), Blodgett Landing and Burkehaven.  These ramps are staffed May through September with Lake Hosts who perform courtesy boat inspections looking for and removing any aquatic invasive species (AIS). Click here for a map of public ramps staffed by Lake Hosts.

Sunapee Harbor Dam

The Lake Sunapee Watershed serves as the headway for the Sugar River beginning downstream of the dam. The NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Dam Bureau maintains the Sunapee Harbor outlet dam which is used for flood control. Lake level, air temperature and precipitation is measured at the outlet. Click here to view the data. The Dam Bureau opens the gates of the dam in early October to lower the Lake's water level a few feet. Full draw down is usually reached by February or March to make room for spring runoff. Contact NH DES Dam Bureau at 603-271-3406, with any concerns.