Mount Sunapee Issues Winter Advisory with Expanded Parking and Safety Guidance

Mount Sunapee State Park is continuing winter programming and issuing a seasonal advisory to help residents and visitors navigate beach access, trail use, and parking during colder months. Park managers are offering expanded boat-trailer and overflow parking this season to accommodate higher demand, while recommending use of designated trailhead parking areas for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Permitted winter activities at the park include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; visitors are reminded to check trail conditions before you go and to bring microspikes or snowshoes as appropriate for conditions. Sign in at trailhead registers if present so park staff and emergency responders can account for hikers on the mountain. The park’s Friends organization highlights best practices for responsible winter recreation: pack a map, tell someone your plan, carry extra layers and a headlamp. The group also asks that visitors respect closures and posted signage to protect fragile winter habitat and to avoid costly and dangerous emergency rescues.

For Sullivan County residents, the advisory carries multiple public health and community implications. Winter recreation supports physical and mental health for many local families and older adults, but icy or poorly prepared outings can quickly strain volunteer search-and-rescue teams and local emergency medical services. By checking conditions, carrying appropriate traction devices, and signing registers when available, visitors reduce the likelihood of injuries that could otherwise divert limited county healthcare resources.

Expanded parking can improve equitable access to outdoor recreation by accommodating trailers and overflow vehicles that previously struggled to find space, but it also brings challenges for traffic flow and trailhead crowding. Park managers and the Friends organization underscore the need for all visitors to follow posted directions and leave no trace, balancing greater access with stewardship of sensitive winter landscapes and wildlife habitat.

The advisory aims to preserve safe, reliable access to Mount Sunapee’s trails and beachfront while minimizing emergency incidents and environmental damage. Residents planning outings should treat winter trails with greater caution than summer routes, prepare for rapidly changing conditions, and keep others informed of plans. Observing these measures helps protect both people and place, sustaining the park as a resource for the Sullivan County community throughout the winter season.