Thru-Hiking The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

Looking for a mini New England thru-hike?  This post includes everything you need to know to hike the Monadnock-Sunappe Greenway!

What is the Mondanock-Sunapee Greenway?

The Monadnock-Sunappe Greenway, also known as The MSG or simply The Greenway, is a 48 mile trail in southern New Hampshire maintained by the Monadnock-Sunappe Greenway Trail Club.  As its name implies, the trail runs from the summit of Mount Monadnock to the summit of Mount Sunapee.  Along the way, the trail crosses some of the most beautiful areas in the southern portion of the state, including three state parks, quiet roadways, and a variety of private land.

How To Thru-Hike The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

When is the best time to hike the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway?

The best time of year to hike The Greenway is, of course, a matter of personal preference.  With the appropriate gear and backpacking skills, the trail can be hiked in any season.  Most hikers, however, choose summer or fall. We walked end-to-end in early August and had a great hike despite the heat.  If I were to hike the Greenway again, I would love to go in the fall to take advantage of the foliage and cooler temperatures.

How long does it take to hike the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway?

Typically, end-to-end hikers complete The Greenway in about four days.  Everyone’s pace is different, of course.  Trail runners have been known to complete the entire Greenway in a single day.  Personally, I would recommend allocating more time than you think you will need and taking the opportunity to explore, swim, pick blueberries, etc.  Our hike took six days but this included our travel to and from the trailheads as well as zero day to wait out a tropical storm.

Should I hike the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway northbound or southbound?

The MSG can be hiked in either direction.  We hiked northbound but many hikers prefer to hike south.  This allows them to end their hike on Mount Monadnock, the most scenic peak and most difficult climb on the trail.  The summit of Mount Sunapee is cluttered with buildings and ski lifts and the final leg of the trail is a gravel service road.  This did make for a bit of an anticlimactic finish but I was glad to leave the crowds on Monadnock behind early on.  Ultimately, your decision to hike northbound or southbound will most likely depend on trailhead transportation logistics (more about that below).

Trailhead Logistics:  Travel To and From TheMonadnock-Sunapee Greenway

The Southern Terminus of The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

The southern terminus of the MSG is at the top of Mount Monadnock in Mount Monadnock State Park in Jaffery, New Hampshire.  Mount Monadnock is said to be the second most climbed mountain in the world and has several trails to the summit.  The most popular are the White Dot and White Cross trails which each run about two miles from the parking area to the summit.  Parking at the state park is typically for day hikers and there is an entrance fee.  After calling ahead, however, we were able to purchase a single day pass but park for the duration of our Greenway hike.  During our hike, COVID19 restrictions were in place and parking was only available to those with advance reservations.  If you are interested in leaving a car at Mount Monadnock, I would highly recommend calling the park beforehand to speak to a ranger about current policies.

For hikers interested in camping near the trailhead, Gilson Pond Campground is also located within the state park.  Gilson Pond is a family campground with bathrooms and showers available.  The sites are wooded and many are fairly private.  They even have a few hike-in sites for backpackers.  The Birchcroft Trail begins within the campground and heads up the mountain.  Hikers can take Birchcroft Trail to Red Spot Trail to Pumpelly Trail to summit Monadnock and begin the MSG.  A free printable map of the trails on Mount Monadnock can be found here.  

In good weather, the 360 degree views atop Monadnock make for a spectacular beginning or end to a Greenway trip.  Hikers should be aware, however, that this summit tends to be a very busy place, especially on weekends,

The Northern Terminus of The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

The northern end of The Greenway is at the summit of Mount Sunapee.  Like Monadnock, Sunapee is located within a state park that also includes a small campground.  Sunapee, however, is also a ski resort.  At the summit of Mount Sunapee, the MSG meets the Summit Trail (also part of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway or SRKG) which descends in about two miles to the main parking area of the ski resort.  I have heard that it may also be possible to leave a car in this lot but would recommend calling the Mount Sunapee Ski Resort for more information.  

Both ends of the Greenway are in rural areas without public transportation.  We finished our hike at Mount Sunapee without an “exit plan” in place.  After attempting to request a ride and speaking to a few local day hikers, we found that Uber and Lyft are not reliable in the area.  We were, however, able to call a local cab company for a ride back to Mount Monadnock State Park.

Camping on The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

There are six campsites nicely spaced along the MSG.  All of the campsites include a lean-to style shelter except for the Fox Brook site which has a tent platform.  During our hike, we stopped at all six sites either to take a lunch break or stay the night and found all of them to be quite nice.  Each campsite has a privy and all of the shelters and tent platforms were well taken care of.  I carried a two-person tent on our hike and my husband carried a hammock.  Neither of us ever had trouble finding a spot to set up our shelter.  Backpackers should note that camping on the MSG is only allowed at designated sites and fires are not permitted.

Navigation on The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

The Greenway is marked from terminus to terminus with white blazes.  We found the trail to be very maintained and easy to navigate.  The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Club sells a trail map and guide book on their website and at a handful of local retailers.  There is also a Far Out (formerly Guthook) guide available for this trail.  We used the Far Out app in conjunction with the paper map on our hike and found both to be useful.  The MSGTC map is high quality, waterproof, and includes some interesting trail facts and history.

Water on The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

Unfortunately for thru-hikers, The Greenway is known for its lack of water.  We never went thirsty on our hike but we did quickly learn to fill up whenever we encountered a decent source.  In early August we found that any water source marked unreliable on the map or in the Far Out app was completely dry and hikers should be aware that not all campsites have reliable water.  The MSGTC recommends stashing water caches along the trail before your hike if possible.  Also, as a reminder, all water on The Greenway should be treated before drinking or using for cooking.

Resupply on The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

Most backpackers will hike the MSG without needing to resupply.  The Washington General Store, however, is a great place to stop for a treat or extra supplies.  Located in the town of Washington, about a third of a mile from General Washington Shelter, the general store sells snacks, beverages, trail maps, and enough grocery items to put together a few days’ resupply.  They also serve breakfast, lunch, and ice cream.  We enjoyed great breakfast sandwiches here after staying at the nearby shelter.

Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Highlights

The greenway offers more solitude than other more popular trails.  We hiked during prime backpacking season and camped alone almost every night.

The MSG is a great trail for hikers looking for a thru-hiking experience in a shorter time frame.

The trail packs a wide variety of experiences into under fifty miles.  The combination of summit views, beautiful forests, scenic backroads, and small New England villages showcases the very best of southern New Hampshire.

Have you hiked The Greenway?  Share your tips for future thru-hikers in the comments below!