Sunday River Hiking Trails

Sunday River ski resort has created a system of well-marked hiking and mountain biking trails across its vast ski area. The trails encompass the summits of three major mountains — Barker Mountain, Black Mountain and Merrill Hill. I recommend you bring a print-out of the official ski trail map, or use a digital map, because it can at times be a bit difficult  at times to follow the right route, considering you might be navigating a labyrinth of alpine ski trails. (Also the resort map uses a set of different names for its mountain peaks, which can cause slight bewilderment.)

If you choose to do one of the three major loops you can see on my Google map, anticipate a four- to six-mile round-trip. Check out the ski mountain’s map of hiking trails.

While many of the hiking trails follow gravel roads up and down the ski trails, there is a great hiking loop on the east side of the mountain, departing from the parking lot of the Grand Summit Hotel, that brings you to the peak of Barker Mountain.

The ~4-mile Barker Mountain Loop, following the Tower Line Trail to the White Cap Summit Trail: By Sam Shirley

Although not a long hike, the climb up Barker Mountain is steep and rewarding. The views rival anything else in the Mahoosucs, and you are unlikely to see anyone else out on the trails. The Tower Line Trail is a great addition to the trail network, making an attractive ~4-mile loop over Barker possible.

Leaving from the Grand Summit Hotel, the Tower Line Trail mostly follows ski trails for a short distance, traversing across the mountain, before heading into the woods. Immediately after entering the woods, the trail gets unrelentingly steep as it climbs through mossy forest along a brook with near constant cascades. It is my absolute favorite kind of trail and we never got tired of the endless variations of waterfalls that we saw.

As the trail approaches the summit, the steepness continues and it reaches two pitches that have ropes to assist hikers up the steep slabs, which have few hand/footholds. There are a few more short scrambles as the trail reaches the Summit Traverse and the top of Barker Mountain (2,581 feet). Poking around the summit, you can find outstanding views in every direction from areas of open ledge.

From Barker, you continue west along the ridge traverse, following jeep tracks and a bit of single-track, to take in more views before your descent. Or, you can head east across the ridge on the Summit Traverse to a subpeak (White Cap), which offers another excellent viewpoint. The viewpoint is a short distance south of the trail on a spur, and has a sturdy granite bench with 360° views. From this spot, the White Mountains, Oxford Hills, Weld area, and the Mahoosuc Range are all visible.

From here, you can head down the White Cap Summit Trail, which follows what is essentially a fall-line route to where it joins up with the Summit Hotel Loop.

Jordan Bowl: On the western other side of the mountain, you can hike up to 3,093-foot Jordan Bowl, which is a beautiful spot to take in north and western views. The options I found for hiking up to this point are to take the steep 1.2-mile B Trail along a ski run, or the slightly more gradual but still arduous K Trail along the Western Traverse. I chose to get the steep bit out of the way first. At least it’s short.

Jordan Loop Trail: Starting from Jordan Hotel (or rather, behind the hotel, close to the fire pit), you can make a couple of loops, one of them a moderately easy ~1.25 hike that doesn’t gain too much elevation and mostly affords views through trees. The other is a ~2.5-mile moderately challenging loop to a platform with a lovely view west. You can also cut over via a spur trail to the ski slopes and hike to Jordan Bowl, for more great views. 

Directions: From Route 2 in Bethel, take Sunday River Road to the ski resort. You can pick up the hiking trails at any of the lodges or hotels. I began at Barker Lodge and Jordan Hotel, for instance, on two different days. All the trails are marked with a little hikers sign and their letter, or blazes. Perhaps the easiest place to begin is at the Grant Summit Hotel, since the trail starts at the far end of the parking lot. If you’re parking at Jordan Hotel, leave your vehicle in the guest parking lot, climb the stairs and head to the back of the hotel. The hotel staff is very friendly, though, if you pop in and say you’re hiking, they’ll direct you through the hotel and out to the fire pit, where you’ll see a little hiker sign indicating the trail.