RT Mount Washington

highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288.2 ft. with a cog railway, toll road and the Appalachian Trail crossing the summit

General Information

Hours:

Summit facilities are seasonal, typically open May through October, weather permitting
Mount Washington Auto Road generally operates daily from early May to early November with variable hours
Hiking access is available year‑round, conditions permitting

Fees:

Mount Washington State Park: No separate park entrance fee at the summit
Auto Road drive‑yourself toll: approx. $36 per adult, $15 per child (ages 4–12)
Cog Railway and guided tours priced separately

Pet Policy:

Pets are allowed when leashed in designated outdoor areas; pets are not permitted inside summit buildings or dining facilities

Closest cities with hotels:

Gorham, NH (8 mi)

Seasons:

Late spring through early fall for summit access; winter popular for snowcoach trips, snowshoeing, and alpine climbing

Location:

1598 Mount Washington Auto Road, Sargent’s Purchase, NH 03589

Website:

nhstateparks.org

How to Get There

From Gorham, NH (8 mi): Take NH Route 16 south toward Pinkham Notch and follow signs for the Mount Washington Auto Road, entering at the toll house and continuing up the scenic summit road.

Overview

Mount Washington (6,288 feet) in the Presidential Range is the highest peak in the Northeastern U.S., known for some of the world's worst weather. Almost all of it is in the White Mountain National Forest, with 60 acres around the summit in Mount Washington State Park. The Appalachian Trail crosses the summit.

Getting to the Top

Cog Railway: the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, running since 1869 up the western slope
Auto Road: climbs to the summit from the east side
Hiking: the most common route is the 4.1-mile Tuckerman Ravine Trail from Pinkham Notch, gaining 4,280 feet; Lakes of the Clouds Hut sits on a shoulder of the mountain

Highlights

Weather: famously erratic and severe, so check conditions and carry layers even in summer; the summit has no public facilities in winter
Tuckerman Ravine: steep bowl famous for Memorial Day skiing
Alpine Gardens and Great Gulf: rare alpine plants and the mountain's largest glacial cirque
Races: the Mount Washington Road Race in June and the Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb in August
History: Darby Field claimed the first ascent in 1642, the Crawford Path (1819) is the oldest continuously maintained hiking path in the U.S., and the Summit House hotel opened in 1852

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mount Washington", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0