Sargent’s Purchase, New Hampshire – Mt. Washington

Things to know:

• Summit accessible by toll road, paid bus or paid railway.
• Spectacular roadway and summit views. Observatory, cafeteria, gift shop, and visitor’s center at summit.
• Caution: Road is extremely steep, narrow, and winding without guard rails or shoulders in many areas.
• The summit is extremely windy. Wind speeds average 35 mph, with an all-time, non-hurricane record wind of 231 mph recorded in 1934.
• A must see if you’re in New Hampshire. Rural area.
• Dog friendly. Dogs not allowed inside facilities at summit.

We ventured to Mt. Washington from our cabin in southwestern New Hampshire. Before setting out, we reviewed the options for reaching the top of Mt. Washington, and decided to drive our own SUV to the 6,288 foot summit. You can reach the top in one of 3 ways:

• Drive your own vehicle on a toll-road;
• Pay to take a bus over the same toll-road;
• Pay to ride the famous Mt. Washington Cog Railway, which offers a 3-hour, narrated round-trip ride to the top and back.

A word of caution: If you plan to drive, know that the road may be more challenging than you expect, even for experienced mountain drivers. It’s not for the faint of heart. Drive slowly and stay focused.

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The first 1/3 of the trip to the summit is relatively easy driving. At around 2 to 3 miles, the road begins to transform: It narrows; roadside vegetation gives way to rocky outcroppings; shoulders begin to disappear; and the ascent grows noticeably steeper.

Midway up, there is a mile-long section where pavement is replaced by packed dirt and gravel, and the road is barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass. The picture above provides some sense of this section, but no picture does full justice to the steepness, narrowness, and abruptness of roadside drop-offs. If you do elect to drive, take comfort knowing that there are numerous pull-out areas where vehicles can exit, and if need be, turn around.

At the summit, you’re greeted with ruggedly spectacular terrain and, weather willing, jaw-dropping views.  As we traversed the summit’s rugged, weather-worn rock outcroppings, we felt almost as though we’d been transported to an entirely different world. Truly worth the trip up the mountain.

At the top you’ll also find the Sherman Adams Visitor Center, a cafeteria and gift shop, restrooms, and the Mount Washington Observatory. The historic Tip-Top house is next to the visitors center. Because of the extreme weather variations, these facilities are not open year-round, and we’d suggest checking the New Hampshire State Park website before you go.

Recommendation: If you’re traveling to New Hampshire and have a love for truly spectacular, natural beauty, don’t miss Mt. Washington. Though not quite as tall as Mt. Mitchell or Clingman’s Dome in North Carolina and Tennessee, the views are arguably more impressive due to the lack of tree line obstruction and the extent to which Mt. Washington towers over the surrounding terrain. Based on our experience, it may be worth considering taking a bus or the railway to the summit. The drive can be more nerve racking that one might expect, and had we fully appreciated that, we might have opted not to drive. The terrain at the top is incredibly raw and rocky – almost other-worldly. With clear skies, views are outstanding, and food can be had at the summit’s cafeteria. Dogs are allowed outside on leashes at the summit, but cannot enter the buildings. The cafeteria, observatory, and gift shop are closed for a good portion of the year due to inclement weather, and travel access to the summit is seasonal as well. Check before you go, but don’t miss Mt. Washington when in New Hampshire.