Mt. Washington Auto Road

Mt. Washington Auto Road Review

Opened in 1861, this route begins at the Glen House, a gift shop and rest stop 15 mi north of Glen on Route 16, and winds its way up the east side of the mountain, ending at the top, a 7.5-mi and approximately half-hour drive later. At the summit is the Sherman Adams Summit Building, built in 1979 and containing a visitor center and a museum focusing on the mountain's geology and extreme weather conditions; you can stand in the glassed-in viewing area to hear the wind roar. The Mt. Washington Observatory is at the building's western end. Rules limit what cars may use the road. For instance, cars with automatic transmission must be able to shift down into first gear. A guided bus tour is available or you can reach the top along several rough hiking trails; those who hoof it can make the return trip via shuttle, tickets for which are sold at the Stage Office, at the summit at the end of the cog railway trestle. Remember that the temperature atop Mt. Washington will be much colder than down below—the average year-round is below freezing, and the average wind velocity is 35 mph.