THE 6288’ SUMMIT OF MOUNT WASHINGTON: “THE SECOND GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!”

That’s what P.T. Barnum proclaimed in 1869 after ARRIVING AT the top of the highest peak in the Northeast on the Mount Washington Cog Railway. High praise indeed coming from the man whose grand circus occupied the primary spot!

  • Today, more than 150 years after it first opened, The Cog continues to thrill visitors from across the globe with its dramatic ascent through three climate zones up to a rocky, subarctic tundra similar to that of far northern Canada.

    The three-hour round trip includes a one-hour layover at the top, plenty of time to explore the Sherman Adams Visitor Center and its rooftop observation deck, the Tip Top House (a mountaintop hostelry built in 1853, now a museum), an interactive weather exhibit, a cafeteria, and two gift shops. You can even send a card to friends and family with a unique Mount Washington post mark from the summit Post Office!

  • Conditions at 6288’ are quite a bit different from those at the base station, even in summer. Renowned as the Home Of The World’s Worst Weather, hurricane-force wind gusts occur on the summit an average of 110 days per year, but clear conditions reward visitors with unforgettable vistas from southern Quebec to the Atlantic Ocean 90 miles away. Regardless of the season, visitors should come prepared with warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear.

  • The Mount Washington Observatory, a working weather lab staffed 24/7/365 by a team of meteorologists, is also located in the visitor center. While not normally open to the public, guided weather station tours are available throughout the week, conveniently timed to coincide with our train schedule. To make a reservation, visit the Observatory’s website for complete details.

PRE-AND POST-SEASON SUMMIT TRIPS

May 3–23; October 20-26, 2025 (weather permitting)

Winter comes early and stays late at the summit of Mount Washington, and so do we!

  • Mount Washington enjoys a well-deserved reputation as being home to the “World’s Worst Weather”. Because of fierce conditions, the Mount Washington State Park summit facilities are closed for the winter from Columbus Day until just prior to Memorial Day weekend. Weather permitting, our first trips are scheduled to go the summit on May 3, 2025, several weeks prior to the official State Park facilities opening date.  At the other end of our season in late October, we will also attempt to reach the summit approximately one week after the Visitor Center closes. These pre- and post-season trips are a unique opportunity to safely experience an environment that only winter hikers and the summit’s resident meteorolgists and park rangers ever get to see.

  • The normal 1-hour layover at the summit is shortened to approximately 30-40 minutes for these trips. That’s plenty of time to visit the Observation Deck and to snap a picture at the summit marker. In the event that the Summit Building is not open for visitors, passengers may use the heated passenger coach as shelter from the weather. Portable restrooms are also available. 

  • As always, we strongly recommend that visitors to Mount Washington dress appropriately with warm clothing and sturdy footwear at any time of the year. It is ALWAYS colder and windier at the summit than at lower elevations. It goes without saying that it’s a good idea to leave your shorts and flip-flops back at the hotel, regardless of the conditions at the Base Station.