Mount Washington Cog Railway
The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway has hauled passengers up Mount Washington since 1869. Three miles of rack track, grades that top 37 percent, and a 6,288-foot summit above the trees.
New Hampshire
White Mountains & Mount Washington
New Hampshire's White Mountains are the rare destination where you can ride a cog railway built in 1869 to the roof of the Northeast, drive a notch carved by glaciers, and be back for a village dinner with a mountain view.
This guide covers the Cog Railway and the Auto Road to Mount Washington's 6,288-foot summit, the Conway Scenic Railroad through Crawford Notch, the Flume Gorge and Cannon tramway in Franconia Notch, the Kancamagus Highway and North Conway, plus family parks, tastings and guided days. It then pairs them with eight places to stay, from the Omni Mount Washington Resort's grand-hotel veranda to condo bases at Loon and village inns, so the sights and the bed fit together.
Don't miss
Mount Washington Cog Railway
The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway has hauled passengers up Mount Washington since 1869. Three miles of rack track, grades that top 37 percent, and a 6,288-foot summit above the trees.
Mount Washington Auto Road
The Road to the Sky: 7.6 miles from Pinkham Notch to the 6,288-foot summit, driven yourself or in a guided van. America's oldest man-made tourist attraction, and the bumper sticker is the souvenir.
Conway Scenic Railroad
Vintage trains from North Conway's 1874 Victorian depot, with a short Valley Train and the full Notch Train through Crawford Notch, over Frankenstein Trestle and the Willey Brook Bridge.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
North America's first passenger aerial tramway, opened in 1938, lifts you about 2,000 feet to a 4,080-foot summit in five minutes, with views of Franconia Ridge, Mount Washington and the Green Mountains.
Things to do in White Mountains & Mount Washington
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Mount Washington Auto Road
The Road to the Sky: 7.6 miles from Pinkham Notch to the 6,288-foot summit, driven yourself or in a guided van. America's oldest man-made tourist attraction, and the bumper sticker is the souvenir.
Mount Washington Summit and Observatory
6,288 feet of Northeast summit, a weather station that recorded the fastest surface wind ever measured by humans, and a museum in the clouds. Reach it by rail, road or boots.
Conway Scenic Railroad
Vintage trains from North Conway's 1874 Victorian depot, with a short Valley Train and the full Notch Train through Crawford Notch, over Frankenstein Trestle and the Willey Brook Bridge.
The Flume Gorge
A granite chasm about 800 feet long with walls 70 to 90 feet high, explored by boardwalk past waterfalls, glacial boulders and a covered bridge at the foot of Mount Liberty in Franconia Notch State Park.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
North America's first passenger aerial tramway, opened in 1938, lifts you about 2,000 feet to a 4,080-foot summit in five minutes, with views of Franconia Ridge, Mount Washington and the Green Mountains.
Franconia Notch State Park
Eight miles of granite-walled notch between the Kinsman and Franconia ranges: the Basin, Profile Lake, Echo Lake, a bike path and the Old Man of the Mountain memorial, all along Interstate 93.
Kancamagus Highway Scenic Drive
Route 112 runs 34.5 miles between Conway and Lincoln over the 2,855-foot Kancamagus Pass, with waterfalls, covered bridges, overlooks and no gas stations. New England's most famous foliage drive.
2 to 5 hoursDetails →
Kancamagus Highway Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour
A GPS-triggered audio guide that narrates the Kancamagus Highway as you drive: logging history, waterfalls, geology and the stops worth making, at your own pace.
Crawford Notch and Arethusa Falls
Route 302 climbs through a glacial notch past Silver Cascade, the Willey House site and the trailheads for Arethusa Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the state, and the Mount Willard overlook.
Half a dayDetails →
Loon Mountain Resort Gondola Skyride
Lincoln's ski resort doubles as a summer playground: a gondola ride to the 3,000-foot summit with views toward the Franconia Ridge, plus adventure activities, hiking and a summit cafe.
North Conway Village and Cranmore Mountain
The Mount Washington Valley's base camp: a walkable village with the Victorian depot, outlet and independent shops, restaurants, and Cranmore Mountain's family adventure park and ski slopes.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Omni Mount Washington Resort
Bretton Woods
The white-and-red-roofed Spanish Renaissance grand hotel of 1902, where the 1944 Bretton Woods monetary conference met, with Presidential Range views, golf, spa, skiing and the Cog Railway down the road.
Check rates →Eastern Slope Inn Resort
North Conway Village
A long-running Main Street resort in the center of North Conway, a short walk from shops, restaurants and the railroad depot, with Cranmore Mountain just up the road.
Check rates →Red Jacket Mountain View Resort
North Conway (Route 16)
A big family resort on Route 16 with an indoor water park, which makes it the rainy-day favorite for North Conway trips with kids.
Check rates →White Mountain Hotel and Resort
West Side Road, North Conway
A resort on the quiet west side of the valley, beneath the cliffs of White Horse Ledge and close to Cathedral Ledge, with golf, pool and trail access.
Check rates →The Village of Loon Mountain
Lincoln (Loon Mountain)
Condo-style lodging at the base of Loon Mountain in Lincoln, with kitchens, room to spread out and quick access to the gondola, the Kancamagus Highway and Franconia Notch.
Check rates →Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain
Lincoln (Loon Mountain)
Riverside condo-style lodging in Lincoln near Loon Mountain and the start of the Kancamagus Highway, with balcony units, mountain views and room for a family.
Check rates →Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery
North Woodstock
A historic inn in North Woodstock with a brewery and restaurant on the ground floor, a short drive from Franconia Notch, Lincoln and the Flume Gorge.
Check rates →The Franconia Inn
Franconia
A country inn on the edge of Franconia, a quiet base for Franconia Notch, Cannon Mountain and the Robert Frost country of the northern White Mountains.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Mount Washington Cog RailwayStay
Omni Mount Washington ResortBretton Woods
Do
Mount Washington Auto RoadStay
Eastern Slope Inn ResortNorth Conway Village
Do
Conway Scenic RailroadStay
Red Jacket Mountain View ResortNorth Conway (Route 16)
White Mountains & Mount Washington guides
The White Mountains First-Timers Guide
How the White Mountains fit together: the three bases, the signature sights, how much driving to expect and what to book ahead.
Where to Stay in the White Mountains
A comparison of North Conway, Lincoln, North Woodstock, Bretton Woods and Franconia as bases, with the hotels that suit each.
Three Days in the White Mountains
A three-day plan that links Mount Washington, Franconia Notch, the Kancamagus Highway and North Conway without constant backtracking.
White Mountains Fall Foliage Guide
When the leaves turn, the best drives and viewpoints, how to avoid crowds and what to book early for the peak weeks.
Mount Washington: Cog Railway, Auto Road or Hike
How to choose between the Cog Railway, the Auto Road and hiking to the summit of Mount Washington, with weather and timing tips.
The White Mountains with Kids
Family-friendly attractions, easy hikes, rainy-day plans and where to stay for a White Mountains trip with children.
