Mount Washington Auto Road

The Mount Washington Auto Road is a 7.6-mile private toll road from Route 16 in Pinkham Notch to the summit of the highest mountain in the Northeast, and it has been taking visitors to the top since before the Civil War. Drive it yourself in a passenger vehicle, or let a driver-guide take the wheel in a Mount Washington Auto Road van while narrating the geology, weather and history on the way up. Either way the rise is the story: more than 4,000 feet of climbing on a road that averages a 12 percent grade, past the treeline lookouts, the Lakes of the Clouds views, the Alpine Garden and the final switchbacks to the Sherman Adams summit building. The road is open from late spring to fall, weather permitting, and it closes without warning when the summit is socked in. Drivers who want the full experience can buy the famous This Car Climbed Mount Washington bumper sticker at the base. Guided vans take the stress out of driving and leave your eyes free for the view, which is often the more rewarding way to see it, especially for people nervous about the drop-offs. A narrated trip costs more than driving yourself but includes the driver's commentary, and it can include a stop above treeline for photos.

The road's own history is part of the appeal. Built as a carriage road in the 1850s and opened in 1861, it predates the automobile, and the Climb to the Clouds hillclimb race first ran in 1904, making it one of the oldest motorsport events in America.

Today the Mount Washington Hillclimb returns each August, and the road also hosts bike climbs, foot races and sunrise tours on selected dates. Great Glen Trails at the base adds hiking, mountain biking and a visitor center, and the road is the usual starting point for guided sightseeing and photography tours.

Driving it yourself is straightforward for confident drivers but demands care: the road is mostly paved with a gravel stretch, with steep drop-offs and no guardrail in many places. Descend in low gear so you do not cook your brakes, and give the car a break at the pullouts. Convertibles, trailers and large vehicles are limited, and conditions at the summit can differ completely from the base, so check road status and the summit forecast before you set out.

Plan two to three hours for the round trip with time at the summit. A clear day gives views across five states; a cloudy day gives you wind, fog and the strange feeling of driving into the sky. Pair the drive with the Cog Railway (the two together are the classic Mount Washington day), with a short stop at the Observatory museum and with the Peabody Brook and Glen Ellis falls drives on Route 16.

The base area on the Gorham side is quiet, easy to reach from North Conway in about forty minutes, and well worth early arrival before the summit warms into crowds.

Think about timing the descent as carefully as the climb. Many visitors spend an hour at the summit and then rush down, but the return is where the road shows its character: you look straight out over the Great Gulf with the engine in low gear, and the pullouts below treeline are the best places to stop for photographs without blocking traffic. Families with young children often prefer the guided van because the driver handles the curves and can point out the Alpine Garden, a patch of rare arctic plants clinging to the slope.

If you plan to hike one of the summit trails, ask at the base about the weather outlook and trail conditions, since the road and trails can change in an afternoon. A good rule of thumb is to treat the mountain like a small expedition: bring water, snacks, a full tank of gas and a layer for every season, then enjoy a place where the weather really does make the rules.