Elevation: 6,288 feet (1,917 meters) Prominence: 6,138 feet (1,871 meters) Location: Pinkham's Grant, NH (Coös County, New Hampshire) Range: Presidential Range Coordinates: 44°16.13′North     71°18.12′West Rating: Difficult Features: Waterfalls, Cascades, Brooks, Lakes of the Clouds Hut + Lakes, 360 Degree Views, Peak Bagging Distance of highlighted hike below: 9.5 miles

Mount Washington is a 6,288 foot mountain in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains. It is the highest mountain (in both elevation and prominence) in New Hampshire, as well as New England. The worlds highest wind gusts were recorded at the summit on April 12, 1934 at a whopping 231 miles per hour! The main building was built to withstand wind gusts of up to 300 mph, while the other structures on the summit are chained down right into the mountain. The weather at the summit and along trails leading up to it can change in an instant, so if you plan on being on the summit, via hiking, riding the cog train or driving, dress appropriately and bring extra clothes.

		Mt. Washington Weather Averages + Records
		Average high temperature	33.9° f
		Average low temperature	20.4° f
		Record high temperature	72° f
		Record low temperature	-50° f
		Average precipitation	101 in
		Average precipitation days/year	215
		Average snowfall	311 in
		Average snowfall days/year	125

Observation Deck on Mount Washington. September 11, 2010.

The map below shows how to get to the summit of Mount Washington, as well as the Lakes of the Clouds Hut and Lakes via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail with the Jewell Trail as a loop hike.

Begin at the Marshfield Station Parking Lot off Base Road in Pinkham's Grant, New Hampshire on the Ammonoosuc Raving Trail. Follow for 1.0 miles until you reach a junction. Left will take you back to the parking lot, and right / straight will continue up the trail. Continue straight / right up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail for 2.1 miles until you reach the Lakes of the Clouds Hut and lakes. From the hut, take the Crawford Trail towards the left for 1.5 miles until you reach the summit of Mount Washington. You will come to a junction 0.9 miles after the hut with the West Side Trail and Davis Path, but stay on the Crawford Path to reach the summit.

To descend down the Jewell Trail, begin on the Great Gulf Trail from the summit. Hike roughly 0.3 miles until you reach the Jewell Trail junction. Continue down for 0.5 miles until you reach a junction with the West Side Trail. Continue straight / right for 0.4 miles until you reach another junction with the Gulfside Trail. Stay left to continue down the Jewell Trail for 3.7 miles until you reach the parking lot.

Click to download PDF Trail Map of Mount Washington

The parking lot for this hike is located at the Marshfield Station parking area in Pinkham's Grant, New Hampshire (where the Cog Railway begins).

If you are traveling North on I-93
Take I-93 North or I-293 North through Franconia Notch Parkway to Exit 35, Route 3N. Take Route 3N for approximately 10-12 miles to Twin Mountain, NH. Follow Route 302E for five miles to Bretton Woods, NH. Turn left at Fabyan's Station Restaurant onto the Base Road. Continue six miles on Base Road to the Cog Base Station / Marshfield Station parking lot.

If you are traveling South on I-93
Take Route 302W to Bretton Woods, NH. Turn right at Fabyan's Station Restaurant onto the Base Road. Continue six miles on Base Road to the Cog Base Station / Marshfield Station parking lot.

Mount Washington From Mount Eisenhower. June 19, 2010.

The Cog Railway has provided tourists with a train journey to the summit of Mount Washington since 1869. It was the world's first mountain-climbing Cog Railway Train and uses a Marsh rack system. This slow train allows riders to view the incredible views of Mount Washington and its surrounding Mountains along the steepest railroad tracks in North America.

Directions to the Cog Railway
From Boston, MA and Manchester, NH
• Take I-93 North or I-293 North through Franconia Notch Parkway to Exit 35, Route 3N.
• Take Route 3N for roughly 10-12 miles to Twin Mountain, NH.
• Follow Route 302E for five miles to Bretton Woods, NH.
• Turn left at Fabyan's Station Restaurant onto the Base Road.
• Continue six miles on Base Road to the Cog Base Station.

From Portland, ME
• Take Route 302W to Bretton Woods, NH.
• Turn right at Fabyan's Station Restaurant onto the Base Road.
• Continue six miles on Base Road to the Cog Base Station.

From New York, NY and Hartford, CT
• Take I-95 North to I-91 North.
• Take I-91 North to I-93 South, Follow I-93 to Exit 40.
• Follow Route 302E roughly 15 miles to Bretton Woods, NH.
• Turn left at Fabyan's Station Restaurant onto the Base Road.
• Continue six miles on Base Road to the Cog Base Station.

From Montreal, Québec
• Take Auto Route 10E to Auto Route 55S.
• Take Auto Route to I-91 South.
• Take I-91 South to I-93 South, Follow I-93 to Exit 40.
• Follow Route 302E roughly 15 miles to Bretton Woods, NH.
• Turn left at Fabyan's Station Restaurant onto the Base Road.
• Continue six miles on Base Road to the Cog Base Station.

Drive into the clouds on New England's tallest mountain with your own car up Mount Washington!

On this page: Information | Trail maps | View Photos | Driving Directions | Cog Railway | Auto Road
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