Visitor Information
Mount Washington Observatory operates in two locations:
- On the summit of Mount Washington:
– Weather Station
– Mount Washington Museum - In North Conway Village:
– Weather Discovery Center
– Administrative Offices
VISITING US ON MOUNT WASHINGTON:
Summer Visits
Our weather station and museum are located inside the Mt. Washington State Park Visitor Center, which is open during the mountain's "summer" operating season. Generally mid-May through mid-October, "summer" is defined as whenever the summit is accessible by car, train, or foot.
Access by Car:
Mt. Washington Auto Road: This privately-owned toll road ascends the east side of Mount Washington, departing from Route 16 in Pinkham Notch.
Access by Train:
Mt. Washington Cog Railway: This privately-owned historic cog railroad ascends the west side of Mount Washington, departing from Route 302 in Crawford Notch.
Access by Foot:
A number of rugged, scenic hiking trails ascend to the summit of Mount Washington. For trail information and advice, we recommend contacting the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). Maps and guidebooks may be purchased in our online shop, and guide services are available through several local outdoor schools. See our "Backcountry Resources" links at right for more information about hiking Mount Washington.
Winter Visits
When the Cog Railway and Auto Road close for winter, usually from mid-October to mid-May, the Mt. Washington State Park also closes and no facilities are available. The only way to access the peak during this time is via foot, or an Observatory snow cat trip.
Mount Washington Observatory DayTrips
Mount Washington Observatory Overnight EduTrips
Mount Washington Observatory Climbing Trips
Access by Snow Cat:
Mount Washington Observatory is proud to offer exclusive day and overnight educational trips to our summit weather station utilizing our snow cat for transportation. For more information, visit our DayTrips and EduTrips pages.
Access by Foot:
Mount Washington is a premier destination for alpine mountaineering, climbing, skiing, and other backcountry pursuits. However, as the State Park is closed and no facilities are available, extreme caution should be exercised when considering a winter visit to Mount Washington. Inexperienced hikers should not attempt to climb Mount Washington in winter. More information may be found on our Winter Visits page, and in the "Backcountry Resources" links at right.
VISITING US IN NORTH CONWAY:
We operate a free, interactive science museum called the Weather Discovery Center in downtown North Conway, New Hampshire. Our administrative offices are located on the second floor of the museum.
- Avalanche Advisory
- Camping and Campground Info
- Fall Foliage Links
- Higher Summits Forecast
- HikeSafe Hiker Responsibility Code
- Hiking and Trail Info
- Leave No Trace on Mount Washington
- Lightning Safety
- Mountains of the Presidential Range
- Spring Skiing on Mount Washington
- Summer Visits to Mount Washington
- Surviving Mount Washington
- Trail Conditions Report
- Winter Visits to Mount Washington
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