Mt Washington
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Hiking Mt. Washington & Mt. Sugarloaf from Boston
Mildred
40
As a tourist myself, I really appreciated this location. The inner hiker anf nature lover in me wished we had hiked it, but there's no way my wife and kiddo would have made it. So drive we did, and while I will go back to hike it someday, I'm glad we drove it this time. The road is twisty and curvy with some steep sections and has no guard rails, but once you get to the top, well.... It CAN be gorgeous, or it can be foggy and disappointing. We were fortunate in that after we got to the top and found it foggy, we faffed about a bit in the gift shop and went to the bathroom, then the fog lifted and we had amazing views. Not all-around at once, you kinda had to chase the openings in the fog, which was fine as you're allowed to climb about most of the peak. There is a photo opp at the summit, but we skipped thst due to the long line. Dogs are permitted at the peak. There were quite a few so keep yours on a short leash, and if they aren't good in crowds, I'd not recommend bringing them. I'm gonna repeat, the drive can be intense! There are no guard rails! I'm a super confident driver and trust my skills and my Subaru and mostly trust other drivers, so all went well. But my wife was quite nervous as a passenger. You do need to stop on the way down to let your brakes cool, but there are plenty of turn-outs just for thst purpose with wonderful views. As long as you don't suffer from a fear of heights, go slow and you'll be fine. There is a fee to drive up the road. It's per person, so check pricing ahead of time. They do accept credit cards. There is also a cog-driven train that can take you to the top, please look ahead for prices, times, and capacity, as we didn't look into it. I believe I saw a sign near the bathroom that said you can purchase a one-way ticket to ride the train back down, but please verify that before planning to use the service. So, long story short, if you come here, mentally prepare yourself for the worst weather and poor views att he top, but the path up will most likely be worth it no matter how you choose to go. However, catch it on a good day and the peak can provide breathtaking views. Photos show our initial foggy view from the top, a wonderful vista showcasing the grandeur of the white mountains after the fog lifted, and one of several beautiful brake-cooling turnouts on our way back down.
Tom Pitts
00
I had never driven up a mountain over 6,000 feet before, and it was both exhilarating and a bit intimidating. The auto road can feel a little nerve-wracking, but if you keep your focus on the road and avoid distractions, you’ll be fine. Do not rush! Patience is key. Before you enter the auto road, make sure you have a case of squirtable water bottles with you. You’ll need them on the way down, not only for hydration but also to cool your brakes. It’s important to keep your vehicle in check, so don’t forget to bring plenty of water for the journey. Once you reach the peak, it’s like stepping into another world. The beauty and serenity of God's creations are overwhelming, and you truly feel like you’re closer to heaven. The views are awe-inspiring, so take a moment to soak it all in and appreciate the vastness around you. On the way down, stay extra cautious. Make frequent stops—every mile or so—to cool your brakes. I stopped four times in our seven-seater SUV. Use the squirtable water bottles to spray water directly on your wheels and brakes to help cool them down. One thing to keep in mind is that food options at the peak are limited, and they sometimes run out. I’d recommend eating beforehand or bringing snacks with you to avoid any disappointment. The height of the mountain has a way of humbling you. Nature, in all its grandeur, reminds you of how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Take time to reflect and learn from the quiet wisdom that nature offers. Be humble, and let the mountain teach you! Absolutely! After such an adventure, don’t forget to thank your car for getting you safely up and down the mountain. It deserves a little gratitude for handling that climb! And of course, make sure to slap on that bumper sticker as a souvenir to commemorate the journey—you’ll want to remember this experience for years to come!
Sean Das
00
Happy finally got to do this. It was super difficult and long (took me 8.5 hours and my friends 9ish). I would compare it to Welch Dickey and Monadnock but as you go alot more higher, literally do some rock climbing also it doesnt gradually get you there it has more of an incline. It was a hit day (did the hike in September a clear day) but when the sun was gone (before sunset) the temperature started to drop and there was a chill (though I did enjoy it, I laughed a little going down cause I started steaming). It was more difficult coming down from the higher elevation and rocks made it slipper climbing/hiking down from lower elevations. I did the Huntington Ravine Trail. I did not finish (could have, I am a slow hiker) my friends did. I should have done it 7/8 in the morning, I started at 12:15 pm. Happy had a light (needed a more powerful light) coming down it got super dark. There are tons of people who hike this and camp there which was super helpful. Parking gets packed, actually had to park on the outside (though it was free parking). Really love the waterfalls and the flowing waters around us. Update: Drove up today (06/19/2023) and that was interesting lol. $40 entrance fee, visited a few gift shops. Had to drive in L (didnt even realize there was a L) going down and it was really scary but cool and beautiful. It took me between 35-45 minutes to go all the way up, going down I had to stop alot (could smell the brakes heating up). It was a unique experience. There was a restroom on the bottom and top of the trip but didnt see any in between. Some stops had moments for nice views. I felt so good I can say I went to the top and went inside a cloud (while it was dripping/spitting 😅) Also saw the trains go up atthe visitor center, might try that another day.
Carlos Lopez
00
This was one of the best thing that I have ever done thus far. Mt Washington was absolutely phenomenal. It's a scary drive up the auto road - there's a lot of information for that on the official website - and it's hard going back down, but it's so well worth it. I'm going to try hiking when I can build up the stamina. Here's a heads-up for others - that one mile stretch of "gravel road" is packed down dirt that I bet gets very, very slippery when it's raining and ice when it snows. However, if you go on a clear day, and it's dry, you have nothing to worry about but others drivers who think their car needs the entire road lol. I don't count this towards the review of the place, but I was almost scared away by the crowd. There were a lot of people up there at the summit. The inside buildings were crowded. I couldn't find a quiet moment to myself to just enjoy nature which I should've expected with such a popular place. Millions of people flock here year round and for good reason. Just need to keep that in mind next time. Would like to give the place a slap on the wrist for unclear signage on museum fees before you go down the stairs, but that's just personal preference and poor research on my part. That's one thing I neglected to look up because I wasn't sure if it would be open because of Covid-19 restrictions, but to my surprise it was. Am absolutely coming back here next year, and the year after, and the year after... might as well be an annual event. Edit: Oh, and one more thing - Watch 👏 the 👏 weather 👏 before you come here. Clear days make a good drive but, as is said all over, the weather is very chaotic, and expect it to be cold 6000+ ft up in the air.
Lueroso
00
There early Oct 2023. The colors at the bottom were beautiful. I had downloaded the app and we listened as we drove up. I was fine until you couldn't see in the fog and with no guardrails the higher we climbed the less enjoyable a ride. We didn't even get out at the top with 70 MPH gust in the rain. The wind was rocking my SUV so much I was getting motion sick while parked at the top. After we got back below the fog again it was much better. When you meet another car that doesn't want to drive on there side it feels too tight at least in the wind and fog. We were back down in parking area and going to take a few pics and this is when an employee driving one of the vans on 10/7 really left a bad impression. You can drive up until 4pm. We were back down at 4:05 and he was yelling at everyone "lets go people" over and over. He looked right at us and yelled it was time to go. He was rude. We paid our $65 like every other couple and people were still going up. He ended our short visit rudely and it could've just been a nice memorable drive to our first and last visit to the area. It would've been nice to be able to see but that's how it goes. We basically paid $1 per minute to be yelled at by employee that forgot the people visiting are the reason he has a job there. We paid to go up at 2:56 and left after being run off at 4:05. Just one last heads up. My 2024 vehicle had all sorts of warning lights going off while we were near the top. It's new so we waited till later to look them up and the collision avoidance sensors where fogged over. No big deal but we just were not sure what they were when we were at the top.
Kim Maxwell
00
Nearby Attractions Of Mt Washington
Mt. Washington State Park
Mount Washington Observatory
Tip Top House
Tuckerman Ravine
Summit Station
Mount Washington
Presidential Range
Mt. Washington State Park
4.9
(2K)
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Mount Washington Observatory
4.7
(37)
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Tip Top House
4.7
(33)
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Tuckerman Ravine
4.7
(30)
Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Sargent's Purchase, NH 03846
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Reviews
Overview
4.8
(1.2K reviews)
Ratings & Description
outdoor
adventure
scenic
off the beaten path
attractions: Mt. Washington State Park, Mount Washington Observatory, Tip Top House, Tuckerman Ravine, Summit Station, Mount Washington, Presidential Range, restaurants:
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