VISITING US ON MOUNT WASHINGTON
Our weather station and Extreme Mount Washington museum are housed inside the Mt. Washington State Park Sherman Adams Visitor Center, which is located on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire.
The summit is accessible seasonally by car (via the Mt. Washington Auto Road) and foot (via several hiking trails).
SUMMER VISITS
Mt. Washington State Park, and thus our facilities, are open whenever the Auto Road is open, which is generally mid-May through mid-October.
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 Foot: Hiking Trails
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.
WINTER VISITS
When the Mt. Washington Auto Road and others close for winter, usually mid-October to mid-May, the Mt. Washington State Park also closes and no facilities are available to the public. The only way to visit us in winter is to participate in a Mount Washington Observatory trip.
We offer overnight snowcat trips, and we also partner with several area climbing schools to offer guided mountaineering ascents. For more information, visit our Overnight Edutrips page.
Note: Though all summit facilities close to the public in winter, you may still hike the mountain. Indeed, Mount Washington is a premier destination for alpine mountaineering, climbing, skiing, and other backcountry pursuits. However, due to the mountain’s extreme conditions, inexperienced hikers should not attempt to climb Mount Washington in winter. For more information about hiking Mt. Washington, we recommend contacting the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).
VISITING US IN NORTH CONWAY
Our Weather Discovery Center and administrative offices are located in the heart of North Conway Village, across from the Eastern Slope Inn:
Mount Washington Observatory
2779 White Mountain Highway
North Conway, NH 03860
AREA LODGING
The White Mountains have been a popular vacation destination for decades, so there are many world-class resorts, hotels, inns and B&Bs to choose from. Visit our lodging page for a list of partner properties.