Mount Washington Observatory Summer Day Trips
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A True Mount Washington Experience
The Mount Washington Observatory and Mt. Washington Auto Road have teamed up to offer you a summer adventure. Enjoy a guided tour in a Mt. Washington Auto Road van to the top of the tallest peak in the Northeast and spend a day reveling in the mountain's legendary weather and scenery. A highlight of your visit will be a guided tour of the Mount Washington Observatory's famous mountaintop weather station and the opportunity to meet the scientists living and working in this remote outpost. Then, after a hearty, homemade lunch, you'll head back down the mountain where you continue your adventure while exploring Great Glen Trails on your own.
If you're looking for a true alpine adventure in a succinct, affordable format, this is the trip for you.
What's Included
- Round-trip transportation to and from the base in a Mt. Washington Auto Road Van, your trip up will include a guided tour about the rich history of the Auto Road and the White Mountains.
- A dedicated Observatory trip leader
- Admission to Extreme Mount Washington
- Lunch
- An exclusive tour of our mountaintop weather station
- Presentation from our meteorologist on staff
- Access to Great Glen Trails
- Admission to the Douglas A. Philbrook Red Barn Museum
Trip Format
Your adventure will begin at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road, where you'll meet your trip leader and van driver. As you ascend the 8-mile road, you'll take in the incredible scenery of Pinkham Notch and the Presidential Range while having a guided tour on the history of the road that was once accessed by horse drawn wagons.
When you reach the top you will have gained more than 4,700 feet of elevation, traveling from the temperate forest, through tree line, and into to the alpine zone–a rugged, otherworldly landscape of earth and sky. After stepping off of your coach you’ll take in the weather and scenery from the summit of Mount Washington and then head inside to explore Extreme Mount Washington.
The rest of your day will include:
- A behind-the-scenes tour of the Mount Washington Observatory's famous mountaintop weather station, where you'll learn about the institution's work and see the instruments used by Observatory scientists
- A trip to the top of the instrument tower for a birds-eye view of the summit from the highest point on the mountain
- An educational program presented by our meteorologist on staff. They will share their experience working in some of the most extreme weather conditions and explain how they maintain instrumentation at the summit
- A delicious, homemade lunch
Trips meet at 8:00am and generally arrive back at the base around 1:30pm. Please note that the exact timing of your ascent and return will be determined by the weather, so participants should be prepared for schedule changes. Safety trumps all other concerns, so please bring your sense of adventure and a willingness to go with the flow.
Dates
Day Trips are available most Mondays and Fridays in the summer months (June through early September).
Space is limited...book your trip today by selecting the Register button above!
Cost
$129 for supporting members of the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory.
$199 for non-members. Not a member? Join now to save money and enjoy a number of valuable, exclusive benefits.
* Program rates do not include an additional administrative processing fee charged by our online booking service. This service reduces administrative time and helps Observatory educators, educate!
Health & Safety Requirements
No lengthy, strenuous hiking is involved, but participants should be in good physical condition to explore the summit’s great outdoors. Please review our health and safety requirements for detail information about summer weather on Mount Washington. Please dress accordingly (no high-heels or dress shoes please!).
Directions
Directions to the Mt. Washington Auto Road can be found here. Please park and check in at the Mt. Washington Auto's Glen House, located directly across the street from the base of the Auto Road. Searching the term "Great Glen Trails" into your GPS may be helpful. Once you have arrived, you'll be greeted by your Observatory trip leader and Auto Road van driver in front of the building.
Cancellations
Trip fees will be refunded for cancellations made at least 30 days before the trip date, less a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations less than 30 days but more than 14 days before the departure date will be credited at 50%. Cancellations made within 14 days of the trip date will result in forfeiture of the entire trip fee.
A minimum of four participants is required for a trip to run. If we do not reach that minimum by one week before the trip, the trip may be cancelled. All registrants will be offered the option of a refund or a re-booking on another trip.
The safety of our guests and employees is of utmost importance, so trips may be cancelled due to extremely inclement weather. We will do our best to notify all participants of the cancellation in advance, but mountain weather is notoriously unpredictable, so we cannot guarantee advance notice. The decision to cancel a trip could be made on the morning of the trip.