Mount Washington Auto Road
Opened in 1861, this is one of America's oldest man-made attractions. A 12 km switchback road climbs straight up Mount Washington, New England's highest peak. It is famous for its 'This car climbed Mt. Washington' bumper sticker.
The Mount Washington Auto Road opened in 1861 as a carriage road. It is one of America's oldest man-made tourist attractions. It starts at the Glen House in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, and climbs about 1,400 m with an average grade of 12% and several bends without guardrails. The road goes straight to the summit of Mount Washington (1,917 m), the highest peak in New England. The full route is 7.6 miles (about 12 km) long. The summit is known worldwide for extreme weather. A ground wind speed of 372 km/h was once recorded there. The summit has an observatory museum, an old railway station, and an observation deck with views of four states. A one-way self-drive takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Fees are charged per vehicle and per person. On the way down, you must use a low gear and stop along the way to cool the brakes, and staff will check. If you don't want to drive, you can take a guided shuttle van, or take the cog railway on the west side. The weather changes rapidly. Even in summer, the summit can drop below 0°C, and visibility can be zero, so check the summit weather before you leave. Some vehicles, such as large RVs, are prohibited from driving up the mountain. Upon completing the drive, you receive a 'This car climbed Mt. Washington' bumper sticker.