M O U N T W A S H I N G T O N . C O M
	Mt. Washington Auto Road

		Here is a map of the Mount Washington Auto Road along with my "virtual tour", a series of photos and corresponding text describing the windy route up to the top.  The pictures are roughly in ascending order, though they were taken at various times of the year.  Just click on any photo for an enlargement! 1: Glen House site The Mount Washington Auto Road begins at the Glen House site on Route 16, 8 miles south of Gorham, New Hampshire, at about 1580 feet elevation. 2: Buildings near the entrance Today there are a variety of buildings at the base of the road. 3: The entrance The entrance is marked by an overhead sign welcoming you to the Auto Road. 4: Bumper sticker On the other side of this sign is a message for those who drive their own vehicles.  It reads, 'This car climbed Mt. Washington', just like on the souvenir bumper stickers shown here. 5: Warning sign for drivers In a few hundred feet, drivers come upon an interesting brown warning sign.  The road immediately crosses a small bridge, passes a few buildings, and passes the tollhouse. It then curves left and suddenly pitches upward to begin its relentless ascent through the woods.  The paved road winds its way southeastward past the wooden 1-mile marker through the forest.  At about 2600 feet, the road curves sharply right, then left, then right.  Here is where the Old Jackson Road and Madison Gulf Trail (popular hiking trails) meet, just beyond the 2-mile post.  At about 2¼ miles, there's a good view of Wildcat Ski area off to the left. 6: Halfway house The road then heads northwestward at a steady grade, passes the 3-mile marker, and soon meets the half-way house on the left, called the 'Top of the Bottom Station'. 7: Autumn warning sign near halfway house Just above the hut is a turn-off on the right where, in the winter, Great Glen Trails' sno-cat shuttle takes skiers and snowshoers to begin their 4-mile descent.  A sign is also posted here in the winter warning hikers of the dangerous conditions that lie ahead.  A short distance further, the Auto Road bends left around the 'Horn' on Chandler Ridge and reaches the treeline. As you go around the sharp left turn by the 4000-foot post, note the stunted tree growth from the prevailing winds blowing up the slope.  There's another pull-off on the left side of the road near the top of the sharp curves, a great place to pull over and take some pictures!  The road now climbs southward along a steeply sloping face.  This is a common spot for avalanching snow in the winter, and can make the sno-cat drivers' plowing duties most interesting! 8: Cragway bend At about 5¼ miles, the Auto Road bends around to the right by some interesting rocks near Cragway Spring.  The Nelson Crag Trail joins and separates from the road on the left at this bend, from which you can see the radio towers at the summit over Huntington Ravine on a nice day. 9: Cloud base along the 6-mile grade The road climbs northwestward and gradually turns more west-southwest, rapidly becoming more and more exposed to gusty northwest winds. 10: The 'cow pasture' circa 1967 A short way up from the 6-mile marker is the hairpin turn, where the road veers sharply left.  It then bears back to the right as it skirts around the 'cow pasture', where an old corral used to be. 11: Windy pass above Huntington Ravine Posts help to mark the road in the winter along this rather windy pass.  You can stop at one of the pull-offs and take a short stroll down to the edge of Huntington Ravine for some great views. 12: Homestretch Flats The road skirts around the north side of Ball Crag, passing the 7-mile marker and 6000-foot post, after which it bends southward onto 'Homestretch Flats'.  Here you can see the summit buildings when it's not foggy. 13: End of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail The road passes several pull-offs and crosses the Nelson Crag Trail again, then winds around the southwest side of the summit.  This is where the Tuckerman Ravine Trail heads southward down the mountain. 14: Wooden steps at the top of the Auto Road At the summit are two large parking lots, from which a wooden staircase leads to the summit.  The Auto Road does climb around a steep curve to the Stage Office, but is used only by authorized vehicles.