Pre-season Summit Trips & WEEKEND Weather Station Tours
A rare springtime look at the summit before the Mount Washington State Park opens
Spring on Mount Washington is anything but ordinary. Before the State Park visitor facilities open for the season (typically around Memorial Day Weekend), we offer some special excursions that showcase the mountain in its dramatic late-winter form.
Whether you’re just riding to the summit or adding an OPTIONAL Weather Station tour, this is a unique opportunity to see Mount Washington from “behind-the-scenes”– in a quieter, wilder season with fewer crowds and raw, winter vistas most people never see. And you can meet the scientists who live and work 24/7/365 at the Home of the World’s Worst Weather!
IMPORTANT: THE SHERMAN ADAMS BUILDING IS CLOSED. TRAIN PASSENGERS WILL NOT BE LET IN UNLESS THEY HAVE A PRE-BOOKED MOUNT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY TOUR.
Weather Station tours require advance reservations. Mount Washington Observatory staff will escort registered guests into the building; only guests with a confirmed Observatory tour reservation will be admitted.
Pre-season weekend Weather Station tours are offered May 9–10 and May 16–17 and align only with the Railway’s 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM departures (train tickets sold separately). Tours are subject to availability and are also offered during the regular summit season.Visit the MWOBS website for complete information.
Pre-Season Summit Trips
We’ve adjusted our early spring schedule to offer an exclusive glimpse of Mount Washington’s late-winter landscape — a time when snow, ice, and powerful winds still dominate the summit.
What to expect:
2-hour round-trip train ride to the summit, powered by one of our biodiesel locomotives
Trains depart daily, approximately every 90 minutes
Weather permitting, trains will lay over at the summit for about 30 minutes
Enjoy views from the outdoor platform area or stay warm inside the heated passenger coach
Summit buildings and State Park facilities remain closed during this period
Winter conditions at the summit rival those of sub-arctic northern Canada, so dress warmly with sturdy winter footwear!
This experience is weather-dependent, and conditions do change quickly. On rare occasions, extreme conditions may cause trains to stop short of the summit, or to turn back early. Each trip is different, and it’s all part of the adventure!
WEEKEND WEATHER STATION TOURS
Ride the Cog Railway to the summit and get an insider’s tour of the Mount Washington Observatory!
After arriving at the summit, guests can enjoy a brief Weather Station tour led by Mount Washington Observatory staff. These fascinating tours offer insight into:
Extreme weather monitoring on Mount Washington
How scientists work and live at the summit
How the mountain earned the reputation as the Home of the World’s Worst Weather!
Tours are coordinated with the Railway schedule and are designed to fit within the summit layover time. Tours are offered and sold by the Mount Washington Observatory, not the Railway. Train tickets must be purchase separately. Availability is not guaranteed on every trip and depends on staffing and weather conditions.
The Sherman Adams Visitor Center is closed during the winter months. ONLY GUESTS WITH PRE-PURCHASED WEATHER STATION TOURS WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE BUILDING.
