Skiers pausing for a quick photo at Waumbek Station

Hikers can choose to return to the Base Station on either the Jewell or the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. Here, leaving the summit on the Crawford Path for lunch at Lakes of the Clouds hut, before the final steep descent on the Ammo.

These signs are there for a reason- don’t ignore them!

Your one-way ticket to the top of New England– ride The Cog to the summit and hike or ski back down!

In the nineteenth century, Sylvester Marsh’s Cog Railway made the difficult ascent to the top of Mount Washington safe, comfortable and available to all. Today, well over 100,000 visitors arrive at the summit annually on The Cog.

But for some, climbing to the summit on foot or on skis is an important personal accomplishment. Whether it’s an item on a once-in-a-lifetime “bucket list” or an annual tradition, the experience is memorable, but it’s not easy.

Now you can combine the best of both mountain experiences– ride The Cog to the summit and then hike or ski back down to Marshfield Station. One-way upmountain tickets may be purchased online or in person at our ticket office.

At the top, experienced, well-equipped hikers may descend from the summit to Marshfield Station by following either the Crawford Path to the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, or the Gulfside Trail to the Jewell Trail. Above tree line, both of these routes will include portions of the 2200 mile long Appalachian Trail.

In the winter, skiers and snowboarders are welcome to take a challenging backcountry run down the mountain along our privately-owned right-of-way trackside. We groom the route from Marshfield to Jacob’s Ladder daily, and beginning in the 2021-22 season, we’ll be offering rides in the groomer’s 10 passenger cab up to Jacob’s.

Marshfield Station is the perfect base camp for summer and winter recreational activities on Mount Washington! Open year round 7 days a week, it’s the highest full service cold weather facility on the mountain, with plenty of free parking for one-way riders, trail snacks, supplies and restrooms inside.

Remember: Mount Washington is renowned for its severe and unpredictable weather, and conditions often change rapidly from pleasant to life threatening. Do not attempt to climb to or descend from the summit unless you

  • read and agree to our risks and liability release

  • start early

  • are physically fit

  • pay close attention to weather forecasts and advisories from the Mount Washington Observatory– they are the best predictor of conditions

  • are properly equipped with food, water and warm, waterproof clothing

  • do not assume that train tickets will be available for the descent. You should always be physically and mentally prepared to hike or ski back down!

  • If the weather becomes threatening, “bail out” by returning to the Base Station as quickly as possible, especially when you are fully exposed to the elements above tree line. That simply cannot be emphasized strongly enough. 

Important: Passengers riding up on the Cog are warned to not descend toward Pinkham or Crawford Notches on Tuckerman’s or other south or east-facing trails; if you do, you’ll be disappointed to learn that you’re up to 50 miles away from Marshfield Base Station and your car. Do not descend on the van service that uses the Mount Washington Auto Road for the same reason.

Please understand that we cannot sell one way down-mountain tickets in advance, and round trip passengers always have priority over one-way riders. If seats are available, tickets may only be purchased in person at the summit Post Office. Please check our FAQ page for a complete explanation of our ticket policies for hikers and skiers.