Riding the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire: A Review
If you want a visit to New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington that your kids will never forget, book your tickets for the Mt. Washington Cog Railway!
While the trip up and down the mountain is a highlight of this experience, there’s much more to explore here than just the cog railway.
You’ll also visit 2 museums, a section of the Appalachian Trail and the mountain’s summit, and you’ll see if you can handle the home of the world’s worst weather.
In all of the places that we’ve visited in New England, Mt. Washington and the railway remains one of my kids’ most requested activities to revisit, and I bet your kids will have a blast, too.
Below, you’ll learn everything you need to know about riding the Mount Washington Cog Railway from what to bring to how to plan your entire day. I’m also including a suggested itinerary, clothing choices, and tips for making the most of this fun experience.
Cog Railway passengers disembark at the summit of Mt. Washington
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What is the Mount Washington Cog Railway?
One of the cog railway trains parked outside of the Base Station
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is the world’s first cog railway!
The one at Pike’s Peak is more well known, but it runs off of the same technology as the one at Mount Washington.
It was the brainchild of Sylvester Marsh, a local inventor who came up with the idea when he was hiking nearby mountains.
Instead of using tracks and trestles like a traditional railroad, the Cog Railway uses a series of racks and pinions that allow a powerful locomotive to push the train car up the mountain, and then slowly control its descent on the way back to the station.
Interestingly, the passenger car isn’t attached to the engine car at all! Since the engine is pushing (and then, later, keeping the car from freewheeling down the mountainside), there’s no need to physically attach the two. Gravity does the work for it.
Sylvester Marsh thought that this system would allow trains to be built faster and more easily in places with steep inclines, something that a traditional train track isn’t very good at doing.
However, the system didn’t catch on in the way that he wanted, though both the Mt. Washington Cog Railway and the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway have been in more or less continuous operation since they were built in the mid- to late 1800s.
While the Mt. Washington locomotives originally used steam for power when it opened on July 3, 1869, they switched to a biodiesel-based fuel about 20 years ago.
Since the cog railway was built, more than 5 million people have ascended to the summit of Mt. Washington this way!
How do I get tickets?
While you can purchase tickets onsite, I highly recommend buying tickets ahead of time online.
You can bundle the Mt. Washington Cog Railway tickets with a private tour of other area attractions here, or buy just the railway tickets here.
If you choose to wing it and just show up, you’ll find the ticket counter on the lower level of the train station. Once you enter through the front doors, take the stairs directly in front of you, then turn left past the gift shop.
The ticket counter will be directly ahead of you.
The downside of doing this is that you run the risk of there not being any tickets available for a train ride that’s convenient for your schedule. At peak season (mid-summer weekends), it’s likely that most or all of the train rides will be booked.
Getting a timed ticket eliminates the stress here, and you’ll be able to more fully plan your day’s itinerary. See below for my itinerary suggestions!
I’m absolutely a traveler who wants to make the most out of every place we visit and every road trip stop, so I like to book ahead to ensure I’m not missing out on anything.
Where is the Mt. Washington Cog Railway?
The Mt. Washington Cog Railway is, unsurprisingly, on the side of Mt. Washington.
But, more specifically, the Base Train Station at the foot of Mt. Washington is located about 35 miles northeast of Lincoln, New Hampshire and 35 miles northwest of Conway, New Hampshire.
It is accessible from I-93, which is the closest major road to the railway station, but you’ll traverse through some beautiful but rural areas once you leave the interstate.
Thankfully, the railway has signs along the country roads leading to the Base Station that will reassure you that you’re on the right path.
Once you arrive on property, you’ll drive under the metal banner with the railway’s logo on it, and you’ll find a large paved parking area to the right of the station.
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Who is this experience best for?
I will be honest: I only have a passing interest in trains, and neither of my kids went through a major train phase.
But, we all do love a fun little adventure, which is how we ended up picking the cog railway as one of our things to do while we were in New Hampshire. (I was also trying to make up for the fact that we skipped the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway on our family adventures through Colorado, something my kids haven’t let me forget!)
Based on that experience, I think that the Cog Railway is great for anyone looking for a unique experience in the White Mountains.
It’s also an awesome option for people who aren’t interested in hiking or driving up Mt. Washington.
You’ll get the sweeping scenery on the way up and down the mountain without the stress of hiking in this part of the Appalachian Mountains or having to worry about the challenges of driving up the Mt. Washington Auto Road.
Is the Mt. Washington Cog Railway good for kids?
My son and me waiting for the climb to the summit
Absolutely, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway is excellent for kids of all ages!
Younger visitors who are going through a Thomas the Tank engine or general train phase will love this experience as it is such a unique type of locomotive and railcar set-up.
NOTE: If your kids love trains, and you want more train experiences while in New Hampshire, consider these other adventures:
Older kids will marvel at the physics behind the entire thing, including the 36% grade about halfway up the track.
Plus, your family can marvel at the design of the railcar, which includes slanted seats for comfort once you’re heading up the slope. When you’re at the top of the mountain, there’s even more to learn about as you experience intense winds, hail, snow, and fog, then explore the shop, museum, and overlook space.
Overall, the experience from beginning to ending is unlike anything else you’ve ever done, even if you’ve been on a more traditional train ride with your child.
My kids were 11 and 8 at the time of our visit, and they are still talking about it a year later!
How else can I get to the top of Mt. Washington?
The views at the summit are incredible.
If the cog railway isn’t quite the perfect fit for your family, there are two other ways to experience this part of the White Mountains:
Hiking to the top of Mt. Washington, or
Driving the Mt. Washington Auto Road.
If you decide to do either of these instead of (or in addition to) the cog railway, here are a few things to know first.
The hike to Mt. Washington isn’t for the faint of heart or the beginning hiker. The weather on the mountain can shift suddenly, and you might experience plummeting temperatures, snow, hail or fog any day of the year.
Because of this unpredictable and changing weather, Mt. Washington is one of the most challenging sections of the Appalachian Trail, which runs along the summit.
If you do want to hike to the summit, do some research on which route to take ahead of time. You’ll also want to make sure that you have your 10 hiking essentials on you as well as proper clothing.
The other option is to drive the Mt. Washington Auto Road, which also comes with its own considerations.
Much like the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, the Mt. Washington Auto Road is filled with tight curves, steep drop-offs and scant guardrails.
You will need to pay to access the road, and I find it expensive for what you’re getting. You have to pay per person, not per vehicle, so a family of 4 would pay over $100 just to drive up and down the road.
That’s still cheaper than the Cog Railway, which costs between $70-100 an adult, depending on the date of travel. However, the auto road drive means that the driver won’t get the same experience as everyone else in the car because of actually having to drive.
But, if you’re a car enthusiastic, maybe the experience of weaving around the mountain is better than the views!
Regardless of which option you choose, Mt. Washington is a dynamic experience that needs a place on your New Hampshire vacation itinerary.
The Mt. Washington Cog Railway: A Review
Another train on the tracks behind us
We initially came to this area of New Hampshire as part of our 7 week road trip through New England because I wanted to drive the Kancamagus Highway and then do the Flume Gorge hike in nearby Franconia Notch State Park.
However, my kids saw a pamphlet for the Cog Railway at the Lincoln/Woodstock KOA and immediately began asking if we had time to add it to the itinerary.
I initially dismissed it because of how expensive it was. When we’re on these longer road trips, I am pinching pennies everywhere to keep costs as low as possible.
However, after researching a little more, I decided that it looked fun enough for me to loosen the purse strings and I booked tickets for my 2 kids, my dad (who was traveling with us) and myself.
We didn’t have any issues finding the Base Train Station, but there were a couple of times on the tiny backroads on the way there that I wondered if we’d gotten snared into a big tourist trap. It was that far out, and we kept turning onto increasingly smaller roads, and I wondered exactly what awaited us at the other end of our trip.
I shouldn’t have worried, as the station at the end of all of those little roads is exactly what was advertised online.
We arrived early for our tour, so we had plenty of time to explore the museum on the station’s first floor. My kids loved this museum as it was interactive and had multiple areas to learn about the railway.
The entire experience of checking in and getting onto the train was a well-oiled machine, and we boarded the train car right on time.
While the train ride up and down the mountain isn’t quick, my kids didn’t get bored. There’s a lot to see on the way, and the novelty of being at such severe angles kept them engaged in this experience.
That being said, I could see where younger visitors might get antsy after the first portion of the train ride to the summit and back. If you have a fidgety toddler who might get bored, bring a small snack or toy for him or her.
When we made it to the summit, we were ready to explore the home of the world’s worst weather and the place that P.T. Barnum called “the second greatest show on earth”!
I knew that the clock was ticking since you only get an hour on the mountain, so we prioritized what we wanted to see and do, and then set about trying to do all of those in the time provided.
We were most interested in the observation deck and getting a photo at the summit, so we went outside first. That’s when we were blasted by the full force of the 40+ MPH winds that were roaring that day, but a docent told us that was just a light breeze for the summit (so take that to heart and wear plenty of layers on your visit!).
My kids were also interested in the museum on the lower floor, so we visited that next. It is small, so we had to wait for some of the interactive exhibits. I can see this place being very crowded if a school group was visiting, so keep that in mind.
When we did get up to each of the exhibits, my kids had a blast learning about the snow and ice pack, the mountain rescues, the wild weather, and animals on the mountain.
At that point, we had about 25 minutes left, which was enough time to go back out to the observation deck to watch one of the other trains ride into the summit station, visit the bigger gift shop near the ranger station, and then grab a cup of hot cocoa.
Hot cocoa at the summit!
We had just a few minutes before our train left at that point, so we sat inside the large dining area, drinking our cocoa and watching the fog roll past.
I loved the ride down, as I got to switch from the right to the left side of the train to see what the other side of the tracks looked like. It was much steeper on the side of the tracks here, and I had a great time gazing off into the distance.
The brakeman had an open question-style chat for the way back to the Base Station, and my kids enjoyed asking him all of the things that had puzzled them on the top, like can you ski near the train (yes), what’s the worst accident that happened on the railway (he kind of skirted that question, but I later found out that there was a terrible derailment accident in 1967 and could see why he didn’t want to answer that one), and does the train run year round (yes!).
Despite my initial worries about the cost of the experience, my family had an amazing time, and we still talk fondly about the ride on the cog railway. It was so different than anything we’ve done so far on our travels!
Suggested Itinerary for the Cog Railway
The train heading up into the fog
You’ll want to devote 3-4 hours for your stop at the Cog Railway. This time outlay will allow you plenty of room to explore the museum and shop at the Base Train Station, the ride to and from the summit, and a bit of time to grab a snack or bite to eat.
The earliest train rides start at 8 AM and run on the hour until the final train leaves from the Base Station at 4 PM.
The busiest times will be between 10 AM and 2 PM, so if you can get on the 9 AM train, that’s what I recommend. Going on the 9 AM train allows you to beat a lot of the mid-day crowds while still giving you time to explore the Base Station before your ride.
If you don’t want to be there that early, aim for the last train of the day, which also tends to be less busy.
Just know that you’ll have very little time back at the Base Station if you book a ticket for 4 PM, so plan to get to the station earlier than what my suggested itinerary says for snacks and museum viewing.
Arrival (suggested time: 8 AM)
The Base Station
Show up at the Base Train Station around 8 AM, which will give you plenty of time before your train leaves at 9 AM.
Park your car in the free parking lot. Then, make your way through the front doors and down to the lower floor to check in.
Let the train attendants know that you’re here for your 9 AM train. They’ll verify your reservations if you’ve purchased online and print out physical tickets for you. Hold onto these as you’ll need them to get onto the train later.
If you haven’t purchased tickets, go ahead and do so here, if any are available.
Once your tickets are in hand, the attendants will give you instructions on when and where to return, and you’ll be free to explore the rest of the building until that time.
Skip the gift shop downstairs for now. There will be time for that later in the day!
Museum (suggested time: 8:15 AM)
With your free time, you’ll want to head back to the main floor of the Base Train Station and look through the museum that’s next to the front doors.
Here, you can learn more about Sylvester Marsh, the man behind the cog railway system, and how the entire thing was built.
While the museum isn’t huge, it’s packed with fascinating stories about the mountain and the people who tried to tame it with the railroad track.
My son tests out a replica Devil’s Shingle
You’ll see artifacts from the building era, the early hotels that were on the mountain, and more.
The most horrifying of the items on display is the original “Devil’s Shingle,” which workers used to zoom down the mountain after a long day of working on the railroad.
These homemade, tiny sleds were much more effective at getting back down the mountain, but they were also super dangerous.
To make things even more challenging, the workers would race them. The usual 15-20 minute ride was once done in under 3 minutes by one particularly brave employee!
These were frowned upon by the railway, but tolerated until 1906 when a horrific accident on one killed an employee.
They were banned from that point on, and the track designed changed shortly after, which caused the boards to be obsolete as well.
Bathroom Break (suggested time: 8:45 AM)
While there are restrooms at the summit of Mt. Washington, you don’t want to squirm all of the way up the mountainside.
Instead, use the restrooms that are near the ticket counter on the lower floor or the restrooms on the upper floor near the front doors.
You’ll also want to linger around the glass door on the lower floor that’s near the ticket desk. Your conductor will come through this door and call out to the guests for the 9 AM train, and you’ll want to be nearby to hear him or her.
It’s important to be on time because the train won’t wait for you!
Train Boarding (suggested time: 9 AM)
Have your paper tickets out so that the conductor can check that you’re on the correct train.
You’ll board the train as a group, and you’ll choose your seats as you file into the car. It’s first come, first served, so if you had your heart on sitting in a specific area, be sure that you’re among the first to have your ticket checked.
This will ensure that you’re one of the first people onboard.
Honestly, though, there are great views from every seat, so don’t stress too much about where you’re sitting.
Train Ride to the Summit (suggested time: 9:05 AM-9:45 AM)
The brakeman shares fun facts with us while ensuring the track is clear on the ascent.
Now, the fun begins!
As soon as you board, you’ll notice the strange benches that you’re sitting on. The backs seem to be pushed too far forward, but don’t worry. This is a feature, not a bug, and you’ll find out in short order.
The reason for the strange angles on the benches becomes apparently nearly the moment you cruise out of the station. As the train heads up the mountain, gravity will pull you into the back of your chair. The angle of the bench back is much more comfortable when you’re climbing up the mountain at a 26% grade or more!
You’ll get live narration from your assigned brakeman, who will stand at the front of the passenger car to watch for anything obstructing the rails and to alert the engineer in case of an emergency.
He or she will have a microphone so you’ll be able to hear the commentary from anywhere in the train car.
The White Mountains through the train car window
You’ll learn more about the White Mountains (including the Presidental Range, of which Mt. Washington is a part), the construction of the railway and different points of interest along the 45-minute climb to the summit.
In this 45-minute ride, the train ascends the mountain at only 2.8 miles an hour, which is why it takes so long to make the nearly 3 miles climb to the top.
The steepest part will occur a little over halfway up the route at Jacob’s Ladder. Here, the grade tops out at 37.41%!
The brakeman will invite guests to try and stand at this point in the ride, and you’ll be surprised how far you have to lean forward in order to find your center of gravity.
Jacob’s Ladder, the steepest point on the track
Mt. Washington Summit (suggested time: 9:45-10:45 AM)
You’ll have approximately an hour to explore the summit, so pay attention when your brakeman gives you a return time.
Again, they won’t hold the train for individual passengers, and you’ll have to wait to catch a ride on a different train later in the day if there’s availability. You’ll also have to pay an additional fee for moving your return ticket.
For the hour you have on the summit, there’s plenty to do.
Check out the extreme weather museum on the lower floor.
It’s not very large, so you’ll need to leave any backpacks or oversized bags with the museum attendant. Once you’re inside, there are multiple interactive exhibits to help you learn about Mt. Washington, the home of the world’s worst weather.
You can try to drive a snow plow simulator to see what it’s like to keep the Mt. Washington Auto Road clear of ice and snow in the winter.
Yours truly at the summit
Or, you can learn about different animals who’ve adapted to life in this harsh climate. There’s also a great display on the day that the wind record was set here in 1934.
Once you’ve explored the museum, check out the small gift shop near the attendant’s desk.
Then, climb back to the main level of the observatory to access the doors to the viewing deck and summit sign.
Be prepared for any kind of weather here at any time of the year!
The weather also shifts suddenly up here, so it’s not usual for you to get sunny skies one moment and chilly fog the next.
The summit sign is atop a large pile of boulders, and you’ll need to climb it to get your photo.
From here, at the very top of the mountain, you’ll also get incredible views of the clouds, fog, and other peaks nearby.
The wide, paved observation deck gives you great views of the train tracks you just traveled up, as well as the many different directions that the clouds and wind flow in up here.
The author’s children in the fog on the summit observation deck
If you get chilly while you’re outside, there is a tiny cafe back inside the observatory with coffee, tea, and hot cocoa to help warm you up.
The pricing here is much higher than what you’ll find at the Base Station or at a coffee shop, but I have to admit that the hot chocolate (even at a higher price point than usual) was a great treat after being pummeled by 40+ MPH winds outside!
There’s also a ranger desk if you have questions about the summit, the Appalachian Trail or the weather up here.
For visitors who want a quick souvenir, you can also stop by the larger gift shop near the cafe on the main floor for stickers, t-shirts, mugs, and more. If you’re very cold on the summit, they even have beanies and sweatshirts to help keep you comfortable.
Return Trip (suggested time: 10:45-11:30 AM)
The Q&A with our second brakeman
At the time agreed upon with the brakeman, you’ll exit the observatory and wait by the train car for your return trip the Base Station.
You’ll need to show your tickets again and confirm the number of people in your party for the brakeman before you board the car.
Keep in mind that there may be multiple trains waiting at the observatory, so ensure that you get on the right one!
Each of the engines and train cars are a different color, which helps highlight them for visitors.
On the way back, you may have a different brakeman depending on their schedules and the number of people visiting that day.
Whoever is accompanying you for the return trip will help you find your seats, and then switch benches across the aisle.
This will ensure that you get a different view on the way back than you did on the way up.
The commentary on the way back is much looser than what you got on the way up to the summit. Instead of a more lecture-based commentary, the brakeman stands at the side of the passenger car closest to the locomotive (which is now in front of you, controlling the descent) and does a Q&A style session.
This is a great time to ask any burning questions you have about the train, Mt. Washington, the Presidential Range, or the Appalachian Trail.
On the return trip, the train goes a bit faster than on the way up, and you’ll max out at speeds of 4.6 MPH.
Shop for Souvenirs (suggested time: 11:30 AM)
Once you’re back at Base Station, duck into the gift shop near the ticket counter. This is the largest one on the entire property, and it is packed with anything you might want as a souvenir.
In addition to the usual keychains, stickers, and t-shirts, you’ll also find locally made soaps, jewelry, kids’ clothing, tote bags, and candy.
Grab a Snack (suggested time: 11:45 AM)
Before you head out, you can stop by the snack bar on the main floor of the Base Station for food and drinks.
The area around the base of Mt. Washington is rural and there aren’t a lot of other options for food if you’re really hungry.
This is another great time to revisit the museum at the Base Station if you didn’t get to see all of it earlier in the day.
Tips for Visiting the Mt. Washington Cog Railway
Pressed for time? Do a mid-mountain trip.
In the fall, Mt. Washington Cog Railway also offers a truncated tour to the station halfway up the mountain.
You’ll see plenty of fall foliage along the way, and you’ll be done in half of the time. These are also done in the steam trains instead of the biodiesel trains that go to the summit, and they offer a quicker, vintage experience to the full base-to-summit ride.
Plus, they’re also cheaper!
Pack for the summit.
Fog rolls past the summit of Mt. Washington
The summit of Mt. Washington stays significantly cooler than the weather at the Base Station, even in the heart of summer.
Don’t be fooled by mild mornings and warm afternoons at the base of the mountain, and bring a jacket, at minimum.
When we visited in early June, I wore a long sleeved shirt with a rain jacket over it, and really wished I’d also brought gloves, a beanie, and a thicker coat for our time on the summit.
You’ll also want to wear closed toed shoes for your experience, as the summit has areas that are rocky and rough. Hiking boots and sneakers are safe bets.
If you’re scared of heights, stay on the side closest to the Base Station.
While there’s always some inherent risk is riding a track directly up the side of a mountain, the fact that you’re doing so is far more obvious on the left side of the car than it is the right.
(I’m using the directions as if the train car is parked at the Base Station, so the less scary side is on your right on the way up the mountain, and on your left when you’re heading back down the mountain.)
The brakeman or brakewoman will ask everyone to switch sides for each leg of the trip. When you have to switch sides, opt for the aisle, which (even on the “bad” side of the train) will allow you to skip looking out of the window onto the most dramatic sections of track.
Final Thoughts on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway
One of the decorations inside the passenger car
While the Cog Railway isn’t the cheapest way to explore Mt. Washington, it just might be the most fun.
You get the views of the auto road without having to drive yourself, and the summit experience without the strenuous hike.
For families visiting this area, the entire trip is engaging and fun in a way that simply riding up the mountain wouldn’t be, and it is far more accessible than an 8-10 mile hike is for most visitors.
If you have time and the inclination, definitely add on the auto road and/or one of the Mt. Washington hikes, but the Cog Railway is fantastic if you’re pressed for time in this area, have young kids who need more engaging fare, or have mobility concerns.
Despite the higher cost than the Auto Road access, the Cog Railway ended up being well worth the price for my family, and I look forward to going back for one of the seasonal ride offerings in the future!
