What’s At The Top

No matter how you get there, once you reach the top of Mount Washington, in addition to the Mount Washington Observatory located there, you’ll also find a visitors center, a museum and a gift shop.

If you are looking for a place to stay overnight, you might consider becoming a member of the observatory. They offer “members only” summer and winter educational trips that include staying on the peaks. Some of the subjects covered during these outings include mountain photography, mountain meteorology and glacial geology of the White Mountains.

Each session includes roundtrip transportation to the summit, tours of the observatory’s weather station, classroom presentations, outdoor field trips-weather permitting, meals and snacks, and overnight accommodations. Participants must be in good physical condition and come prepared with a sleeping bag and adequate clothing and seasonal gear.

• Cost: $169 per person for Summer Educational Trip (June to August)
• Cost: $459 per person for Winter Educational Trip (January to April)
• Cost: $39 for children ages four to twelve years old
• Cost: $70 for an individual membership to the observatory (You must have this status to qualify for the educational trips.)

If you don’t want to attend an educational seminar but you do want to stay on the mountaintop, or close by anyway, you can stay at the “Lakes of the Clouds Hut.” Although the hut isn’t actually located on the summit itself, it’s the next best thing from June to September when full-service overnight lodging is available only 1,238-feet from the peak. The hut sleeps 90 people in coed bunkrooms set up to accommodate 6, 8 or 15 people. Breakfast and dinner is also served.

• Cost: $89 a night for Adults
• Cost: $55 for Children

A Final Note

If you are drawn by the beauty of Mount Washington and love the outdoors, you may want to think about taking part in the next Mount Washington Road Race. This annual event, which is held each June, draws runners from around the country.