From Fall to Frost, Mount Washington's Cog Railway
October 2025
- October 17, 2025
- 0.42 mi
- 10:20 min
- 28 °F
We started by enjoying vibrant fall colors at Marshfield Base Station in Bretton Woods, NH, but soon found ourselves in snow, ice, and bitter cold. Along with many other visitors, we rode the historic Mount Washington Cog Railway to the highest point in the Northeast.
- October 17, 2025
- 2.73 mi
- 0:40:42 hrs
- 30 °F
The ride on the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway was incredibly steep, especially on the part called Jacob’s Ladder, where the railway climbs at a stunning 37.4% grade. It created a weird optical effect, making the trees appear to have grown at an angle.
As we left the tree line behind, we loved the wide, surreal views above the clouds. We noticed the snow-topped rock cairns marking the Appalachian Trail route in this barren, permanently frozen zone.
- October 17, 2025
- 0.42 mi
- 10:20 min
- 28 °F
Apparently, we had the perfect timing! The day before, it had been so cold and windy that the passengers weren’t even allowed off the train.
So, we felt lucky to be walking around on the top, enjoying even more magnificent views.
However, we still had to endure strong, cold winds. Although we initially thought an hour at the summit would be too short, we were only outside for less than 30 minutes. We then had to warm up inside the visitor center, where we saw our train arriving; we didn’t mind leaving the blistering cold behind. Still, I would have missed this fantastic experience of witnessing the white beauty on top of the world.