The Mount Washington Cog Railway Reviews

Our 1pm reserved and paid for Train was delayed boarding by ~1 hour due to morning track maintenance issueswith no advance notice provided. When the train did depart, we were held, mid trip, sitting on the tracks for an additional +45 minutes, while 'a test' of the maintence performed was conducted. The test apparently failed, as the operations folks finally decided to back us down and switch tracks to get on with the trip to the top.

The seating on the cars, was machavellian, apparently designed by the same revenue, not customer comfort focused people, budget airlines use. 30 years ago, when we rode, and it was on an early 1900's car, this was understandable and quaint. This car was relatively new. No excuse, other than greed.

Finally, the return train to take us back down the mountain was late. The impact to us, was we completed the trip more than 2 hours late, with no opportunity to abort. We missed our 6:30 pm dinner reservations. Polite apologies, were offered in a well rehearsed mechanical fashion, which suggests to me, this was not a singular circumstance. No other offer of compensation was forthcoming. Bottom line... take the autoroad to the top of Mt Washington either by you driving, or on tour. The views are spectacular and you will not be held hostage to a poorly run train.

We are getting a little old for driving up Mt. Washington so we chose the Cog Railway. It was really fun and saved quite a lot of anxiety

What a fun experience. We enjoyed every bit of the process from start to finish. Museums and exhibits are interesting. The train ride and exploration at the summit were unique and wonderful.

I'd like to thank the customer service agent on duty Thurs. morning, July 1. We allowed so much time to arrive (afraid we would be delayed by the nearby highway construction) that we ended up arriving 90 minutes early. When we went to check in, we asked if we might be allowed to exchange our tickets for an earlier train, expecting the answer to be No. But the agent accommodated us and we happily boarded the train an hour earlier than we had planned. It really streamlined the rest of our day. Thank you!

Really great experience - a great way to get to the summit. Booking was easy. Driver was amazing. Whole experience was awesome. Kids loved it too.

We included New Hampshire in our trip just so we could take a ride on the Cog Railway. It's such a unique experience and the best way to get up to the summit of Mount Washington. We were very lucky to have a clear, calm day at the top. You can tell the folks that work the Cog Railway really enjoy what they do, and we appreciated their enthusiasm. If you love trains, don't miss out on the Cog Railway!

We took the steam engine train up the mountain. Loved it! Incredible views along the way. But wherever you reach the summit the views will wow you! Well worth every penny spent for this ride

This excursion was a highlight of our New England trip. The unexpected snowfall the night before our visit (4/27-28) made the trip more memorable. Not only was the ground covered but every tree along the way was coated in fresh snow. The railway itself is an engineering marvel. The staff were quite friendly and spirited as they brought us up and down the railway. Even when one of the railway switches (to allow one train to pass another) malfunctioned, the staff workers were tireless in getting it to work so we could continue our journey. That delay may have caused our stop for cocoa and roasted marshmallows to be a little cut short to make up for lost time, but it just added to the adventure. We visited only a few days before the railway opened completely up to the summit (we could only travel up to the "skyline"), which only makes us want to visit again in warmer weather. This is a must-see--the views were breathtaking!

Mark did a great job of providing explanations about the sights of the Mt. Washington and Presidential Range region while traveling down the side of the mountain. It was quite interesting and a pleasure to experience. Trains are safe and well maintained.

My husband and I took an afternoon train yesterday with his two, adult daughters.
We were lucky enough to sit on the left - side going up the mountain which affords the best views. We were gifted with a gorgeous, mostly clear day with no wind on the summit. It’s nothing short of awe-inspiring and humbling to look out over the valleys below.
A few suggestions which my husband and I both have: our brakeman / guide talked non- stop into a microphone. The volume was quite loud and there were no quiet moments for silent enjoyment the entire trip to the summit as well as the return. We felt like we were at a comedy show and it was disappointing and frankly stressful . I provided this feedback at the ticket office and I hope it’s taken into consideration. 50 /60 minutes at the summit isn’t really adequate and we both would suggest that the time be extended to 90 minutes.

A great time. Got on the 10 AM train and made it up to the summit around 10:40ish. We had about an hour to go to the summit marker and walk around the site - which was enough time. There is also a restaurant, gift store, and museum at the summit and at the bottom where you board the train. At the bottom where you board the train, you also get your tickets. They told us the last 2-weeks in September through mid-October is their busiest season. We came with a group and ordered our tickets in advanced and I would recommend the same, since every seat was taken. The summit and trail station had plenty of restrooms. When entering buildings, hikers had to leave their back packs outside at both the summit and trail station.

The train isn’t ADA accessible, but you can drive up to the summit - there were a couple people on motorcycles up there. It’s also a hiking area with multiple trails. Beware the little trail to get to the summit sign for a photo op is very rough terrain. So, you need to have good shoes and steady on your feet. The Appalachian Trail crosses the trail path as well. There’s plenty of parking despite being busy. There were at least five buses there. It’s worth the visit and I’m glad I went. Make sure you dress appropriately because the weather is unpredictable at the summit.

Nice facilities to have a picnic or get a bite at the restaurant located at the bottom of the mountain or chance the restaurant at the summit not busy. Once at the top of the summit you only get an hour before you have to get on the Cog train to make your way back down. We had a great day to see at the summit. Many don't get the views do to the changing weather.

The perfect place to go on a sunny day. You buy your tickets on line making it easy and now you pick and reserve your seats. So you don’t need to worry about being the first or last in line to board the train! (Thank you Cog)! It’s very windy and cold so dress accordingly. Also wear good shoes if you plan on a photo at the very top. We’ve done this trip 3 times and continue to go again and again with friends.

We were hoping to get this train ride to avoid the intense drive up Mount Washington and allow everybody to enjoy the trip.

This is not what happened. We got sold tickets for 2pm, which by itself implied a 1 hour 40 minutes wait from our arrival time, without being alerted the trains were already running an hour late. The price was also quite hefty (76 dollars per adult 45 for our son). We found that out at 2pm when we tried to board our train. When we then boarded our train at 3pm, there was another 30 minutes delay for which no explanation was provided. Another 30 minute delay happened during the trip as we were told the train had to move aside to let two trains coming down from the top to pass. The train wagon was crammed with passengers with rather uncomfortable seats with no amenities since this was supposed to be a ride of about 1 hour. We only got to the summit shortly after 5pm when the museum and all stores had already closed. Then, on the way down the train arrived another 20 minutes after it’s scheduled time.

The bottom line is that we spent a large number of hours of our precious vacation time waiting for a crammed train that moved very slowly. We barely were promised a refund for less than 1/3 of the cost for the terrible experience to be paid in 10 days and that is because we learned that from other passengers and not from any company rep who kept apologizing but did not mention the possibility of any refund.

Our conclusion is that your time and money is better investing by driving up Mount Washington. Stay away from this train !!!

This was such a beautiful historic train ride up the mountain. You can even walk to the summit if you like but be prepared for Highwinds. We had a lot of fog on our day but this is not uncommon. If you would like to enjoy the beautiful history please take this ride we thoroughly appreciated this day

Saw a handicapped person treated in an unacceptable way by the brakeman. His comments were inappropriate. Also weather was rainy could not enjoy or even see any of the views. Would have canceled but tickets are non refundable. Very disappointed the entire train car was steamed up should have been allowed to cancel.

Don’t Visit if You’re Taking COVID-19 Seriously
Review of The Mount Washington Cog Railway
Reviewed August 6, 2020 via mobile
We concur with this review. As we had an unvaccinated child with us and they did not have good masking protocols in place we asked for a refund before the trip. The manager refused. We drove instead and met the train which were were to take. Not one person was wearing a mask. Please avoid if you are serious about Covid spreading .

"Would definitely not recommend to people taking the pandemic seriously. More than half the people on our train didn’t wear masks or were wearing them incorrectly (around their chin or only covering their mouths). The brakeman didn’t give any reminders to wear masks during the ascent (haven’t descended yet as we’re sitting waiting for another train to come down as I type this), and isn’t wearing his properly either. While they have assigned seats that are staggered appropriately, that seems to be the only safety measure that’s followed. Although excited to get to the top and see the views, I’m more excited to get off the train and breathe some fresh air.
Date of experience: August 2020
Ask jchase715 about The Mount Washington Cog Railway

I was looking forward to seeing the cog railway for a long time. I hiked up to the summit and decided I wanted to take the train down. It was well worth the money to take the ride down. The conductor was very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Beautiful ride ! Picked up a couple of people who said they were hurt! Well that wasn’t the case! It was kinda of foggy on the mountain and windy , but not going to complain! They combine 2 trains together and the 2 people who said they were injured rushed on before the original people! We all thought it was unfair , when clearly their was nothing wrong with them! A lot of upset people, cause of it.

The waiting area gave you a very good view of the railways trek up the mountain. Though a little daunting, there was nothing to be concerned about (as a person afraid of heights sitting on the right hand side of the car was the right choice). The trip up, expertly narrated by Terry, was fascinating with the history of the railroad, the workings of the cog railway and the plants we were seeing. The views going up were spectacular. Once at the top, the views were awesome! We were lucky to have such clear weather! No description of the summit would do it justice! The visitor’s station offered food, rest rooms and history, but truly, with the day we had, we spent very little time inside. The trip down was narrated by John, who concentrated on the important job of brakeman. He was very enjoyable as well. This is a must do if you are in the area

We had a great ride. Tour guides were funny and informative. We even sent postcards at the USPS from the top of Mt. Washington.Definitely a fun and interesting adventure!

It's a Different Experience altogether, Being on the COG Rail, Going up 6000 Feet to Mount Washington while looking at Breathtaking Views on the way up & down. The Ticket fare of 90$ is quite reasonable for the total 1:30 minutes of Journey (45 up & 45 down) with an 1 hour Break on top, Only thing i didnt like was that the COG rail Staff were rude. The Tickets coudn't be Printed at the front desk so we got a Screenshot of the Booking on the Phone, When we tried to show that to the Staff on the Train He said IT'S RIDICULUS. Its not our fault they coudnt Print the Tickets.

The Cog Railway is a wonderful way to experience the timeless adventure of the Mt. Washington History and spectacular views. Do not forget to bring those wind breakers as weather changes rapidly. :)

Threatened by an employee to have us charged with trespass as we drove up to the station to drop a few hikers off before the opening of business. Instead of explaining the policies to us as we were new to the area, he just yelled, threatened, harassed and berated us. Not good customer service.....

Went on a trip here with my wife. The Railway itself was a fine experience, however I was quite disgusted with the experience involving the food. We wanted to grab a bite to eat while we were there, however I was grossed out by a particular cook, who apparently couldn't follow basic health and safety measures. While I pondered what to get, I saw one of the cooks at the oven, handling several different types of foods without changing gloves, something that I know, (as someone who has worked in food), is a huge cross-contamination violation. I was absolutely appalled after I saw him sneezing into the air, and that was what made me decide to skip on the meal until we left. I would like to leave this review as a warning for others: eat before you get here, because if this chef is on duty, grabbing a meal here is something I would skip out on.

Yes, it's expensive but it's also a very unique opportunity worth doing at least once.

While one can drive to the summit of Mount Washington, the cog railway has history to share and car hosts who can answer questions. And sitting in those odd-angled passenger car seats at level base camp add an unusual sensory experience before beginning the climb up the mountain. The views from the summit are, of course, inspiring.

A couple of friends and I decided to travel up north for the weekend to get away from the city. We went to a few different places while we were up there. one of which being the Cog Railway. The trip itself was OK. Nothing too special if I'm honest but well worth it. We had a lot of fun at the station they have up there. Sitting around the fire, roasting marshmallows and what not. Not a bad trip, however I cannot say the same with the food. We decided that marshmallows and coffee wasn't enough to satisfy our hunger, so we decided to get some food there. After talking with the gentleman at the register, we were a little disappointed to find out it wasn't an actual restaurant. "It's more of a grab and go convenient store style" he said. He was very friendly, and very helpful. He guided us to the order counter, and went to get the cook for that day. Now this is where things started to roll downhill. We placed our order with the cook, and went to go pay. Then we stood at the counter and waited for our meals. While we were waiting, I got a good look at the cook. He did not look clean at all, and didn't even wash his hands, (however, he did put on some gloves). On top of that, he also looked like he hadn't shaved in weeks. We also noticed that throughout the whole process, he didn't change his gloves once. It wouldn't have been so bad if he was just touching the food, but he was also touching all sorts of other things like pots, grabbing dirty dishes, papers, and other items. I did not feel comfortable eating, but we all agreed to just try it. After a while, the food was ready. we grabbed a tray and went to go sit down. As we were walking away, i went back to grab some condiments. While I was grabbing my sauces, I noticed the man walking away, and as he we walking from one end of the kitchen to the other, he sneezed into the open air, not covering his mouth or nose. You could see the germs fly everywhere. He went to blow his nose, and after he was done, he didn't even wash his hands. He sat back down like nothing even happened. That was the final straw. I went to my table with my group and said they can have my food because I refused to eat my meal. That was cut short however, because one of my friends bit into her sandwich, and it was still cold in the center. We just threw our tray away, said goodbye to the nice gentleman at the register, and left.

I'm very disappointed to say the least. Before writing this review, i noticed two other posts about this same cook. I am shocked this man is still in the kitchen cooking, and hope something gets done with him soon so more people don't have the same experience we did.

Great and safe way to experience the mountain if you are not a hiker. Friendly knowledgeable guides. Great for the whole family.

The Cog Railway trip to Mt.Washington today was an interesting tour with the museum at the bottom as well as the summit well worth the visit. And we got 1 full hour at the summit before heading back down.

My recommendation however would be to take the drive up rather than the cog railroad. Keep in mind I understand the road has no hard rails, is 2 lane only, and has steep ravines in both sides. Some people say it’s a real white knuckle experience (particularly in the heavy fog and clouds which often blanket the top) and may not be for the faint of heart. The trip to the summit is well worth it. It’s just how you choose to go that counts.

The steam engine on the cog railroad is a great adventure. Be sure to reserve on the left side of the train to get the best views if the weather is clear. But don't worry if it is clouded in because it is still a great adventure. The day we rode the cog it was overcast but it was so cool to get to experience the extreme weather at the top of the mountain. 75 degrees at the bottom and 15 degrees with 60mph winds at the top. Dress way warmer than you think you will need. Some guys on our train got on in flip flops and shorts - Man were they sorry at the top! Two days later we drove up the mountain and it was sunny and 35 degrees at the top so it was a completely different experience, but just as fun. Glad we got to experience both.

This was a great, stress-free relaxing way to get to the summit of Mt Washington. And you are given a lot of time at the top to look around, eat and take photos. The staff was very friendly and informative.

A winter wonderland when there was no snow in the lower elevations nearby. The drive in was like someone from a Hallmark movie. The cog train was amazing inside with woodwork that shows what a true craftsman can do. The guide was funny, personable and highly educational. We had fun at the stop at the tree line roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate. The view was spectacular. We could see all the way to Vermont. Worth every penny. Bring cash to tip the guide. He was worth every penny!!!

We've thought about going for several years. Company in town made it a reality.. While it's pricey, is so worth the money. Scenery is not to be missed. Great narration too.

My husband had been wanting to travel the Cog Railway for years and after we disembarked at the base camp station, he kept saying "What a great experience"! We were lucky enough to have Jeremiah as our guide to share information and commentary as we went up (and down after). So much we never knew that made our trip so much more interesting. Definitely worth the cost of the tickets and a must do activity.

My husband I went up the mountain on the Cog train 50 years ago as kids and then 20 years ago with our own kids. The experience was indescribable, just be prepared for a hefty price ticket. We opted this time to do the drive. It was beautiful! We stopped at different lookouts and made it up with no incident despite the warnings of no guardrails and “fear of heights” etc. it was perfect. There was no view but you cannot go expecting one. It was thrilling to be at the tallest point in New England and to walk in the clouds. The hot 80 degree weather below was replaced with a crisp 50. Fantastic trip. Do the Cog at least once and then drive it!

Drive up to the summit yourself or take a tour van. We took the cog railway (oldest in the world) to the summit. John (up) and Terry (down) were fantastic as our guides and as the train brakemen. Highly recommend going for the views and the history lesson. Bring the family! Visit the museum.

Great trip up Mt Washington. Mr Ed did a fabulous job guiding us and providing interesting historical information. The vistas up were fabulous. Worth the time and money

I Love The Cog! I’ve been four times now! Twice in the summer and twice in the winter. On this day 2/29/24 the winds topped 120 mph on the top of Mount Washington! Although the train does not go to the top in the winter it’s no less impressive! At Waumback Station you can get coffee and cocoa, while the kids roast marshmallows on an open fire. (The adults can too, I did.)

We enjoyed the fall colors and commentary by the brake person on the way up and down Mt. Washington. It was very cold and windy at the top, but the museum was warm -and interesting! The clouds hid the views from the top, but it cleared on the way down and we saw the President’s Peaks.

I have always wanted to ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway after seeing it on a TV program in the UK a few years back. And man I was not disappointed. As you travel the 3 miles or so up the mountain, you see amazing and changing scenery, along with changing weather and temperatures. The day my family and I made the trip, it was overcast, so as you got further up the mountain you started to travel through the clouds. Sadly when we got to the top the visibility was really poor so you could not see too much, but just the experience of going through the clouds and even looking down on them was good for me.

Great commentary and stories from the conductors on both the way up and down, just added to the overall experience.

As others have said sit on the left (if you are not worried about heights) for the best views.

Yes it maybe a little expensive to do, but I do not regret paying what we did one bit, I enjoyed the trip even more than I thought I would!

My wife and I visited the White Mountains and enjoyed the 45 minute cog railway climb up to the summit of Mount Washington. The week prior to our visit the summit temperatures was in the mid-50's and sunny. One week later, during our visit in mid-May, the summit temperature was 30 degrees and the ground was covered in ice/ snow. The observation building was not open - scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend. We did step off the railway passenger car and climbed up to the actual mountain summit for photographs. It would have been nice for 50 degree and sunny weather, however with the cold and snow/ ice build-up made for a truly unique experience. After braving the weather for 20 minutes, we settled back onto the train awaiting to take us back down the Mount Washington to the Cog Railway Visitor Center. The railway staff provided a history of the railway on the climb up to and descending the summit back down the mountain. The center has a small museum, large gift ship, and cafeteria/ snack store. Overall a very unique experience. Be prepared for the weather to change on a moments notice. It is best to dress in layers to stay warm.

Visited in 2005 (tob the top) and returned with teens in Apr (mid stop available only).

Pros
Cleanliness
Nice little museum
Cute shop
Friendly staff
Superb views on a clear daexchshging email for cute souvenir tickets

Cons
In April (winter) the train doesn't go the top. They lengthen the trip by giving free hot choc and marshmallow toasting. But I think I'd rather pay less and have the option of paying for hot drink/mallows if wanted.

When we visited many years ago it was all about the railway.
I felt this visit was all about the money. Tips, photos by the train etc. It has become very commercial. I understand post covid that it needs money to survive but the cost to go up means a family of 4 (teens classed as adults) aren't going to afford to pay for all the added extras.

Would wd visit again? No. It would have been nice for the kids to go to the top but obv the time of year was prohibitive. We all feel we have done it, enjoyed it but no need to do again, esp at the price nowadays.

Tip to visitors
If you can, time yr visit to go to the top. Tho beware re weather/visibility.

Tip to management:
Look into winter pricing / groups of 4 'adults' ie 2 adults plus 2 teens as it made it a very expensive trip.

We took the 3pm train up on a terrible weather day which was fine, it took about 40 minutes to get to the top and the building starts to shut down around 4 which I did not realize. We were able to grab a couple drinks from the cafe before it closed, but no actual food.

Spent some time exploring the gift shop, sent postcards (cash only for stamps!), and checked out the museum before they closed.

An hour after arrival it was time to line up to go back, once in line someone came and told us it would be about 30 minutes because another train was having trouble on the tracks. So now we were stuck with nothing to do, freezing weather, rain, wind etc. and they’d let us know when to get in the train.

Everyone sits around and stares at each other for another 45 minutes, and an announcement is made to get back on. Everyone goes outside in the freezing cold and sideways rain, and the break woman hasn’t and wouldn’t unlock the door. Back inside we go, a few minutes later we’re told to get in the train. Everyone goes back out and the breakwoman was checking tickets as slowly as possible, kids were crying, and everyone was soaked. She stopped checking tickets and a couple of families climbed on, she then comes on the train and starts yelling for them to get off. So they had to get back off in the rain, more people are stuck outside. Wild that she couldn’t let people on and check tickets once everyone was inside - and that the company doesn’t have policy drawn up about being able to do that when the weather at the top is notoriously bad.

So we get back to the bottom, sounded like a lot of the families (including us) on board had hungry kids, and the railway had shut down their cafeteria at the bottom.

Train ride was expensive, we couldn’t see anything outside of the car, and getting back down was a disaster. Would take the guided tour up or drive up ourselves if I were to do it again.

Another check off on the bucket list. The brake person gave an informative narration going up and down. I thought the hour wait at the summit was too long. Visit the museum, gift shop, and snack bar, then wait a half hour for the ride down. Expect a 20 degree temperature drop from bottom to top. Add a 25 mph wind and it was freaking cold. 31 degrees ant the summit in mid September. And we dressed accordingly. Fortunately we had a partly cloudy morning so the view was spectacular. Would I do it again? Probably not.

In August 1972, my wife and I took the Cog Railway to the top of Mt. Washington. It was an amazing clear day, great views. To celebrate our upcoming 50th Anniversary, we repeated the journey. We loved the staff, and had great conversations with many on the train. Unfortunately the view from the top was mostly fog. Still it was a FUN ADVENTURE, and we are both very glad we repeated this particular event. We had a small but friendly group in the train car, one couple celebrating their 40th anniversary and a gentleman celebrating his birthday. Very festive trip. The views improved on the way back down as the fog partially cleared. We chose the old Coal driven steam train, since that was how we made the trip 5 decades ago. But, we also understand the option of the newer Bio-fuel engines. Glad they still gave us a choice.

A great way to see some breathtaking views. We learned about the history of the construction of the railroad,as well as some fascinating trivia about the Mountain itself. Make sure to dress appropriately because the weather on the mountain is generally considered some of the worst in the US. I went up on July 8,and the temperature at the Base Station was around 76 degrees. An hour later,and 6200 feet up,it was 41 with a wind speed of around 50 MPH. The passenger car as well as the Summit station are both heated and quite comfortable, so I ducked out from time to time to get some amazing photos. It was great riding in a quaint locomotive,and our tour guide (Andy) really kept our interest with lots of trivia and historical info. However ,from time to time, he gave in to the urge to "pun"-ish us. All in all,a must do activity when you're in the area.

This trip up the mountain was interesting with spectacular views . On top it was colder and one nice piece of the trip was the Post Office with a postmark Mt . Washington . It was a bit pricey 2 seniors and 2 children ages 4 and 7 cost us$290.00.

Last year we drove up the mountain, I wanted to try something a little different as I love train rides. First off easy to get to not hard to find even with loss of cell service. Definitely purchase your tickets in advance and if you like views and not afraid of heights you want to be on the three seat side. The two seat side does not have as good views. Our Brake Man was awesome very funny very laid back. This train ride is not for anybody who's afraid of heights. Anybody going should know they are at the summit for approximately 45 minutes and you should dress accordingly. It was about 90° at the base when we get on the train and it was probably close to 60 by the time we get up to the top, very windy very chilly. There are no bathrooms on the train make sure you go before you depart! This was a very good one time experience if you've never done it I highly suggest it, but only if you really love trains and sites. You can drive up the mountain for a fraction of the cost if you are brave enough to drive on that very slim Road. Due to the price point for my family of four cost a little over $400 we will not do it a second time. But if you have young children it might be cool to do at least once.

Hmm..very expensive at $79 each unless you are really interested in trains. We went for the experience and the information given was interesting. The Visitors Centre at the summit was basically a small cafe , gift shop and museum for which an hour ( turned out to be more like an hour and a half as running late) is too long. It was freezing cold with no visibility which I appreciate cannot be controlled by the staff so really on a day like that, you just want to go back down. No heating in the carriage on the way back for some reason which was really needed after being frozen for well over an hour. Everyone was just huddled inside waiting for the train to return.
If you are not particularly in to trains, I go for the chair lifts or cable cars nearby to see the scenery as you would probably get better and more varied views too.

Very quiet after Labor day during the week in September. $168 for two is pricey for sure but a once in a lifetime visit is worth it. It's a very slow 45 ride to the top but the views are unmatched and unique. Perfect weather sure helped as well. The guides are very friendly and no complaints. Of course the weather is crazy at the top with high winds on this day and very cold. Definitely a need to dress warm. We thought it was cool that they had a post office at the top where you can mail post cards. We received ours when we returned home. A nice souvenir.

The weather was not great (very cloudy) but we took the train anyway. It was still worthwhile. It was exciting going up the mountain and I concluded this was likely way better than driving our car up there. They give you lots of time on the top to see and do things. It was very reasonably priced. I give it a thumbs up.

Weather at the top is always uncertain but it is worthwhile to take the chance and make the trip. Conductors are friendly and educative. Highly recommend. Online advance booking recommended.

Never been so high up on a mountain. Amazing views during the ride up. I swear we were pretty close to heaven !! Lol. If your afraid of heights I wouldn’t recommend this . Otherwise I think everybody should experience this. The ride up is a slow incline taking about 35 min to reach the top. Within minutes of arriving to the top our beautiful view was taken over by clouds and excessive winds. Weather is quite unpredictable at the top so dress warmly and in layers. Luckily there is a visitor center where there are bathrooms, gift shop and small cafeteria while you wait for the next train to bring you back down an hour later.

We allowed plenty of time to get there, but unfortunately traffic was crazy slow. So we arrived 20 minutes before our assigned time of departure. The railway doesn’t accept digital tickets, so we had to print the tickets at home and get them exchanged when we arrived. There is no restroom on the rail cars, so everyone boarding and de boarding were trying to use the same 3 ladies rooms. It was a madhouse!
Then we got on board-what a fun trip! The 45 minute ride was narrated by our guide and was beautiful up the mountain. Then at the top, the temperature was about 25 degrees cooler with a biting wind. But it was an amazing view. It was fairly crowded in the food court and the gift shop, but the hot chocolate was warm and delicious.
All in all it was a very fun ride.

Great ride! The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable of the cog. Been to New Hampshire MANY times and never been on this before.. it was the winter ride, will be back this summer to go to the top. Cookies and hot chocolate was good as well…..

I'll try to keep this review relatively brief, as I've seen some other reviews go into more depth about the issues here, but in short, I was invited to go hiking up in New Hampshire a few weeks ago by some of my buddies here, and while I was up, I decided that I wanted to check out some tourist spots in the state, and ended up here. After the ride, quite hungry, I stopped at this little convenience store they have there, and ordered a cheeseburger and fries, nothing special. Well apparently I underestimated how, "non-special" it was, as it came to me barely cooked. I have no idea how someone can mess up a burger, let alone simple fries. I obviously decided not to eat it, and went up to the counter. There was this this younger looking man working the register. I asked him if I could speak to the manager about my food. I could tell the guy was trying to be as gracious as possible given the situation, but judging by this place's review page, this definitely isn't the first time he's had to deal with this. He pointed me out the manager, and I immediately saw him point towards the guy cooking, and presumably the guy who's messed up the other reviewer's things. At this point, I asked the guy at the register where I could toss my food, and I left. This was definitely on the worse end of experiences when it comes to visiting places in this otherwise really nice state.

We didn’t know quite what to expect when we ventured to this venue. It is unique, historic and enjoyable. It’s worth the effort and expense, even if you can drive up the other side of Mount Washington.

We booked this last minute and are so glad we did! It was a highlight our our trip. We got to the railway really early and they were able to book us on an earlier train and boy am I glad we did - the ride up was amazing - we could see so far, but the weather at Mt Washington is VERY unpredictible - by the time we got to the top we had just a few minutes to see things and then it got so cloudy we could barely see our hands in front of us. It was really fascinating! It's a very cool experience and would highly recommend!

Amazing trip up the mountain with spectacular views on a clear day which we had. The brakeman gives a commentary with local history and what you are seeing along the way. Well worth the trip and our 8:year old grandson loved it too. We bought the bag lunches and were pleasantly surprised how good they were. Very nice gift shop at the top too.

This is an interesting way to get to the top of Mt. Washington. The information center and the actual trip are both worthwhile. Like every other review says, be aware that the weather at the base and at the top can be very different. Tickets are non-refundable due to weather. For us, the weather was 75 and sunny at the base. It was sunny at the top, but in the one hour we were there, a front came through and we boarded the train back down in a driving rain / hail downpour, with no visibility. Still, we wanted to experience Mt. Washington, so the trip was worth it.

You have to do it at least once, especially if you live in NH. We went in the fall. At the bottom it was crisp and beautiful. At the top it was a winter wonderland so dress accordingly. Buy tickets online for best results.

I booked 3 seats on the Cog Railroad. I was traveling with my husband and a solo friend. When you book it, it says to not book all window seats and I read this. I booked my husband and I in one row and my friend in the row behind us. When I got to the counter to pick up with tickets the guy said they had reassigned my seats because I took all window seats. I explained to him that that was not the case, and I did not book all window seats. My husband was not at a window. I believe since we were the last ones picking up our tickets that they just decided to change us to accommodate someone else. In front of us was a family of 3 with 2 rows of seats. I really thought it was rude of him to not only do this, but then to accuse me of doing something I did not. If my friend had booked separately on her own it would have been different. So I guess my suggestion is if you are wanting to go, to book separate reservations because they will do what they want with your reservation, and then accuse of things that you didn't do. Real hospitality.

Secondly, we purchased some mugs up at the top at the gift shop. The gift shop up top is owned by the State of New Hampshire and the prices on the same items they have at the gift shop at the bottom are more money. DON'T BUY ANYTHING AT THE GIFT SHOP AT THE TOP OF THE SUMMIT. When I got back down and realized that the prices were cheaper they told me there was nothing they could do about it because it was different ownership. This is quite a scam in my opinion, the merchandise was the same. Don't waste your time shopping at the Summit for something you can get for less at the bottom.

The only saving grace for this place was the commentary on the way up and back, it was great. We had 2 women named Darlene and they were very good at what they did. They provided a lot of information and details about the railroad and the area.

We didn't see much up top because of how cloudy it was. That being said, once was enough for me. My trip didn't start off good when they hurled accusations at me when I first got my tickets so that didn't make for a good start and good experience.

This perspective is coming from an active couple in their young 40's. Do not go. I absolutely love my senior citizen friends, but this is geared toward anyone that is 75+. The train moves at 2 mph up and down the hill. The views are ok at best. If you've never been to the top of the mountain to see a beautiful view, then maybe you will be impressed. There are other ways to see views of the mountain. The seats are incredibly uncomfortable. BUT, to completely top it off, the gentleman giving the train tour, SMACKED his gum the entire time. For 1.5 hours. Into the microphone. Even during moments of silence, he held that microphone right up to his mouth and continued make giant, wet smacking noises. It was pure misery. We wasted an entire afternoon that would have been much better spent driving through Bretton Woods, or hiking, or doing anything other than this. I'm so thankful we didn't take our kids, because that would have really been the icing on the cake, ha! :)

Well I had the pleasure of sitting with wonderful New Hampshire natives (Burke's) and got the aisle seat in the three seater arrangement. My NH companions came from well fed backgrounds and took two and an half of the three seats. The gentleman in the middle also wanted to stretch to the maximum crushing me in the corner. So to say the ride was a pleasure going up and down is an understatement. After spending the money I wish I could do it again, but alas.

3rd or 4th time, a must do for me on trips to US and New England. More bio-diesels now so you need to be careful when booking if you want an old steam engine.

As ever, weather at the bottom was fine and at the top the clouds covered everything and dropped the temp. But still a great trip.

The trip up (1/3rd of the way) was about 15 minutes. The time to roast hot dogs/marshmallows began as soon as the train stopped, not a full 20 minutes, leaving no time to actually enjoy the stop before heading back down. The hot dogs tasted like bologna and the "sweet" treat was a cookie, not smores as advertised. The almost $300 we spent would have been better spent elsewhere.

A nice experience for me, my husband, and 7-year old who especially loved roasting his hot dog and marshmallows at Waumbek Station. On that sunny clear and cold day, we would’ve loved to have broken the rules and gone up to the summit but perhaps we will come back in-season. Our trip was made all the more poignant when afterwards, we learned about the accidental death of one of the Cog’s engineers, Joe Eggleston, falling from the mountains he loved, at the same time our train was ascending the mountain. Condolences to his relatives and to his Cog family.

So fun, not scary like someone told us, so glad we went, great narrators and great scenery, we got super lucky and it was very clear day, few clouds below us, and wasn’t even cold and windy up top. I say do it if you are in area.

So fun! Interesting to hear the history and working mechanisms of the train from the guides. Beautiful scenery. It was pretty windy and chilly at the top but there is a cafeteria and gift shop to venture in to get out of the elements for a bit.

Visited the area in October of 2022. Ordered our tickets in advance, online. Interesting and historical excursion. Well supervised. Coaches a little crowded, but expected.

This was our second visit. We enjoyed our trip and our conductor was very knowledgeable and funny. We had good weather up the mountain and for about 15 minutes at summit. Then clouds rolled in which gave a different perspective. All beautiful. We love the museum at top with all the weather facts. Make sure you give yourself enough time
To visit it.

Terrible, 310 euros for a family of 4 for a short train ride during which you do not see anything significant.
Once you get to the top of Mount Washington you can't see anything. It is the norm, considering the inauspicious weather conditions surrounding the mountain (indeed, we were told that it could be seen. better than usual). The classic Americantrap that creates something from nothing and we once again fell victim to well-researched marketing...

I have visited Mt. Washington numerous times doing the drive. This train ride was a present for my brothers to experience the history of the z of railway. It certainly didn’t disappoint. The train station is meticulous clean and full of history. They have a small store with snacks and light fare. The ticketing was seamless (online) and I just walked up and got hard copies of the tickets to ride both trains (upward and back down). The engineer was incredibly knowledgable about the history and kept all engaged the entire 1 hour train ride up. He truly enjoyed his job and made the trip even more memorable. Riding down we had a different engineer with even more facts which was great. Such a great way to spend time in the WhiteMountains!!

Excellent tour guides assist on the train - they give you the history and fun facts as you ascend and descend (each way is 1 hour). A very New England experience in the Fall as leaf peepers.

I can't believe those who recommend this tour, it's awful. You go a short distance with a very slow moving train and you reach a hill full of insects. Insects never allow you to take pictures. You have to spend an hour with the insects in an area where you will not spend more than 10 minutes. It is said that the tour has food but not food it was not given saying that the kitchen is closed. Moreover, if you want to see this place, you can come by car instead of coming by an old train and wasting money and time in vain. This is really a waste of time and money

The title says it all! We hit a dense cloudbank halfway up the mountain and when we arrived at the top it must have been 40 degrees with winds blowing at 40-50 mph!!! You couldn't see 15 feet in front of you! Not the most enjoyable adventure!!! However we had a great comedian for an engineer who kept the 3 hour trek light and lively while providing an informative commentary on the cog train, the mountain and other info. Was it worth it? Yes as it is a once in a lifetime experience. I say that because you probably won't want to repeat it after experiencing the weather we encountered! BUT we did it and glad we did!

Well worth the price, the trip up and down had fantastic views of several mountain peaks. With the top of Mt. Washington the final stop. Food at the top a little pricey.
The guide on the train where very informative. Excellent experience

The Cog Railway’s steam engine run to the top not to be missed, especially if you are a railroad person. And shoutout to the staff. Great conversation with the manager, Ryan and the steam engine crew. We were so lucky- it was clear, cold and windy at the summit. The trip was about 3 hours roundtrip, and included a 40 minute or so layover at the summit so you can enjoy the museum or a bite to eat. Check the site as they also offer educational programs periodically. It was a bit expensive but totally worth it, especially when you consider the overhead and people hours it takes to run this unique attraction. The crew operating the steam engine are the most experienced with decades of time on the job. Too many photos to post, but you get the idea. I am in my 60s and was like a ten year old complete with my bag lunch, which was simple but delicious by the way. Watch for Appalachian Trail thru hikers are the top. Amazing. Such a fun afternoon.

Road trip! The cog train ride was awesome! We were there the second week of October and the leaves were fantastic to see. Of course the views from the top were awesome. Not a cheap attraction, but worth the price. Try to make your reservations on line unless you get there early, like before 8:30.

A must do when in the area. Interesting method to reach the top of Mt Washington. We had at first balked at the price and were going to drive up but the cograil was too interesting. Glad we did.

The day we scheduled to do Mt. Washington was cool with rain and fog. Even though you couldn’t see much, it was still a great experience and luckily the fog and clouds cleared up a little on the way back down so we could see a small glimpse of the other peaks. The staff were very friendly and informative. Even if the weather is not great, this is still a must when visiting. It’s better than driving to the top.

The views on the top of Mount Washington are beautiful. The guides on the train were knowledgeable and interesting. The train ride itself was slow and nothing special.

We tried this before, 4 years ago and I was disappointed, because we went up 20 minutes and they gave us coffee and snacks. They couldn't go to the top due to weather. I say don't go if this is the case. But this time it was a beautiful sunny day and we went to the top and I loved it!! The only reason I gave 4 stars is because they don't seem to clean their 2 porta potty's, and the length of the trip was shorter than stated. It's more like 45 minutes to the top and the same back. We had a pretty clear day too, so we could see pretty far.

We visited and went up the Cog Mountain railway, and was very fortunate to experience one of the few days that there is no fog at the top of the mountain. The guards on the train explained that they get approx 300 days of fog at the top of the mountain in a year. You may or may not think it’s expensive as everyone has their own opinion, but as far as I’m concerned where else will you get to experience this unique experience. If you are on a budget then there is the option to take the Auto toll road. Or if you are an avid hiker then you have that option too !!!

my wife and I wrote this lovely train as part of our fall foliage trip. It was a wonderful experience and the staff was more than helpful in explaining everything about the training and what one would see going up and down the rail. The price per person for the round-trip is about $100 each and in this case I would say it was worth it. The entire trip is one hour one hour on top of Mount Washington to take beautiful pictures and learn a little bit about living on Mount Washington especially in the winter. Even at the rather steep price I would recommend this is better than driving up to Summit.

Cancelled months in advance due to medical issue preventing the trip at this time. Even though the website says cancellations are OK (which is the only reason I booked so far in advance in the first place).... it's now been weeks of having to fight for my refund. I was initially told it was canceled and I would be refunded the full $406. The second time I called I was told it was a future credit because they don't do refunds at all. Now I've been told several times they are waiting on the accountant. It's not that difficult. Just refund the card it was purchased on. Anyone that's ever worked in retail knows this is extremely easy to do and should not take weeks to figure it out. Don't book in advance! Or you will be out your money as I apparently am.

While the park buildings at the summit aren’t open yet, you are still able to go to the summit. It’s the only reason to do the trip in my opinion. We had a fogged in summit, so visibility wasn’t as good as when we were here in 2019. Auto road is currently closed but could open anytime.

This was a very good experience. The conductor was very knowledgeable and pointed out many interesting fact both on trip up and down. We were fortunate to be at the summit on a beautiful day.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway is a really unique experience. The Railway I give five stars, but there is a catch to it and I'll explain.
Mount Washington is the tallest peak in northeast America. That, in itself, is impressive. Building a railway that could climb a maximum 37.5% grade at the time of its inception over 150 years ago was considered impossible. But Sylvester Marsh accomplished it. Equally impressive.
The railway is 3 miles (5km) long and stops just short of Mount Washington's summit of 6288 feet (1917m).
The Brakeman (yes, they are responsible for braking the train if needed) take on the role of tour guide. On both my ascending and descending trips the brakeman were friendly, entertaining, and extremely knowledgeable. The train itself was comfortable and the views were stunning. I chose to ride on one of the biodiesel powered trains but there is a steam locomotive option for those that want the historic experience.
There is a giftshop and small café at the bottom of the railway and what can best be described as a state park facility at the top. This train ride may be considered a bit pricey by some ($91.00 per adult, when I went). With that in mind I feel like there needs to be a clear understanding before embarking.
If your desire is to learn some history, experience a cogwheel train and go to the highest peak in the northeastern United States with some incredible views, this is a win.
However, if you are expecting something culturally enveloping or intellectually stimulating at the end of the journey, other than the tallest peak thing, well, best to hope it's not cloudy. On my trip, the weather was clear at the base of the mountain, however, by the time our train reached the summit, visibility was a few hundred feet at best. Not ideal.
State Park facilities are often lacking in most areas of expectation for me. I have had enough experience with this to understand the rare exceptions people are willing to point to and, in my opinion, this isn't one of them. I have been on the Jungfrau Cog Railway, and then the summit of Jungfraujoch in Switzerland, it is a place of comfort with shops, restaurants, a post office and a year round high altitude astronomical observatory with tours. Mount Washington's summit could be that. In its defense, there is a cafeteria, a gift shop and a post office. I believe that in this instance the Journey is the adventure, the views are the adventure, and being at the summit is the adventure.
I'm not saying it was disappointing, I got to the summit of Mount Washington and that was my intention. Understand your expectations before shelling out hundreds of dollars for a small family. Your experience may differ.

All I can say is this is a great experience! From buying the tickets to watching the trains descend to drop off and then pick you up, it was all enjoyable. These are very unique trains that have been carefully preserved and you can tell the people really care about what they do. It is assigned seating ,so you don’t have to get there any earlier then you want to. There is a lot to see if you like history, and good photo opportunities everywhere. I can’t say enough about the experience we had. Do this trip if you can. The trip up and back was about 3 hours once your train leaves base camp and allows a good hour on top of the mountain!

My wife is handicapped, and the elevator was out of order. Add to this they wouldn't let our certified emotional support animal on the train. Even though when my cousin was there 2 years were allowed, which is why we went out of our way to go there. It was a long way off, and my sugar was low because I am diabetic. There was food there you could get a sack lunch, of things like a ham sandwich, chips and a drink for $18 + tax. Or food like mozzarella sticks, fries, and other light under a heat lamp that looked dried out as if they had been there for hours.

My wife said I could go without her, but they wanted $96 if I paid cash, more with a credit card. Here, they didn't have a steam engine running, even though they had them at the roads adverting the place as well as on the ads and brochures. Only 2 diesels. So even though I'm a long-time rail fan, we left disappointed.

We are so pleased we booked this in advance!
We had a great day , the trip on the railway was so much fun and it’s history very interesting.
We were fortunate with the weather and had great views from the top

This was a really cool trip! Brakeman was very entertaining on the trip up and back . It was 65 degrees at the bottom but 65 mph winds and 9 degree windchill at the top! Found out later that clear days are not very common , but fun none the less !

The trip was relaxing and amazing! The views were spectacular. It sis rain at the top but it did not dampen out fun! Eli was very knowledgeable and where we sat watched him expertly navigate the brakes. Steam is much better than the bio-diesel.

I was not sure what to expect with the railroad. I knew it went to the top of the mountain, but did not understand what all this included. Our engineers on the ride up and the ride down were fantastic. They were very knowledgeable about the locomotive itself, the physics and mechanics of the operation, the history of the mountain and the history of the railroad. they also know how to treat people. We were on a train with about 90% retirees who are traveling as a group, one small family and then two middle-aged couples. The commentary and conversation from the engineer was excellent for all ages. All of this is on top of the beautiful scenery that you can see from the train and from the station at the top of the mountain.100% worth the trip and would do this again.

This was so much fun! I was a bit nervous about going because I don't like heights, but that was never a factor. The scenery is worthy on its own, but the brakeman in the car also serves as a tour guide with stories, history and a bit of humor to make the slow climb up the mountain fun and educational. The view from the top is amazing, but be aware it is cold and windy. If you have the chance to take this trip, don't pass it up!

This is an enjoyable several hours if you are in the area. It is known as the world's first cog train and the views on the trip are spectacular. Fall is definitely a busy time, so you may need to book early.

Traveling at what felt like 5 miles per hour up that steep mountain had my anxiety on 10, but the educational aspect of the railway ride and all of its history was most informative. The observatory was awesome, but beware we were attacked by some type of bugs that were worst than mosquitoes and gave me a serious case of the hebe jebees!!! The gift shop/food bar had a smell, drabby looking didn’t want to buy or eat anything there. I waited to go back down the mountain and bought souvenirs at the entrance gift shop. Fir the most part I enjoyed it and would recommend the experience to others!

Awesome experience. Loved the cute museum and gift shop. Cool to learn the history of the rail. The ride was fun and interesting. Terry was a great host. Stopping and getting off to enjoy the views and yummy hot chocolate was great.

A fantastic experience, you will not believe the angle of your climb and the view from the top! Not cheap but worth it as a one off!

Even on a foggy rainy day this was a wonderful experience to ride the old train 6,288 feet up. Beautiful clean cars, some nice chatter of info from the conductor and an overall well worth the $78 dollar experience

Highly recommend this experience.
This was a super cool. During the ride up to the summit you get a brief summary of the history of the cog. Its a comfortable, educational and entertaining ride. The Mt Washington summit is breathtaking. They give you an hour at the summit and then you meet your train for the ride down the mountain. The entire thing takes about 3 hours, start to finish sp plan accordingly. There are bathrooms and snacks available at the bottom and top of the mountain. This is a very family friendly activity.

Huge disappointment. We had an even worse experience than "Alejandro", whose review below was from the same day we were there (7/15/21). We had reserved online weeks ahead for the 3:00 steam train, but they tell you to be there 45 minutes (!!!) ahead of your departure time (totally unnecessary). So we got there at 2:15 and were told that our 3:00 train was delayed till 4. Got back in our car to drive around and explore the area, but there's nothing to see except national forest and shuttered ski resorts. Came back to the station, 4:00 came and went, and there was no train and no announcement. I spoke to the desk and they said, "Probably 5:00 at the earliest, but we can't guarantee that." Knowing that the lodge at the summit would be closed at 5:00 and the snack bar at the base would be as well, and that at best, we wouldn't be back from the trip till 8:00 -- and hadn't seen any restaurants in the area -- we decided to ask for a refund and go home. They did give us an immediate refund with no argument, but after driving almost two hours each way to ride this train, and waiting around the Bretton Woods area for two hours, we were really mad. I would recommend this only if you are already in the area, and definitely book a ride earlier in the day.

This is definitely a must see!! Shows the quarters of long lost mountaineers and how they got up there either by car or cog train. Take a heavy coat can get quite cold!! The views can't be described.

We were told to check out the Cog Railway up Mount Washington. It was definitely a worthwhile trip. Terry was a great storyteller. My wife and I spent a week in New England traveling from Stowe Vermont onto Bar Harbor Maine.

I have so many mixed feelings about this place, while we waited for the train to depart we decided to grab a snack from the cafe, my personal pizza arrived still frozen and my friends fries were so burnt the ends were literally black, but it was no big deal, until we saw the “chef” I immediately wanted to rewind to the time before I placed my order and to whatever he had touched, he was beyond dirty, his pants failed to cover up his body, his personal hygiene was something I can’t even bring myself to write about, I’m shocked that such a beautiful place and awesome attraction allows this. When we left he was sat at the register eating a huge plate of food, sad that this is the only memory I have of this place.

The tour itself was fun, our tour guide had zero personality and was so deadpan it was actually funny, we also witnessed a couple join the mile high club behind the rain shelter.

Shout out to the awesome guy who was staining the tables, he recommended so great places to visit and was extremely friendly.

The original cog railway is an experience no one should miss! My husband and I went on the 116 year old cog. Other trains are available and are equally as good but we wanted to go in the original since my husband loves trains. I would definitely try to pick a good clear day when making your reservation. The views from the train and from the top of Mount Washington are breathtaking. The conductor on the train that gave an overview on the way up and down the mountain was excellent

Great experience with family, definitely a must see and do when in Mount Washington New Hampshire!! Love the history and the views from the top .

We loved this trip! The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The scenery is amazing. We lucked out and had a beautiful warm day.
Enjoyed the hour at the top.
This is the only train in the area you don’t want to miss!!

To get to Mount Washington on Railway is a beautiful drive in the White Mountains , NH. The weather was perfect at the base, sun shining and about 75 degrees although there was some clouds up top. (We pre- bought tickets for the 4pm biodiesel train up.)We were told to arrive at 3pm. There is basically nothing to do but wait. There was a small cafeteria but at that time we didn’t want to ruin our dinner appetites. We boarded at 4pm sharp. As we ascended up the employee told us facts about the train and the tracks. The temperature dropped significantly and clouds rolled in covering the summit. Be prepared with coats & hats. After the halfway house the view was completely obscured and the wind was blowing. ( takes 50 minutes to get up there). Why I gave 3 circles ? At the summit we had ZERO view, the snack bar was closed, the Museum was closed, and the gift shop employee shut the doors as we arrived!! Sooooo we sat there in 47degree weather with wind chill making it 37 degrees. Only a few brave souls went to the Tip Top house to brave the cold and snap a picture. So we sat there for 1 hr doing absolutely NOTHING! EXTREMELY disappointing. Then the park ranger says: oh it’s like this 75% of the time! 😠😳. For $72/pp x6 for my family. WE WERE NOT HAPPY! However, down the road is Mount Washington Hotel, an Omni hotel. Amazing at sunset! Sat on their large porch and ordered drinks and small plates.( open for public to sit there).

We had a nice experience. Our tickets were for 1:00, and the platforms (train cars) were not full so everyone was able to spread out to window seats. Takes 45 minutes up to top, an hour at the top, and 45 minutes to get back down. Sit on the left side. I knew it would be cold at the top and had brought a heavy sweater, but it was such a beautiful day that I opted for a lightweight sweater. Wrong choice. It was 55 degrees at the top but a VERY strong wind made it really cold. Be careful walking up the pile of rocks to the "summit" for the photo-op. I fell and skinned my knee

This was fun! The whole experience was great. A bit price at $91.00 but we were on vacation. It does take some time as the train goes 5 miles per hour. The views are extremely beautiful. You get an hour to spend at the summit and they have bathrooms and a cafe where you can get something to eat. Be prepared for the chilly experience at the top. The day we went it was 41 degrees at the summit and 72 at the bottom.

This was an excellent adventure! The two adults and one 11-ear-old enjoyed the ride up and down. Staff was friendly and helpful at each interaction. Tom was exceptional on the ride down.

The views were amazing in both directions!

Visitor center, museum, shop, and restrooms were all clean and well kept. Museum was very cool with some interactive and great things to read—I’m glad we did that before our ride versus after.

Arrive on time—things are punctual!

Highly recommended way to support history!

This left much to be desired. We were really disappointed for the cost ($54 +tax per person) We went in December and they only go as far as wumbuck station (which is 1/2 elevation but not half way up the track). It was about 12 minute ride up, 25 minutes at the station and 12 minutes back. Really short ride for what we paid. In the summer, you go all the way to the summit. We knew this but it was even shorter than expected.

The train cars were really dirty. Trash on the ground etc. the station itself was also a mess. The complimentary beverages were packets of Swiss miss with hot water you mixed yourself or tea bags and the area for that was an absolute mess. Trash everywhere, empty boxes, just a disheveled mess. Really just gross and run down feeling. Again, for $115 for two people we had higher expectations.

My advice, skip it in the winter. The train is cool and I’m sure in the summer the summit is awesome to check out this way, but the price was just not reasonable for what you get in the winter months.

We went on a cloudy rainy day. It was raining when we left the station, but not on top of the mountain. The views were foggy, but beautiful.

We rode the last train up for the day. It was end of September and low 40's at the top.

We had a group of 7, including 3 kids.

There was plenty of parking. The kids enjoyed the gift shop. The ride was comfortable. You can open/close the windows for photos or comfort. There was space to move around a bit or spread out in seats, which was great with kids and backpacks in tow.

This is such a unique experience and I highly recommend it!

What an amazing excursion. The ride is incredible. The views going up are extraordinary. The brake men and brake women are very knowledgeable. Make sure you arrive an hour before your ride...they don't wait. Dress in layers. It can be super cold at the top. The day we went it was 40 degrees at 2 pm. The top is very gravelly so wear sneakers. At the top are a couple of gift shops, a snack bar, and a small museum about the weather. At the railway station, you will find a small museum, a gift shop, and snack bar.

Downsides:
1. Weather is unpredictable
2. You only get an hour at the top. Would have loved an extra half hour.

Enjoy a slow and easy 45 minute ride to the top of Mount Washington. It’s about 20+ degrees cooler up top so bring your layers! It was blowing 40 mph when we were up top. There is an indoor area you can stay in with glass Windows that you can take photos from. I think we had almost an hour up top before our return trip. There is a snack bar, gift shop and museum in the building as well. Glad we did this while in the area!

First piece of advice. Book seats on the side of the train with 3 seats. Much better views. You have the same seats going up and down, and the train does not turn around, so you have the same view coming down.
2nd piece of advice is for the railroad. Please have the guides stand out of the doorway so that all passengers can see through the door and take pictures. I understand that there are parts of the job that they may have to block the view out the door. You will only be able to get good pictures of the track going up.
Next part of passenger advice. Definitely take the advice of the guide and get your picture of the summit sign upon arrival. You will have to climb on rocks to get there. Wear something you would hike in.
It can be hot on the train. Take cold water.
We were lucky, and the temps at the summit were mid 60's and didn't need jeans or our sweatshirts. Check the weather at the summit before you go.

We had a great experience on the Cog Railway. We got tickets about a week in advance so we could get the time we wanted. A little on the expensive side but well worth the cost.

An absolute must do if you in the vicinity especially in the fall. History of Cog Railway is very interesting and the views are fantastic. We were a little early for peak foliage but enough to be interesting. Staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

Took the steam train up, about an hour. Nice views from the summit. Hint there are restrooms on both levels so don’t get trapped in a line. Recommend the steam train over the Diesel train. Dress warm!

Didn’t understand the parking system was self pay. After my 10 year old and I got off the cog, we discovered they towed my truck over a $10 parking charge I didn’t realize I was supposed to pay. Honest mistake. I would have gladly paid the $10 or a ticket instead of being towed 20 miles away. So I’m now stranded with my son in the parking lot. No cabs in the area but they offered me a “buddy” with a truck that I could pay $75 to bring me to the tow lot. What if this was the winter or after dark? This is the option for customers? Upon arriving at the tow lot, I was forced to pay $250 to retrieve my vehicle. If you have every been towed you know the feeling. This experience was aggressive and unnecessary for something that was an honest mistake. Extremely unhappy with the way they treated a paying customer.

Went today with friends. Decided to buy tickets there as there were several available online. When we arrived found tickets to be 90 plus a service fee for purchasing at location. So be smart and buy your tickets in advance.
The train ride itself was wonderful. Michael kept us entertained the entire ride. So happy we decided not to drive as we're in a rental car and it looked pretty hairy at the top!

After looking for the best day of weather in White Mtns NH. I booked 2 tickets aboard the cogwheel. There was some disappointment that the steam locomotive was out of commission, but we had NO complaints with our ride and our Brakeman Jacob going up. At the top we spent all the time we needed looking around and in the museum.
Our way down was on a different engine and crew, but it was every bit as informative and entertaining. We were slow getting down and therefore backed the other tours up, which made me glad I had booked an early tour.
Although there were some annoying insects, it wasn't unbearable.
I have NO REGRETS whatsoever. Great tour, we'll worth every dime.

It was a great experience we made reservations before we left on our trip so we could make sure we got to take the steam train it was very nice weather there is no telling what the weather will be some come prepared.

Our conductor was very informative! The train moves slower than expected but the views are amazing! I loved the time at the top of the mountain! It’s pricey but worth it! Kids loved it!

The train ride was a lot of fun. Four fifths of the ride was beautiful and educational (the top was completely socked in). I have ridden cogwheels in Europe and was gratified to learn that this was the first. Brakemen/brakewomen are knowledgeable and, depending on who you get, pretty fun as well. However, I was extremely disappointed when we arrived at the top to find 1. The National Weather Observatory was closed, and 2. The kitchen was closed. Fares were a bit pricey, especially considering that they were nonrefundable, but I wouldn't have missed this.

Interesting stop on road trip through the northeast. Didn’t ride train as it was expensive and rainy. But it was fun to learn about it and beautiful views all around.

This was something my family had always wanted to do and we were very lucky to get a beautiful sunny day. Temp at the top was 65 degrees which is supposedly on the warm side there. Conductor was knowledgeable and gave us a lot of background. Train was packed, which it probably always is when the weather is decent. Views were spectacular.

Cons: Expensive - we paid ~$80/ticket and were charged a $5 per ticket "convenience fee" to reserve ahead. They were working on the observation area at the top so you couldn't go up there and the construction was very loud. You were given an hour to wander around at the top which was a decent amount of time.

Bottom line - glad we went, but once was enough.

I was there for the weekend, a shout out to captain Terry there, I was at the top of the mountain and my ticket flew away because it was so windy. My sis and I went to talk to Terry about it, he was so warm and told us not to worry about it and let us back on the return trip. He also told us some attractions that we should visit. Thank you so much Terry!

Although during the winter the rail does not go to the summit of Mount Washington. It only goes to the first base at 3800 ft. They provide watered-down hot chocolate, coffee, a fire and marshmallows. It was still a very entertaining trip and I would definitely do it again. Be prepared the further up you go the colder it gets.

A unique experience. It was a rainy overcast day so we were not hopeful of a good view at the summit, and we were not wrong! Total cloud cover and very, very cold. However, we had layered up and there were good views most of the way up and down. The guide/brake man on both the assent and descent were really informative and good.

It’s the first cog train up a mountain in the world so my friend and I wanted to experience history. Very fun ride and I would imagine kids would have fun too. Started foggy at the base but quickly burned down on our way down. We took the 0730 ride and the colors were absolutely beautiful with the morning lighting. And it was fun being above the clouds at the summit. If you have time, make sure to ride the cog train. It’s best to get a window or front seat (away from the engine). The brakeman was also funny and gave us fun facts

I had hiked up about 30 years ago, and would’ve done the hike again, but my wife and I got there too late in the day.
It was an interesting ride up the slow moving train and the history of it was also fascinating. There’s a small museum at the top and a mediocre, high priced cafeteria as well.

Most of the time it’s bitter cold at the top, but plenty of shelter.
The $85 price tag per person takes away any great value however.

There are group van rides on a paved road with great guides for about half the price and half the time up (30 minutes).
You can also drive your own car, but it’s quite taxing on the brakes and transmission.

Overall, it’s nice to have the experience if the $ doesn’t break the bank!

Howard S.

We were lucky that our morning to the top of Mt Washington was sunny and warm. The temps at the summit were 52 degrees. The views weee amazing! Course the wind was impressive too, I cannot even imagine what it would have been like in bad weather. The Cog ride was about 45 minutes each way. You do face forward both directions (benches switch), and the brakemen were great trip narrators. Would recommend.

After a bit of an ordeal getting information about our gift certificates and reservations over the phone, we eventually were able to get a seat on the diesel train for a spectacular trip to the top of Mt. Washington. The organization at the start was good and the tour guides on the train were more than helpful with stories and information about the train, the trip, and the mountain. We had a top-10 day for visibility but not sure how the trip would be in bad or cloudy weather. Pick a nice day for the full experience!

Beautiful scenery. Entire ride was awesome. Staff was very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Seat even flipped so we were facing forward going up and back. Nice museum while you wait for your trip. Highly recommend.

WOW!!!! We went from Summer to winter in an hour. 37 degrees and 60 mile hour winds sleet and fog on top!!!! We took the steam cog what a fascinating experience!! Very friendly and entertaining staff. Would recommend this experience

Awesome! We purchased non refundable tickets ahead because we were a group of ten. So cool to ride up the mountain! Suggest you ask for an AB seat so you are not as crowded on the seat. Very informative guides too! We were there on a very cloudy chilly day with winds of 78 mph and temp about 35 degrees with wind chill. We knew to dress warm as we had researched it but people were up here in shorts and t shirts! We were able to walk around and stand on the actual summit! And the photo op line was short because of the weather. They have a cute enclosed area with a museum and reasonably priced food. You stay at the top about an hour. The next day was clear and warmer but our experience is something we’ll never forget!

The view was amazing a relatively clear warm day so could even seen Canada. Lucky enough to have snow on the mountain but unfortunately couldn’t go to the top because of it. Great informative staff.

We had a wonderful "Captain"" named Eli who gave terrific explanations and was amazing as he steered the train up and down Mount Washington. An A plus trip. Thank you Eli.

We enjoyed our experience on the train and learning all about it's history. Our guide was informative and funny. Unfortunately the day we went was poor weather and we were unable to get out at the top because of high winds and ice. We got to see about 15 seconds of what we should have seen up there when clouds cleared but then it was white out again. If we ever did it again I would chance booking it the day before when I knew what the weather was going to be.

I have been on the Cog several times. The last trip, this past Sunday was especially beautiful. No leaves and there was snow. It was perfect.

Forecast called for clear July day, so we parked at the cog parking lot, bought our round trip tickets, hiked the Ammonousac trail (4.5 hrs) to the Summit, then took the 2 pm train back to the base camp. Our conductor Terry kept us entertained the whole way down. Knowing we had seats on the way down made the hike up a different experience for us. Thanks to Terry, and the Cog for a safe and fun journey!

I will start by saying that if you are not a hiker or are too afraid to drive your car up the auto road then this will probably be an amazing trip for you.
If you have never seen the view from Mount Washington and like trains and fun facts, it is an experience.
I'm specifically writing for those of you that may have hiked up Washington or any other presidential.
I have hiked up a few times and always saw the train and thought it would be a fun, different way to experience the mountain.
It is a pretty uncomfortable and slow ride up and down, you don't switch sides on the trip down so you get the same view both ways. We went on a clear day with good views but the train was super hot.
They did nice presentation of facts but it is no way worth the high price. If it was $30, maybe.
The train was nice and they are hand made so that was cool to see but, you see it for 2 hours.
If you want a novel experience and won't hike or drive, worth it. If you can, do it another way.

Taking the RR was a fun & unique experience. The train was very crowded as expected during the peak Fall time. The total time was approximately 3 hrs-1 hour up, 1 hr at the top and 1 hr down. The staff provided good commentary on the mountain and history during the trip. We thought the admission was a bit steep.

Tips:
Arrive early so that you can can walk around and take pictures before your departure.

As soon as you arrive at the top, go to the summit sign to take a photo. There is a very long line and you don't want to miss it.

Dress/bring appropriate clothing for the weather.

Charming throwback travel up to the summit gives you an opportunity to learn some of the history of Mount Washington and experience a unique train experience. Take a breather and give yourself three hours to take a step back in time. The trip gives you a unique opportunity to see the topography and appreciate how challenging this trek can be for hikers. Our trip ended up traveling through a cloud bank, so it really was like being up in the sky

We knew the mountain was notorious for cloudy weather, and 300 days a year there are clouds at the summit. So it is a bit of a roll of the dice. Unfortunately we got a cloudy day and missed out on the spectacular views. Still was fun to ride up and we did see some great views on the way up. Sitting on the left side (the 3-seat side) would have been more impressive. The 2-seat side has a lot of trees.

Even in the summer the peak is 20+ degrees cooler, and with clouds/fog/wind can be a little chilly. Bring something to keep you warm/dry.

The narration is good - very informative. Lots of history on the world's oldest cog railway!

What an experience!
We only went up to Waumbeck Station at the 4000-foot elevation but it was still a joy.
You can't go to the top and I would not want to, the wind speed on top was 90 mph
You can't believe what they have done to the place.
Last year you would go on the train while the brakeman told the history of the cog.
When you got off you were greeted by a nice man they welcomed everyone.
They supplied coffee, cocoa, and donuts, it was just great fun.

Now, forget it....................
They built three huge decks with huts on each deck, they are heated with doors.
The handrails are made from railroad tracks, and the whole thing is just magnificent.
The views were great and the staff was very informative.
The whole experience is a lot of fun, and safe and free donuts can never be bad.

Cool experience. We booked the morning of for a 1p departure. I was probably more interested in the foliage on the way up and had a suspicion the view from the top might not be great due to it being overcast. The narrator on the way up was both informative and humorous. About halfway up we started seeing patches of snow, at the top it was a full on ice castle. I expected cold but this was brutal. Snowy-ice everywhere. Amazing what a difference from the base. No view at all but still an amazing experience. On the observation deck on the top it was so windy I almost got blown over. Be sure to dress warm. We were on the 2 person side of the train (which is on the right when going up, and the left when coming down). I think the view is better when you are on the 3 person side (left going up, right coming down). You get about an hour at the top. They have a small cafe selling chili, soup, sandwiches. Pretty reasonable prices too-$5 for a small bowl of chili. Small gift shop there too.
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Honestly it was the biggest waste of 91 bucks. We were told on arrival we were not going to the top. We were squeezed in with 70 a full car they said you could move around and take pic no way they same people kept standing in the Aslle. When we got to the stopping point you could have 4 people out on the platform. 2 guys stood out the entire 20 min talking trains with the break man so only two more could go out .. well the other 68 were not all getting out. I feel seriously had on this.. it says in the fine print you were not getting your money back for weather so buyer beware 91 bucks to ride in clouds looking out at road .. with people squished in and farting.. it could not have been a worse experience.

Here is a follow up for our trip up the Cog railway. We had absolutely perfect and unusually warm Fall weather. Temperature at the top was in the 50's and low wind. Still I would recommend bringing extra clothing, hat, gloves and a wind layer as the brakeman said that this was a 4% day (meaning there are many days like this). We book for the 8 am biodiesel train which was approximately half full. The only train in front of us was the coal fired steam engine.
We sat on the left side of the train and that was a good choice although people moved around since the car was not full. A note on seats. If you book the front row, bear in mind that the brakeman may stand on the platform in front with the door open meaning that the few for the person in the front row, left side will have some of her/his view obscured.
There was a good amount of time on the top of the mountain to walk around and enjoy the views. Because we were the first group, there were not to many people up top. No traffic from the autoroad, yet. My only complaint was that the directions for the return trip were not clear. We got back to the loading point at 9:15 and did not reload till 9:45. Some of the brakemen gave a running commentary on the way up. Ours did not.

Well, that is another experience we accomplished and taken off the bucket list. While not inexpensive the experience was worth every penny. The train is in great shape. It was clean and comfortable. The operators were welcoming and knowledgeable. The vistas we're beyond your imagination. Having lived in New England for 50 years I can honestly say I have never been to a more beautiful part of the country. The hot chocolate and marshmallow roasting added to an we will never forget. Don't miss your ride up Mountain Washington!

Our brakemen--brothers Tom and John--were outstanding. Clearly enjoyed working with people and gave excellent narrations on the way up and on the way down, without duplicating information. Josh was the engineer on the way down the mountain. I credit all of them for getting us safely up the mountain and then safely back down. Breathtaking vistas in both directions, and from the summit. Weather was predictably unpredictable: TAKE LAYERS, hats, and gloves, It's much colder and windier at the summit, clouds rolled in, and then out again 20 minutes later. We were lucky to have sun most of the day. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My husband and I were glad we did it, but won't go again. The Visitor Center was over-run, snack bar line ridiculously long and they were out of the only thing I cared about--hot chocolate. It was pointless to spend any time in the museum because it was claustrophobic to us. This is the price you pay for making the journey in high season. But worth it!

It feels like taking the cog railway is just the RIGHT way to get to the top of Mount Washington, but I don't think we would have missed much by just driving up. They go to the same place, but on the railway, you've got a set amount of time at the top (one hour, if the train is running on time). If it's cold and windy or super foggy, you may be miserable up there without much to do. Still, the railway was nice enough, and I'd consider doing it again.

We struck gold and visited on one of the rare clear days! 70-mile visibility was amazing. Train was informative and a great way to get to the top.

Was thinking about doing this with a group of friends but save yourself a few hundred dollars and walk up a trail to the top. What I find insane is a lot of the seats were already booked! Are people in New Hampshire all wealthy or do they just like to spend a lot of money? You practically have to go through 3 screens and pick your seat before finding out the prices. $94 dollars per person!! (Don't forget the tip;) I've had airline and lift skiing tickets cheaper!

The views was amazing, the tour guys was very knowledgeable about the train and the area. It was fun an the sights were beautiful

We were lucky to be there on a beautiful fall day - clear and sunny. Even so, it was very windy and cold at the top - be sure to bring a warm jacket and hat! Our docent on the way up was very knowledgeable and helpful. It takes about 45 minutes to ride each way, and you are allowed about 45 minutes at the summit. You can walk around to various viewing spots at the summit, have a bowl of chili, and visit the museum and gift shop. It's a little spendy, but definitely a wonderful experience.

What a fun experience. We were lucky to have such a warm day. The train ride was fun and it was interesting to hear the facts about the mountain and the history of the cog which I believe parts came from Acadia National Park. Lovely scenery. A little foggy when we first got up there but it changes quickly. The gift shop, post office were not yet open for the season when we went up. Great experience to be that high up ( and not hike it lol)

Fantastic railway ride up the mountain in perfectly clear weather. Freezing and very at the top but superb views. Excellent guides bith up and down explaining the history and geography. Great value for money.

A wonderful ride to the top of MT washington. Tasty box lunch purchased at the base to maximize time at the summit. Very blustery day at the top.

Buy tickets in advance so you can choose where you want to sit. Arrive ahead of time, get a parking spot, grab a snack, wander the gift shop, then take the cog up the mountain. The train drivers are good people. Very knowledgeable about the history of the cogs, the area, and make a joke every now and then. Great views along the way and up at the top, where you can wander around Mt. Washington. Just don't miss your train for the return trip!

Bathrooms available at the station and at the top of the mountain, as are snack shops.

Fairly expensive, but recommended to do at least once.

The most unique way to get to the top of Mount Washington is via the Cog Railway. This engineering marvel was the first mountain-climbing train of its kind – and it has been making the journey to the summit for 152 years! beat it..!! The USA and its engineering is fascinating

The journey takes just under an hour and safely delivers you through three climate zones before you reach the summit, at which point you’re free to explore. The trains typically stay at the summit for around an hour, before beginning their descent back to the bottom.

Fun Fact: The Mount Washington Cog Railway, also known as the Cog, is the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway.

There are two kinds of trains that make the journey these days: modern biodiesel trains and an old-fashioned steam train. Today it’s primarily biodiesel locomotives, which have run here since 2008; the steam locomotives run twice per day and are more authentic to journeys from 150 years ago.

Great view and great people! Our team was Josh and Dakota and they were awesome. Will definitely visit again!!

I had been aware of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway for over 50 years (since I was a child) and had always wanted to do it, even though my family had driven by car to the top many years ago.
Well, this year I finally had an opportunity to do the Cog Railway.
I’m so glad we did it, because it is an historic attraction that is fun as well as educational. The guides on the uphill and downhill trains were wonderful and very informative.
The view was fantastic on the day we went.
We had brought our own sandwiches and chips to eat when we got to the top, but also purchased a bowl of good chili up there.
One thing that I have to mention is that on the way up the wooden seats did not have any cushions and they were pretty uncomfortable. On the way down, the train had cushions for the seats which made them slightly more comfortable.
Don’t miss the museum at the bottom where you board!

The drive to the COG Railway was beautiful through the mountains! The weather was not the best, but we made the best of the trip. The ride to the top was fun and informational and if you're afraid of heights like me, just don't look down! The top was windy, rainy and foggy but it was amazing to reach the peak and also see many hikers who braved their way to the top! It's a definite must see, even in bad weather.

Visited in August 2023 with my wife and our 6yo daughter. The Cog Railway experience at Mount Washington is truly unique and memorable.

Starting at the base, the weather was mild and overcast, quite pleasant really. But as we chugged up the mountain, we entered a completely different climate. By the time we reached the summit, it was completely fogged in with winds around 10mph and temperatures hovering around 45°F (about 7°C). A true testament to the mountain's unpredictable weather.

The ride itself takes approximately 60 minutes. One of the highlights was undoubtedly the brakemen. They aren't just there for safety; they are a wealth of knowledge. Their humorous commentary during our journey up and down the mountain added a delightful touch, making the experience even more enjoyable.

Once at the summit, we were given an hour which was more than enough to grab a quick snack and explore a bit. For those thinking about food: there's an option for a $17 bagged lunch. We chose this purely for convenience. It consisted of a "cog" cookie, a turkey and cheese wrap, a bag of potato chips, and a choice between a 16oz soda or water. Was it the best meal ever? No. But for the convenience of not having to manage food logistics for the family, it was worth it. That said, both the base station and summit cafeterias offer other food and beverage choices.

A word of advice: bring adequate layers. The difference in temperature between the base and the summit can be drastic. And although the train has an impeccable safety record, it's good to be prepared for unexpected situations. The thought of a long hike down is daunting!

As for the cost, yes, at $75 per person (with discounts for kids) the price might seem as steep as the hill climb itself. But when you consider the railway tackles ascents as sharp as 37.41% at its steepest, it all comes into perspective. Given the unique experience and history, we found it to be worth every penny.

In conclusion, while we thoroughly enjoyed our journey, we're hoping for another trip when the summit offers clear, unobstructed views. All in all, the Cog Railway is a fantastic experience for families, history buffs, and nature enthusiasts alike.

We scheduled this in advance, it sounded like a unique way to experience Mount Washington and it did not disappoint. Our brakeman Tom was very informative and answered our questions. This cog railway was the first mountain climbing RR that opened in 1869. The summit at 6,288 ft elevation has different weather conditions than below and can vary from the high of 72 degrees to low of -47 degrees and hit a record high of 231 mph winds. We enjoyed the 1 hour ride up the mountain with changing scenery, curves and steep sections. The buildings and trees all looked like they were bending and we could not stand up due to the angle we were climbing. At one point we could feel the temps getting colder. At the summit the temps were in the 40s with 20 mph winds. There are buildings at the summit with history, gift shop, snacks, museum, etc. I think they allowed us around an hour to walk around and take our pic on the top of the rock pile beside the Mt Washington Summit sign. We headed back down which took around an hour and then shopped in the gift shop. You can also reach the summit by the auto road and hiking trail (the Appalachian trail passes over this mountain), but I feel the Cog Railway is the way to go.

This was not on our itinerary, but we made adjustments so we could take the cog train and it was SO worth it! This is the oldest cog train in the U.S. and the only other cog train in the U.S. is in Colorado and goes up to Pikes Peak. We were able to get on the first train in the morning at 9:00. Make reservations in advance and select seats in the first row of the train. You will have a mostly unobstructed view on the way up (the engine is in the back). On the way down, you will be in the back of the train, but the engine is in front on the way down so they view isn't as grand. You have 55 minutes at the summit to explore. There is a small weather museum (free) in the visitor center that was very interesting. We were lucky in that the day we went, the temp at the summit was 45, very little wind, and clear skies. It's a little spendy but was one of the best things we did on our 10-day New England road trip.

Worth doing once if for no other reason than to say "I did that". Spectacular views on the day I rode with 100 mile visibility. 45 minute ride. I only did the ride down as I ran up (Race the Cog). Not sure I'd want to be on the summit for 2 hours if I took the cog up.

WOW! This experience was fantastic. The weather was in our favor: calm, good visibility and the temperature at the top was in the high 60's.

The ride up and down the mountain on the railway is something I'm glad I did not miss during our visit to the area. We had different brakemen on the ride and down the mountain. The one on our ride down was very experience and related a number of different facts about the geology and history of the area. The brakeman on the ride up wasn't quite as good but she tried.

Great ride up, it was windy and very cloudy while we were at the top. You pick a day and go you cant't control the weather. But it did clear up on aour way down great views.

About a month back during February, a few friends and I were on a trip north to ski, and we decided to stop at the Cog Railway on the trip up, among other sites, before hitting the slopes. The railway itself was fine, however I would not recommend the price tag for the food service we received there. A few things grossed me out a bit, such as noticing a particular cook who had spilled something and not cleaned up after himself, but it wasn't immediately a turn off for me. However, once my friends and I received our food, we discovered that half of it wasn't even cooked all the way through. I work part-time in a kitchen in between my classes, and so I started observing what was going on as the rest of my friends ate. I noticed an employee who would keep the same gloves on when handling everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I also noticed that not once did he wash his hands. Cross-contamination was enough to decide that I wasn't going to finish my frozen meal, and my friends and I ended up throwing our things out and leaving. $50 is far too much for service like that.

This is a well run operation. Interesting guides both on the way up and down. You need the hour at the summit, so the 3 hour trip is ideal.

Well done to all.

I love New Hampshire! Beautiful state and the White Mountain area does not disappoint. I have visited with family a few times over the years. We always take the Cog up to the summit for the majestic views. It was my cousin's first time and I was so happy that we got a great brakeman. The brakeman keeps you safe on the ride up and back, and also provides trivia and interesting facts about the area and the Cog. We had Anvil on the trip up and he was fabulous!!! Very funny and informative. I would ride with him again. I actually learned a couple new facts! (BTW, make sure you bring some cash to tip your brakeman).

The summit is wonderful. Many opportunities for pictures with impressive backgrounds. Other tourists are always very nice and take turns and help each other out with group pics. The food was good at the top of the summit. Nice to get some hot drinks when it is a cold day. My helpful hint is to dress in layers and bring a wind breaker. It is much colder at the summit and the wind whips around and through your clothes. You also want hiking boots or a good shoe if you plan on walking the trails. This is a mild to moderate hike. Not real long but there are a few spots that are tricky if you have a bad knee or ankle. Otherwise, people of most ages can get around without much issue.

If you are visiting NH, this should be on your list of things to do!

See and learn so much as compared auto road. Auto road is a thrill but not able to view much between white nuckle drive and praying!! Wonderful and informative experience.

I’d long wanted to take the Cog Railway and my wife and I had the pleasure of taking it up last week. We reserved tickets on the left side of the train [heading up the mountain; you get the same seat on the return trip] and were not disappointed with the broad view. It was a glorious sunny day. Terry was a great guide for our trip up. We enjoyed our time at the top of the mountain (don’t forget to mail postcards for a Mount Washington postmark!). Re: the ‘base station,’ I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a gift shop so much. There were loads of creative and unique items and we definitely overspent getting neat stuff. Well worth the trip!

Wonderful!!! This experience takes you up and away to wonderful vistas and incredible scenery. Well worth the time and costs.

Seats on the railway are very uncomfortable. Commentators on the way up and the way down repeat the same info. We were warned it’s usually cold and windy up top. Much to our surprise it was 50 mph winds and only 20 degrees. We could hardly keep hold of our phones to take pictures. Views were amazing until clouds rolled in and you couldn’t see over the edge.

The is one of the steepest trains in the world and it was really fun. Beautiful views, organized boarding process, comfortable, good guides who explain the mountain and train history. We went in August and completely forgot to account for weather change at the summit so we didn't have warm enough jackets to hike around the top but luckily there is a museum, gift shop building where you can hide from the elements.

I'm kind of torn on how to review our experience... don't get me wrong, we had a blast... but not for the normal reasons. The day we had picked out was about 70 degrees and rainy with lots of fog and low hanging clouds (at the bottom). Both the trip up and down you couldn't see more than 5 or 10 feet in any direction but it was still pretty cool riding up a track to nowhere. At the top the weather was: 30 degrees with 60 mph winds and ice rain, in August. It was absolutely insane, most people ran from the train into the visitor center but we figured were going to the summit anyway. The wind was so strong it was hard to stand and it would push the water into every crack so we were completely soaked in maybe 30 seconds. We spent the rest of the time in the visitor center drinking hot chocolate and drying off before heading down but overall we absolutely loved the experience and it makes for a great story to tell.

Great experience! We took the first diesel train of the day up the mountain (9am); it was not filled, so we were able to move from seat to seat freely, especially going up the mountain (once seated, you cannot get up when descending the mountain). The employees are interesting and very knowledgeable, talking about the train and Mt. Washington all the way up (and nearly all the way down). If you can, take the first seat (preferably on the left side of the train) for going up Mt. Washington. In general, grab a seat on the left side of the train when going up, as you get better views of the surrounding mountains on that side. Takes less than an hour up, and you get 1 hour to explore the summit. Bring some mailing addresses with you, as they operate a post office at the summit and you can purchase postcards and get them postmarked from Mt. Washington!

I had been wanting to take my kids. We finally went. I bought tickets weeks in advance of our trip because I wanted to get the front 3 seats. When you buy & select your seats, they don't tell you that theres a chance they'll change your seats- which is what happened to us. As we were getting in the train, we see no "train B". We've been moved to train A & from the 1st row to the middle of the train. Extremely disappointed, $200 that I wouldn't have spent if I'd known my son wasn't going to be able to see anything.

its a dream to travel by this train to the top of the summit

it takes you through different seasons and elevations all through the top of the summit. one memorable ride you would have

rich in its culture and story if how and why it was made. one can enjoy the beauty around while the trains is making its way up

at the base they have a restaurant and a gift shop also

I would have given this a five star except our time was cut VERY short on top of the mountain AND the Cog man on our train was so rude. Would still highly recommend.

Loved the trip up to the summit of Mt Washington on the Cog. Beautiful weather on day I went a week ago.Easy check in and nice group of people on the train. Both narrators responded to so many questions about the Cog and it's history as well as making people feel comfortable on trip. Great views at the top and beautiful temperatures in the fifties with a little breeze. Loved the Museum . Beautiful foliage at the base and will definitely go again in the Fall next year!

It would be wonderful if one could predict the weather at the top of Mt Washington before booking the trip, but one must accept the risk of difficult weather at the top. In our case, socked in.`

The trip up is worth it.

We went up over the lunch hour. Bring a lunch, or buy sandwiches and chips at the base or the same plus some hot food at the summit. Prices are reasonable in either location.

This is a fun experience, good for all ages. The guides are really friendly and give a lot of interesting information along your ride up and down the mountain. Check the weather cams before your trip so you can choose the best day to go. Remember to bring a jacket or coat as it gets very cold and windy on the mountain top.

Had a blast! This was an unusual side trip, but worth it. Drove in from N Conway. Great reception area, loading sequence, tour/history guide inside the cars. What an interesting trip-change of seasons on the way up, and from lovely trees/vegetation to barren rock out croppings and scenic vistas. We had the best day of the year, and could see over 120 miles. Amazing panorama. Steep up, and back. Train goes slow-enjoyable. Cozy building up top for history, gifts, treats. Need to do this one-pray for great weather. Brrrrr and windy at the top y'all-dress warm and have a hat!!!

We managed to book the steam locomotive going all the way to the top. Views were nice on the way up until we reached the cloud level around 5000-feet. The brakeman on our coach was informative and very entertaining. Negatives -- seats in the coach was uncomfortable and bumpy. To top it off a lady sitting in the seat right in front of us coughed non-stop all the way up and back down. Thankfully she did not have covid as we are still healthy. I would still recommend the ride and hope for sunny weather. Temp at the top was 40-degrees with a wind of 32-mph.

This was way better than driving up the auto road with too many hairpin turns. Relaxing ride, minus the loud sounds the train makes. Views from the top are breath taking

This trip will take a good chunk out of your day - it takes about 40 to get up the mountain, you have one hour to look around when you are up there and about 40 minutes return train. I went in mid may and the park building was not open. There were two portojohns up there, some coffee and hot chocolate but thats about it. If you have diabetes or health issues, bring some snacks with you. Once up at the top there are some beautiful views. Besides the views there really isn’t anything else to do… and you’re there for an hour. Well worth the visit, but just be prepared for the fact that it is pretty bare bones up at the top.

Absolute ripoff. The summit was closed the day of our trip due to 70 mile an hour winds and ice at the top. We were not allowed off the train. Our scheduled 3 hour ride was 1 1/2 hours, up and back. I asked for a partial refund of the $100 fee and was told there was none since we had reached the summit. I would not recommend this ride.

The various brake men are very professional and knowledgeable. Bring some cash to leave a tip. I especially enjoyed learning how they became the White Mountains. Mica. In October the concession at the top of the mountain are closed plan accordingly. The time allocated at the top (40-60) minutes is plenty to accomplish your goals.

We were lucky to get a nice day on the mountain which made the trip really delightful. The commentary and views going up and down the mountain were great. And we had lovely views from the top. A bit of fog rolled in as we were leaving but prior to that visibility was great. New Hampshire does not require masks. They're optional. Keep that in mind. They also weren't spacing people out on the train so you will be near others. On our train, most people were wearing masks but there's no guarantee of that. We also had a lovely warm day so all the windows were open. That's not always the case. At the top of the mountain they have a small museum and lots of information about the weather since that's what Mt. Washington is really known for. It's worth a visit. Riding the cog is quite an experience since at one point the grade is 37 percent. That's quite an angle!

An interesting and unique place for sure. It’s definitely worth doing this at least once! There are amazing views from the mountain top. My photos don’t really do it justice. Be forewarned, it’s freezing up there with the elevation and wind chill, so dress appropriately. The tour guides were all friendly and knowledgeable. I never felt like I was in any trouble with any of them. Top professionals. Overall, a memorable experience.

I am glad we chose to ride the Cog Railway to the top of Mt Washington. Per several reviews I reserved two seats on the left side of the train (the side with 3 seats) as this side provides the best views. Our conductor was very nice and provided great information on the way up and down. We got really lucky when we went as the day before the mountain was fogged in and when we went there was 40 miles of visibility. I know there is a big risk in buying tickets far in advance but I guess that is the chance you take to get good seats.

You get about 1 hour at the top of the mountain which I think is plenty if you just want to take in the view.

We had lunch at the base station after our trip, it's just basic fast food, not bad.

After lunch we walked the Ammonoosuc river trail to the big waterfall. The hike from the parking lot to the waterfall is about 1.5 hours up and worth the trip.

If you are a passionate train lover, ignore this review. You will LOVE the cog railway.

If you are a plus sized traveler on the frugal side, do read on.

I am that aforementioned frugal plus sized traveler. We settled on the Cog because my parents, with whom we were traveling, did not feel comfortable driving the auto road to the summit of Mt Washington.

On the plus side, the Cog’s staff is pleasant and accommodating. Our brakemen kept us entertained on the ride with trivia and stories of the Cog and the mountains. We have nothing to say against them. The scenery was impressive.

But…

The train cars are vintage. We did not realize this meant narrow wooden benches with little room between each bench. You have the choice of a two- or three-seater. Sitting in a three-seater bench, my family of three was uncomfortably cramped. The dimensions would be fine for three very slender people or a parent with two young children.

Adding to that, my knees were mashed against the wooden back of the seat in front of me on both trips, causing no little discomfort. Staff were quite attentive helping this sore and stiff passenger out and down the stairs, however.

For $95 per person, I would expect better accommodation for all sizes and abilities of passenger. Someone with arthritis or chronic joint pain might not do so well on this trip. And I can only imagine the discomfort if someone not related to a plus sized passenger had purchased the third seat. Buy two seats to accommodate? Hardly feasible, at $95 a ticket! In my eyes, the price is hardly worth the product.

The round trip excursion was acceptable, discomfort not withstanding. As mentioned, passionate vintage train lovers will find much to love.

As for me, one trip is plenty, We won’t be back.

A must to do if your in the area. We picked one of the best days to go up, clear and not so cold with very little wind. Terry our Brakeman was very informative and answered all questions. The busts from the top especially this time year is amazing. Would recommend this experience to all.

Wonderful experience riding the train to the top of Mount Washington. We had a beautiful clear day and the view from the top was amazing. We went in October and while it was hot and sunny at the bottom it was freezing and snow at the top so make sure you wrap up warm. Well worth the money and time.

There are zero protections in pandemic environment. People are crammed into a 100+ old train car, without any distancing in place, with a single open window, and no masks or proof of vaccination required. Family behind us was coughing for the entirety of trip, both up and down, and wearing no masks. Our small child got sick three days later, despite wearing a mask, forcing us to cut our vacation close.

The guides are nice and the views are great, but I would suggest avoiding this until the pandemic is over or they put at least some sensible protections in place.

Great venue for people of all ages. Vast, expansive views of the White Mountains, with great narratives by the guides. The top is a little chaotic, but the views are breathtaking. Bring a jacket or sweater, even in the Summer.

This railway travels up Mt Washington from the base at elevation 2700 ft, to the top at an elevation over 6200 ft, at slopes exceeding 35 percent! It's a slow ride with amazing views and some history mixed in by the brakeman.
At the top you experience and learn about weather extremes. We went in July where it was 80 degrees at the base and near freezing at the top with 49 mph winds. We traveled through clouds in the short span of an hour. Well worth the experience.

Absolutely recommend this but we had a few issues.we booked our ride at 4 pm so shops were all closed and no restaurant they should tell you that when you book .TheTrain was late departing at 4:30 .Beautifully views on the way up .when we got off at the summit which is supposed to be 1 hour long they said be back in 25 minutes because it is getting dark.So no views going down the mountain and a very scary ride in complete darkness.I feel like We only got half of the ride .But would still do it again.

State and National Parks in the US needs to do better. Yes, the Cog Rail is a national treasure, Mt Washington is a fantastic destination and a trip up the Cog railway is on the wishlist for many. At $96 round trip per person (if you book it online- strangely $5 convenience fee for every ticket) it may pinch a few. If you are looking to get a clean restroom after a long drive, you have to wait in a queue or use some portable Potty. For any food, you will pay a fortune for something very basic. This is true in most of the National and State Parks I have visited. The tax payer money and the exorbitant charges that the citizens pay must have some returns for the tourists. Instead, the parks are resourced only for peak seasons, the tourists are made to feel guilty for coming in droves and overwhelming the facilities and some random critical infrastructure will fail causing massive queues, be it traffic or the restrooms. And if you dare mutter any word in frustration, you are made to feel guilty for blasphemy in a temple. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that these are being run like scams, but definitely extremely profitable schemes at the cost of the casual tourist.

Did not know what to expect from a cog railway since I never experienced one, but it was a unique experience. We went from rain and 50s at the base to 11 degrees and snow at the top of the mountain. Dress appropriately. The operators were knowledgeable and told the history of the railway. Very interesting.

I enjoyed my winter trip on the COG. It is expensive for the one hour trip but I liked it. The toasting of the marshmallows and cookies plus warm beverages at the Waumbek Station was a nice feature. The train goes 4mph didn't take long to get to W.S however if I had to ride this to the summit I would probably get a tad bored so I felt the winter trip was good enough for me. The trip to the summit is also double the price. I could see why some people would say it is overpriced. If you want views I do recommend doing the trip to the summit. While we had some really nice views i did feel it wasn't up high enough. We had decent weather and the sun came out. I noticed the clouds covering the summit. I was on the right side of the train. It didn't matter because it was a winter trip.

We rode up on a cloudy day. At summit was fogged in with winds over 40 mph. Hard to stand up! Coach itself is a bit cramped. Not wheelchair accessible. Must be able to walk fairly well and take a few steps. Seeing Mt Washington at is fiercest was worth every penny

What a great experience riding up the mountain on the cog railway. I booked several weeks in advance and got front row seats. The views from the car were amazing and the staff were very friendly. Highly recommend trip!!

Such a fun trip! The staff and tour guides were friendly and informative. A great way to get to the top of Mount Washington. No view from the top but the trip offered plenty of scenery.

We had a terrible day-weather wise. Pure cloud cover and 0 visibility. Unfortunate, but we still enjoyed the tour. Both rides are unique and fun. The top has a nice gift shop and plenty of food options. Got our summit pics and overall glad we did it, but would sure love to see on a clear day!

Wonderful time riding the cog rail train up to the summit of Mt Washington. We had a perfect warm clear day in October. Our brakeman said it was amazing and a rare occasion. Great day to spend on the rails! It closes mid October and opens Memorial Fay weekend.

We took first train, 9 am. We brought arm coats with hoods in preparation for cold & wind at summit. Our brakemen, tour guides were very informative. We had a different person going up & down. It was very windy at the summit! We put our hats in our backpack so we didn't lose them. We had been told that most days are overcast, but the clouds mostly cleared out when we got to the summit. You have approximately 1 hr at summit before you have to get back to tracks. If you want to stand by the Summit sign you'll have to go there as soon as you get off the train. We walked around the summit first so there was a long line We wanted to see the summit more than wait. We also visited the little museum, gift shop & restrooms. The Tip Top house is still closed for renovations to become a museum. Well worth the visit! Bring a winter jacket with hood. Pick seat on left side when go up - we didn't. You do not switch sides. Not sure why. We were on the mountain side both ways. The other side could see the mountain ranges better and the valleys, which we couldn't see at all:(. Follow directions to the Cog railway from the website or you'll be on the wrong side of the mountain. Have fun!!

Fun ride up to the top of the mountain. The guides were informative. Beautiful view from the top. Beautiful view along the way.

it really is a nice thing to do but some of their employees need hospitality training. The trip up the mountain was nice. The employee on the car was OK, ordering people around,, a bit of an attitude but tolerable. The guy in the car on the way down made our trip miserable.There were about 50 people in the car visiting quietly with each other. No one loud. When the brakeman started on his boring stories about him and his wife, if he heard anyone talking he would humiliate them .He started up a few times and when no one listened. In put. He. Mic in the holder and pouted. At the end we we pulled in to. The station he said. He was sorry he inconvenienced us.

It was a beautiful day on the ground. By the time we got to the top we were completely encased in clouds. It was very windy, very cold and very wet and a great experience. We were able to see the Summit sign and get pics with it but that was about all we could see. The hour at the top gives you time to view the museum, the weather station, the Lizzie Bourne info and a bathroom break. The ride up is informative and if you set on the right hand side you will pass right beside the Lizzie Bourne memorial. We did see a couple hikers from the Appalachian triail heading back out to hike. I would recommend it.

I do not recommend this attraction. It’s extremely expensive! And it’s almost always freezing cold and totally foggy at the top. I would not reserve ahead of time. I suggest you phone them and inquire about the weather up top. It’s SO much money to spend for a few nice views on the way down. There’s a cute museum at the top. Just not worth the steep price tag !

Thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience. If you're visiting the White Mountains its a good way to spend a couple of hours. Darlene was a great guide!

Definitely do the steam cog. That was so cool! Our brake master Eli kept the slow chug up hill engaging. Unfortunately, we had bad weather and the views were dismal. When we got to the top, the icy rain was pelting at us in 60 mph winds. While I knew it would be colder, I did not expect such brutal weather in July. Though disappointed in the weather, it was a neat opportunity the ride the first every cog railway. And maybe one day I'll get to come back when the weather is sunny. Still, don't miss it. I mean...how often do you get to stand outside in sustained winds of 60 mph!! We understand it's one of the windiest places on the planet. There is a state park visitor center at the top that has a small display, a gift shop and some food items. You can also take food up with you.

ps...also know the seats on the cog are small. My husband is a bigger fellow and having to sit 3 in a seat was uncomfortable. Especially when sitting with a stranger.

My wife and I bought tickets for a 10 AM departure trip to the summit on Mount Washington Cog train. This was the second time the train would go up the mountain that day. The train was boarded and one of the workers came on the train and announced that the summit was iced over and we would not be allowed to leave the train at the summit. We rode the train to the summit, and it was iced over and completely clouded in. no views of the mountains. The train people knew ahead of time that this was going to be a waste of time and money. We came back to the train station at the start location, and they loaded the next group of travelers to go to the summit. This company is in business to make money not to take care of its customers.

We’ve been on many train trips—some for sightseeing, others simply for travel—but this one stands out as truly unique. We took one of the first trains up the mountain and were glad we did; the morning light made the views even more beautiful. Our brakeman narrator shared the fascinating history of this “railroad to the moon” with a perfect mix of humor and storytelling.
The views from the summit are absolutely spectacular! We’d definitely recommend going on a clear day to make the most of it. The only small drawback was that the train seats felt a bit tight—I'm a good-sized guy and even my petite wife found them snug—but that didn’t take away from the experience. Pictures are encouraged, and you’ll want to take plenty!
We don’t have definite plans yet, but we’d love to return with other family members in the future.

My family loved it! The weather was perfect, so visibility was great! The drive to and from was beautiful.

We loved the gift shops at the summit and at the base and we glad that there was food for lunch available at the top, but wished we’d brought a picnic lunch with us.

The hostess was very informative and funny on the way up as was the host on the ride back down.

My only concern was that it was quite pricey for what it was. At $96, per person, it was the most expensive of our excursions, but also the shortest. The price may be prohibitive for a lot of families.

Overall though it was a very memorable part of our trip.

Everyone was super nice and engineer even took photos with us and talked to us at length about the steam engine and how it works after we got back to the station.

Wow! what an experience for the entire family! So much information from the conductors. I must say we were not prepared for the temperature change when we got to the top...bring jackets! Even in late June it was freezing rain up on top but what an experience! Our grandchildren were even impressed!

For our first visit to the White Mtns, this was a great way to see the area from the highest vantage point. The train ride was the best way for both of us to experience the view and upward trek without stressing about the drive up and only one of us getting to see the sights. Next time, we will tackle the Jewel trail up on foot, but this time it was perfect to experience the summit by the cool train with such an interesting history. Worth the price and experience!

Had a trip on the cog railway 9/14/21. Views were spectacular.

However, I was astounded and dumbfounded by the lack of any Covid protections on the trip. Most passengers and none of the employees were wearing masks; the cabin was crowded and not ventilated. Perfect conditions for a “super spreader” event!

I am a physician who has been involved with Covid patients for the last 18 months. I am vaxxed and was wearing a mask.

I would advise everyone to avoid this trip until they get their act together

It was a nice experience but wouldn’t do it again.
Brochure says lots of Fall Foliage. In peak season and there was none. The guy that met us to load was rude.
And, when we got to the top, there was way too many people too enjoy any part of it.
The cafeteria was closed, the gift shop was closed and the restroom lines were horribly long .
Not a pleasant experience

If you go, DO NOT take the steam powered train. It spews so much black smoke, the conductor warns you that you could potentially have pieces of coal land on you (which we did). It is super loud, with brakes squealing so loudly, people needed to put their fingers in their ears on the ride down. There are bio fueled trains, with no visible exhaust. I'm not sure why they continue to run this coal fueled polluter. Also, it goes painfully slow, compared to the other trains.

The actual trip was okay though they do not tell you that if you don't go to the summit one side of the train will not have a view for the entire trip. We purchased tickets to the summit. Due to winds we could not go to the summit and were told that we would receive a partial refund. I have yet to receive the partial refund. I have tried to call, email and message through the website multiple times and have never been able to get a response. Buyer Beware.

Don’t hesitate, just buy the tickets! This ride is so worth it. Amazing views that you will never see anywhere else. The hour at the top went by so quick because any way you turn, there’s more beauty!

Don’t miss this amazing experience if you are in the New England area. This train built post civil war takes you all the way up the mountain and then back while providing you with the history of the region and the geography of the beautiful area. On your way up you will cross three weather zones. The scenery is breathtaking. The view from above is unparalleled especially in the fall when the trees have changed color. It is a comfortable ride. The staff are friendly and helpful. On the top you have a chance to roam around and take gorgeous pictures. There is a restaurant, cafe and a gift shop.

Our B&B host recommended this to us and we should have done a bit more research before committing to it, as this was probably our least favorite thing we did on our fall foliage trip. Kind of boring, way too expensive and too many people surrounding us. This might be fun if you're old or have kids, but being fit, active people who don't like doing touristy things or being around a ton of people, this was not very fun for us. We should have just driven up the mountain ourselves. It was kind of a waste of our day, especially since we were stuck up at the top for an hour.

Plus, there were signs up in the main building saying there is a labor shortage and to be patient to the staff, which screams to me that this is a business that doesn't pay their employees well or treat them well. There's only a labor shortage for companies who treat their employees like crap, so I felt even worse for giving this tourist trap my money.

Obviously a lot of people think this train a lot of fun, but it's not for everyone.

The experience is awesome. Beautiful views. We were lucky it was clear at the summit. Bring a sweater as it was 30C at the bottom and 12C at the top ! There is an observation deck, cafeteria and museum
It takes 45mins -60mins to climb the 3mile ascent. You have 1 hr at the top before returning. It is a fixed time journey.

Con:
They operate a max of three trains hourly. One coach (75persons capacity) per train. The first train is called “A”. If it is full, visitors are booked on the second “B” or third “C”.
The issue is that the price for “B” is higher and “C” trains is highest. They justify it as extra labour and market demand . It is s pure money grab.

Such a unique attraction! I was nervous at first about taking the train up the mountain but it turned out to be such a great experience. Views from the top were breathtaking!

I do wish we were given longer than 1 hour to be on the mountain before having to catch the train to go back down.

Cell service is spotty so I highly recommend following the directions on their site.

We didn’t pre book as we’re on a road trip ands unsure of timings etc - rocked up and managed to get on the very last train going to the summit for the season.

Almost had a heart attack at the price, but it’s a once in a lifetime experience for us travelling on a road trip from the UK, so sucked it up.

Was a fantastic experience. Bought hot chocolates at the base camp to drink on the way up and they were most useful.

Didn’t expect quite so much snow at the summit - was really surreal.

The museum is great and you can sit in one of the little carts they used to get down the mountain quickly during construction - brought it to life.

Would defo recommend but expect the ££ for the experience.

We loved this trip! It was a beautiful, scenic ride to the top. Loved learning about the history of the area, too. The wintry treats at the top by the firepits were awesome and made the experience even better! Great trip for the whole family!

Awesome Cog train ride to the top of Mount Washington. It was an awesome experience. We also choose the bag lunch which was actually pretty good. Amazing how many people they can move on these trains. Great narration going up and coming down on the history of the railway. It’s amazing the temperature difference from the bottom to the top so be sure to dress warm.

So, bought a front seat where I was supposed to have a window view (see the web site). The picture shows my view. Not a great experience.

One of a kind experience. Unfortunately it was foggy during our trip and not much visibility. But the experience of the incline with the dramatic angle of decent was cool. My family enjoyed it!

We booked the ride to experience the cog train, see fall foliage, and to avoid the drive on our own ... You can't control mother nature and it gave us an unexpected but a typical SUMMIT experience instead.

Our trip was maybe a week too early this year for super fall foliage, but instead we got the Winter weather experience at the summit.

AT THE SUMMIT - Whoa ... winds steady at 45 mph and gusting at 60+ mph, wind chills down to 3 degrees, snow-ice pellets blasting you, and little or no visibility ... better than fall foliage.

We loved it and will remember the scenes, experience, and barely being able to stand at the summit with the winds

I've wanted to do this ride for a long time and it didn't disappoint!
Years ago a buddy and I hiked from Mizpah Hut, over Mt Washington and on to Madison Spring Hut. Hiking under it on the Appalachian Trail, I said someday I want to ride that!
Unfortunately, there were clouds on top today and high sustained winds, so we couldn't go all the way up. But I still had a good time and Darlene Jones was a great Brakeman and interpretive guide. She's a retired school teacher and it showed in a very professional presentation!

We enjoyed this. The museum is interesting. The conductor/guide told interesting stories on the way up and down. We went with the biodiesel engine. Seating is a little cramped if you are very tall. My husband is 6'3" and felt cramped, but it was bearable. The ride itself was great and we had glorious weather that day.

A wonderful experience! Well organized, even on one of the busiest days of the year. Bought tickets online, checked in easily when we got there and boarded easily. Because seats were already assigned, boarding was quick and orderly. The highlight of our trip was the brakeman, Eli (Elias). We were on the steam train and he was passionate about his job and the history of the steam train. His commentary was fabulous and so educational! I think Eli loves to go to work every day! This is an experience not to be missed (and choose the steam train).

Interesting ride up & down the mountain - the conductors were knowledgeable, personable, and, at times, amusing. The railway itself is an engineering marvel. The Observatory at the top of the mountain was not as interesting as I had expected, as also was the Museum located there. The views (when the fog cleared) were spectacular. It was quite chilly at the summit - warm clothes are recommended.

We took the biodiesel train to the summit of Mount Washington. Tour guides are to be commended . The views are fantastic. Please dress appropriately . When we got on the train it was low 60's. When we were at the summit it was 32 degrees. Ice crystals on the ground and very windy! Most people stayed inside the building without going to the actual summit. If you travel to New Hampshire, take a trip to the Cog RR. We purchased advanced tickets online.

We went up the steam train on a beautiful fall day. Our 2 tickets cost almost $200 but unfortunately we selected seats in the A.B aisle. I’d rather sit the CDE aisle as we didn’t really see anything but scrubby trees as all the views going up and down were on the outside CDE aisle. With assigned seats there was no way to move seats to get a view. While we’ve never done the auto road, it may have been a better experience for views.

Trains were on time and we lucked out and were able to go to the top. Train staff pointed out many important facts and areas when traveling up and down the track. Very surprised to find out you were not allowed into the building at the top to use bathrooms instead of two dirty portable potties outside. We were also looking for a cold drink.

Fun little ride on the winter schedule. Guides very good. Scenery was beautiful. Would visit again. Interested to learn about the cog.

We spent 8 days exploring Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire and this day trip to the Cog Railroad was by far our favorite thing that we did. The views from the very top were just stunning.

We had a 2.5 hour drive to get there, so we were happy to see a little cafeteria there to grab a quick lunch at before our departure time. It was a little pricey and the food wasn't that great, but it was something better than fast food! At the base, there was also a nice gift shop and a little museum to explore. There's also plentiful and free parking!

Our trip up and back down were both smooth and incredibly scenic. Our one hour on the summit was amazing--the clouds broke and we were blessed with great visibility for some of our time at the top. We got some awesome photos. At the top, there's also a little cafe and gift shop.

A few small things...the seats on the train are a tad tight for 3 adults on one side and 2 adults on the other. It wasn't the most comfortable couple of hours I've ever spent. We made it work, but just be aware of that, especially if you're like us and not exactly petite.

Really nice experience. It's a beautiful ride up the mountain. We couldn't get the best views since it was foggy. But, got to see some great scenes on the way up and down. It's a total of three hours trip. 45 minutes to the top and around that much time to come back and you get to spend around an hour at the mountain top. There's a cafe and a museum at the top. If you are driving to this location, please pay attention to the directions on their website. Google maps will take you to the wrong place. I lost my way and got their late. But they moved my ticket to the next train and I had to pay around 7 dollars per ticket extra for that.

My wife and I debated whether to ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway after reading some of the reviews. We considered driving up, but the road was closed due to ice and snow. After a recommendation from our hotel's activity director we purchased tickets through our hotel/resort and saved $15 per ticket. We rode the 2:00 pm train up, so the temp was warmer than earlier morning rides.

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip up and down. We had ample room in the car. The seats are bench seats with two-person benches on one side of the aisle and three-person benches on the other side. There were people of all ages in the car, and everyone enjoyed the ride.

We had a great time during our hour on top of Mount Washington. The day was perfectly clear, so we could around 80 miles into VT, NY, and ME. Unfortunately, due to the road conditions staff couldn't get up the road so the cafeteria was closed. We would have liked to have a cup of coffee while waiting for our ride down. Overall, this was a great experience.

We had a beautiful clear day on our journey on the cog. Since it was off season we only went to Waumbek Station where we enjoyed hot chocolate and the amazing views. We have don’t the auto road in the summer but would love to take the cog next time. They had a great museum about the history of the cog and staff was very friendly. We also got to ride with Santa!

It is nice to go up the mountain in a steam train - we had front row seats. But not spectacular. The guide was telling good stories - a bit too much "were the first, highest, greatest" We come from a mountain area so it is probably different for people who do not see mountains often. There was no view on top - it was very foggy. That can happen and apparently happens often.
The tickets are very expensive. For 1/4 to 1/2 of the price it would have been a great experience nevertheless. But at that price ... it has to be spectacular.

First Cog railway in the world takes you top of MountWashington. Weather can change very rapidly at the top. 1930's 231 mph wind was observed by people on top of Mount Washington..

This was such a great experience. I chose the Cog since I was traveling solo and wanted to be able to enjoy the views that I wouldn’t have been able to if I drove up the mountain. Wow, it was so fun. The trains and the terrain are so unique. The ride both ways was so enjoyable and the views from the top were amazing. I highly recommend this to everyone!

The Cog is like a roller coaster for adults! Take an authentic coal-fired steam train to the summit of Mt. Washington and be prepared for a thrill. At some points, the grade of the tracks is 37 degrees.If you can't relate to that, put it this way- standing up isn't easy when you're at that angle! The conductor and crew are pros and very knowledgeable and the stories of hikers and explorers over the years are priceless. There is a gift store, small restaurant, and rest rooms at the Marshfield base station. Things are reasonably priced which is good since your train ticket is now $89. I will say, it was worth every penny. You get about 40 minutes to explore the summit. You can see amazing vistas from the outdoor observation deck.However, be forewarned that it is often VERY windy and cold. I had a hard time standing up straight! Inside the Summit Observatory is a gift store and restaurant. I was on an afternoon train so be forewarned- they run out of food. (Only hot dogs were left when I got there). There is a free museum on the lower level which is interactive and very interesting. You can see it all in a the 4- minute window. The ride back down the mountain is most exciting and a little frightening! The conductor works the breaks on the way down and thank goodness! It's a 3 hour experience and a lot of fun.

Not as exciting as I expected. Expensive. Once you get to the top you really can’t see much due to fog and clouds. Now I can say I have done it but won’t do it again. I have seen nicer views. Train guide was very good and pleasant.

The Cog Railway was nice. We opted to take the steam locomotive to the summit. If you’re going to do it, do it right.
The ride was nice, our brakeman was friendly, knowledgeable and kept us from careening downhill.
I highly recommend the adventure.
Now the reason I did not rate 5 stars.
The food. The Cog Railway has cafeteria style eatery. Grab your food off the shelf, and find a table.
Yuck! The food was horrendously overpriced and tasted terrible. We bought onion rings, and they were gross looking.
In the gift shop we purchased a small 1.7 oz bottle of maple syrup. I don’t often buy pure maple syrup, so we paid $13 for it. Imagine my shock and horror the next day, to find it (the exact same product and bottle) for $3.99 in Kittery!
Go for the train ride,,,skip everything else.

It was 80F and sunny at the base and 53F (without wind) at the summit. Even though we couldn’t see more than 40 feet out when we got to the top, we had a good time on the ride up and down the mountain. The cogtrain and museum made the trip worthwhile.

I've been up Mt Wash by car, by foot, and now by rail. This is the least stressful and most enjoyable (although maybe not as rewarding as by foot). Book early and get seats in the front for the best views (unless you're stuck in a cloud the whole way up like we were). Also try to get the first train of the day so that when you get to the top the road crowds aren't there yet. We took the biodiesel train; I can't imagine the steam train experience is much different.

So much fun! We went in early October when the leaves were at their peak. (Be sure to get a reservation in advance, they sell out this time of year). Expensive but were able to put toddlers in our laps for savings.
The whole family (grandparents, kids and grandkids) enjoyed the scenery, the train, the incline…
We started at the bottom in t-shirts, and were glad we’d brought winter coats by the time we reached the top. No food service except some yukky coffee, but we’d packed a picnic and found a sheltered table where we could eat without our food blowing away. The littles with us enjoyed thinking of the trains as part of the Thomas Train story, and we purchased a stuffed train at the gift shop to remember the very fun day.

We had a wonderful time on the cog railway. We went during a lower visibility, but incredibly windy, day. We were originally bummed about the low visibility, but it was our last day in town, and we wanted to do this. The high winds were more excitement than the visibility, so it ended up being a big win! Staff were all around helpful and nice. It does seem pricey, but it’s an experience, and we sure do want them to make sure the trains are following all safety standards and in tip top shape! We’re hikers, and still enjoyed it!

The biggest tip that would have been great to know: if you want to mail a postcard stamped from Mt Washington, the post office at the top only accepts cash for postage. No electronic payment, and the stores do not give cash back if you pay with debit. There is an ATM at the base station in case you forget cash, but not at the top, so be aware of this. What can I say- we’re millennials and don’t carry cash! There was a nice woman in line who gave us some change, and the postman had some extra change to allow us to mail our two postcards to family. Big thank you to that kind stranger and postman, and we’ll pass along their kindness. One suggestion for the gift shops is if they sold pre-postaged postcards - then you can buy the postcard and stamp all at once, and just drop it off at the post office for Mt Washington mailing.

Thanks for a great day!

Just fell in love with brakeman Eli. Genuine smile and enthusiasm. I have never met anyone more passionate and excited about their work. Such a gentleman.

Absolutely the most beautiful views! It’s a once in a lifetime experience to ride the train to the summit. A wonderful trip!

Great ride to the top. Wish we didn't have the smell of deisel exhaust on the way back down, though. Pricey even with a discount.

It takes about 1 hour up, 1 hour down, and about an hour at the top. On each leg of the ride, the brakeman gave live customized narration about the history of the train, environment, and what we were seeing. Unfortunately, it was a very foggy day so we had limited visibility. I was thankful we were not driving ourselves up the mountain in the fog plus we would have missed out.

The one time we looked forward to bad weather and we didn't get it, at least not as we wanted. We took the 7:30am steam excursion to the summit. It was cloudy/foggy, so we didn't get to see too much scenery, etc. And it was relatively warm and calm at the summit. Our brakeman was great and had great stories to tell and information to provide. I would agree with another reviewer. The views are much better from the CDE side of the train. We still had a great time.

Taking the Cog up is the best way to go: it is historic, it is fun and informative and you really get the feel of the 37% grade (at times). We were lucky have Terry as the brakeman. He provided lots of history and pointed out points of interest as we went along. When we arrived at the top the temperature dropped 15 degrees. The biggest weather change was very strong winds, with gusts strong enough to make you feel like you could be blown away.

This was definitely worth the money! We debated driving ourselves because of the cost, but the views and the experience of going up the side of the mountain were so worth it. We had quite a bit of clouds and so weren't able to see everything, but were still able to get some great views from the top. You have an hour at the top before you board to go back down. There is an interesting weather "museum" and a snack shop inside with pizza, soup, PB&J and other packaged snacks. We lucked out with one of the warmer days up there, but take a sweatshirt - it's chily - but wear something light for the ride - it gets very hot and stuffy even with the windows open. About half of the riders wore masks, so that might be a consideration in whether you want to do it or not.

Visited here with my family. The weather was awful however it didn't spoil our experience as they are well organised for bad weather. There is a lovely visitor centre and shop as you arrive, then are shown to the railway. It is quite expensive however worth the expense. A lot of work goes into making this an enjoyable experience and the folk who work on the railway are so enthusiastic. At the top of the mountain, visibility was only a few feet however this all added to the fun experience. Interesting visitor centre at the top of the mountain which was cosy and warm! Great fun.

Great cog train ride. Friendly staff. Amazing views when it was clear. Crazy weather and wind at the top of the mountain. A fun experience.

What an exciting train ride straight up Mount Washington. Terri our tour was very informative. It was a spectacular view of the mountain. The train moves very slowly up and down the mountain. It's a little scary but so so exciting. Unbelievable view of the mountains. The train leaves you at the top of the mountain for an hour. You can take plenty of pictures, walk around, have a snack and buy a gift. There's also a post office to mail a postcard from the mountain if you want.

Booked the tickets a few weeks back so we got seats up front. Did steam engine one since it is less stinky than the coal one. The ride up and down is narrated by person with interesting history and facts about the railway and mountain. They give you hr at summit to take pictures and see gift shop and get food etc. we spent 20 mins outside and then rest inside. It was around 55 degrees and little windy. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt for top cause it is really chilly normally.

Highly recommend this trip if you have one thing to do (other than walking). This was a fantastic experience (unlike the Conway Scenic Railway which is a rip off).

This is a lovely 3 hour experience. One hour up, one hour taking in the views at the top and one hour back down. Carriages are clean, wonderful views and an excellent running commentary from the very knowledgeable brake man, happy to answer any questions.

There’s also a very interesting small museum with the history of the railway and how it operates. Great to see they build everything here and investing in biofuels.

Interesting piece of history and the ride up was cool, however we hit it on a day that was completely overcast and once we got to the summit couldn't see squat. It was also gusting winds of 40mph and about 40 degrees. Less than ideal conditions. Did manage to climb up to the summit marker to at least prove I was there. Had to make advanced reservations so we couldn't change days. No refunds and at $150 for the two of us, I felt a little robbed. Heard the one employee mention that there weren't too many days that were actually clear up there. Be prepared clothing wise. the employees were great.

This is a great trip up the highest peak in the Northeast on a one-of-a-kind railroad. The breakman provides a narrated trip detailing both the history of the railroad and Mt. Washington on both the way up and down. The railroad is eay to find as there is great signage. The round trip take about 3 hours as it is one hour up, one hour down, and they provide you with one hour at the top of the mountain to go to the museum and explore the views. There is a post office at the top too, so you can send a picture postcard from there. The post office sells both the stamps and the postcards. If you are in the area, you got to go.

First of all, the train trip was loaded with a lot of information about the mountain and area. The views were spectacular. On top of the mountain, you can take a picture at it's highest point and visit the numerous older buildings. The day we went was 70 degrees on the mountain, this is not the norm. Our view was only inhibited by the smoke from the Canadian fires. We could see Maine and Vermont. As far as the train ride goes, the seats were very cramped for us larger people. You are on the same side of the train on the way up and down which was disappointing. The view from the side of the train with 3 seats was vast and overlooked a ski slope.

If you're in the neighbourhood, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't experience this railroad ride to the clouds. Safe, modern equipment, knowledgable crew and just a positive experience. A little bit of history in this area also. Just do it !

The highlight of my vacation!!! I loved this activity. Yes it's not cheap but to get to the summit of Mount Washington, I wouldn't have done it any other way (not by hiking or with my own car).

The train is super clean and the guide talks the whole way and it's super interesting!

On the other hand, bring warm clothes for the summit because the temperature has nothing to do with that at the bottom. It's windy up there and it's cold.

We were lucky because the guide explained to us that it was the 5th day of summer that the weather was good and that the summit was clear and clear. And my god, what an incredible view!!!!!

The climb took about 1 hour (at 10 KM/h), we have 1 hour at the top to walk around, take photos, go to the toilet, buy souvenirs or even eat and drink and 1 hour to come back down.

I recommend this activity to everyone!!!

We took the COG railway to the. Waumbek station, elevation 4000 feet. Our guide and brakemen was Feebe and she was informative. The ride takes about 15 up, 30 minutes at the station then 15 minutes back down. They offer, coffee, tea and hot coco with a little snack at the top. The temperature the day we reached the mountain was 3 degrees. Make sure you dress warm if during winter months as their is no heat on train and very little at the station. Cost is $41 per person. Gift shop, small museum and snacks sold at the ticket station.

The experience is terrific, the conductors are knowledgeable.. wear warm clothes even in the summer.. we ended up buying hats in july.. keep in mind, they removed all covid 19 restrictions and we received an email stating that and noting that we can get a refund if uncomfortable... We love the ride.. even though we are vaccinated, I made sure my entire family wore masks, especially kids...experience is great and well worth it

I was on vacation reliving my childhood. I was an eight year old who loved trains and this train ride always stuck with me. So today, more than 50 years later, I just had to do it again.

It did not disappoint. I was just as thrilled as that 8 yr old boy. While, it is a bit in the pricey side, it is such a unique experience as to make it worth it. The ride is spectacular and the view gorgeous. The conductor/guide was both informative and funny. A definite must-do.

The view from the top means you can see Maine! Remember the temperature at the bottom is going to be a LOT WARMER than the temperature at the top take warm clothes.

Even though it was pouring rain I’m glad we went on this adventure. The museum gave a good introduction on the history of the cog train. The train guild also had interesting information. We did make it to the summit and were totally soaked. Make sure you look for Moose on your trip up and down the mountain. Lol

Took the winter trip to Waumbek Station. It was an interesting ride and I have no regrets having done it, but the trip was very short. About a mile in each direction--or roughly one third of the total line. The far more spectacular part of the ride is left out. (From the the Waumbek station you can see the line winding the rest of the way up the mountain--kind of a teaser.)

I would strongly suggest that given a choice, take the ride during the regular season when you can go all the way to the top. The Waumbek ride is very expensive for what you get (about $55 roundtrip apiece --you'd be very hard pressed to find a more expensive train trip anywhere on a per-mile basis) and you're missing the best part.

Order your tickets online early! On peak fall foliage weekend, we were unable to get seated on the same train despite no-shows. Still worth the trip to the windy summit, with glimpses of the stunning fall foliage between breaks in the clouds.

Definitely a unique experience for the train or history enthusiast. Take the early ride for the traditional "coal burner" steam train experience. Pick your seats towards the front for the best views. Great staff make it happen.

Dress warm for a winter trip in January Snow pants will do WInter boots needed very good staff enjoyable and train stopped halfway up in the winter months $41.00 per adults goit free hot cocoa and roasted marshmellows on the mountain next to fire pit took plenty. of pictures, got a good history lesson from staff

We drove three hours out of the way on our vacation to Vermont to ride the Cog Railway. I can say without hesitation, it was well worth the long drive to get there! The Cog was such a cool, unique way to get to the mountain summit. It was clever how the seats in the train cars tilted back at the proper angle so you sit perfectly upright and level most of the ride. It was trippy to see the trees from that perspective though, appearing as like they were growing at extreme slant to the horizon line. The scenery during the ascent/decent was absolutely gorgeous, and we had fantastic conductors both directions that provided plenty of entertaining history and stories. The vistas from the summit are amazing and it feels a bit like you’re on another world being above the tree line. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect trip and for better weather, which can be quite unpredictable on the mountain. The experience exceeded my expectations, and will bring a smile to my face for years to come!

A word of note for others planning to take the Cog -- sit on the left side and as close as possible to the front for the best views. As long as the weather cooperates, you won’t be disappointed!

We had a great time riding the cog railway to the summit of Mt. Washington. Of course there's beauty but add awe-inspiring views. The conductors were wonderfully funny and very knowledgeable. Enjoy the 45 minute trip to the top while they regale you with tid bits of info. about the area, history points and funny anecdotes. It is well worth the trip. If you can, try to ride with Marshal. He is a kick-in-the-pants (from Sunshine). Seriously, we came from Texas and have loved every minute of our visit. Take a jacket or sweatshirt, just in case, good walking shoes, and your sense of adventure. We were treated to clouds and sunshine...perfect temp. Buy your tickets in advance as it fills up quick, I suppose, as is summer. We took the 1 o'clock train. Can't say enough good things about this place and all the staff. Enjoy history!

Made a day trip of the railway and trip up the mountain with some family members and saw some spectacular scenery on the way up and at the summit. Everyone enjoyed the trip.

The ride is structured so that you have about an hour at the peak, which isn't really enough time to visit the museum and explore the immediate area.

We went here in June of 2023 after never being to New Hampshire. Easy ride up the mountain on the train. Our tour guide was really cool and funny. Got to the top of the mountain and had an hour to look around and take pictures.

The trip back down the mountain isn’t quite as fun as they have to brake the whole way to keep the train under control. Beautiful place to visit.

They crammed a bunch of retirees 2 and 3 to a seat and allowed young thin people to spread out. This has been without a doubt the most painful ride I’ve ever been on. Because they forced people 3 to a seat a lot of couples were split up. Why they don’t widen the narrow seats and put the aisle to the middle and sit people 2 x 2 I have no idea. People were too crammed in to turn to the side to take a photo.

It’s going to take me days to get my back to stop hurting because I had to a at twisted the whole time.

What an experience we had going up and down Mt. Washington on the Cog Railway!
The views of the valley and surrounding mountains were amazing examples of God’s creation and power. Special thanks for all the associates at the base and at the observatory at the peak and Nick and Dakota who were our guides on the train. Highly recommend this as a family adventure that you will never forget!!

Great trip but ludicrously over priced. That’s about it. It’s an interesting experience but $90 return is insanely expensive

Two adults rode the cog railway on a Tuesday afternoon in late August 2023, which we had previously done last in 2018. Another great experience except for the really increased cost. $84 per person, wow (for the bio-diesel engine, more for the steam engine). It takes a little under three hours for the total trip, about 45 minutes up and down each way and about an hour at the top of Mount Washington. There are rest rooms, food and a small museum there. Be prepared for extreme weather. It was 75 degrees and sunny when we left at the bottom of the mountain and by the time we reached the top, the temperature was in the 40s, the wind was about 30 mph and clouds enclosed the top of the mountain. Of course, five minutes later, the sun was back for a few minutes. Repeat for the entire hour. Very glad we brought our ski caps, gloves and winter coats. A fun time. Note that you sit in the same seats both up and back but you are able to take better photos on the way up with the engine at the back of the passenger car.

This train ride was so worth it! Best way for my family to get to the top of Mount Washington. It's a really comfortable ride up with stunning views, and then we had an hour to walk around and explore at the summit before we got to ride back down. Definitely recommend!

So enjoyed this adventure. It was a warm sunny September Day. We had booked a bio diesel train. The passenger car was comphy. We selected seats in back with Windows views on left side. You may not be on the same passenger car on way back but your seats remain the same #. The engine is not hooked to the car and pushes it up the rail. The conductor is responsible for looking out out for possible items on track and has signals to use for engineer in back who really can't see ahead. Enjoyed the ride but it got very foggy. We finally could not see anything. We had read to bring layering clothes which we did and boy were we glad. When we got off wind gusts were strong & up to 70 M p h. Temp was 49. Hard walking around but we did & enjoyed what we could see. We enjoyed the museum too. Mailed some post cards from the top too! Ride down our conductor was Terry and boy he was great & informative! We highly hope you are fortunate enough to get him. I highly recommend you get your tickets ahead of time and try for 11 or later for a better chance of less clouds. Parking was free for Cog riders.

This is a fun experience! (You can drive it but it’s curvy and narrow.)It was super cold at the top so keep that in mind. It’s October 8th and when I parked my car it was snowing! So when I got on the railway the trees were beautiful covered in snow. At the summit the wind was strong and I wore a down vest, a long down hooded coat, a hat and gloves and I was ok but I wouldn’t have wanted to stay outside the entire time! So plan to dress for cold weather. The ride is about an hour. The schedule can get behind so you can’t be to rigid or need to be somewhere else just in case it’s running late. My train was 30 minutes late leaving and an hour late getting back. It depends on whether they are waiting for a train to switch tracks. No bathrooms on board. There are bathrooms at the top. There is also a cafe, a couple of gift shops, overlooks and photo ops. The Summit sign had a really long line. If it’s important, you might do that first! We were at the summit for an hour. The train cars were heated so it felt good to get back on the train to warm up for the trip down.

We enjoyed the ride and learning about the history. Unfortunately we got off with no visibility, but we got some great pictures in the clouds.

We made the excursion with with the original steam train; the excursion itself is expensive, the steam train costs a little more but it is worth it. The journey is long and that is not a plus point. Upon arrival we had fog and could not enjoy the view; the museum is still very nice and worth visiting.