Prominence
Region
Highlights
- Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern US and the most prominent peak in the Eastern US.
- Famous for its dangerously erratic weather - be prepared in any season for huge swings in weather.
- Long held the world record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, 231 mph. February 2023 set the US record for coldest wind chill at -108 F.
- Many trails lead to the summit, including the Appalachian Trail, which crosses the summit.
- Lakes of the Clouds Hut, one of the Appalachian Mountain Club's eight mountain huts, is located on one of the mountain's shoulders.
- The mountain has two prominent glacial cirques. Craggy Huntington Ravine offers rock and ice climbing in an alpine setting. And by far the more famous Tuckerman Ravine is New England's classic late-spring pilgrimage for spring backcountry skiing as late as June.
- Unfortunately, an auto road and also a cog railway lead to the summit.
- Agiochook (also spelled Agiocochook) is the name used by some Native American tribes. It means "the top is so hidden" or "the summit of the highest mountain".
- Mt. Washington (Agiocochook) was the northern termination of a trip taken by Henry David Thoreau, as described in his book "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers" (Page 258 of the Easton Press edition).
Routes
96 climbs • 10.9 mi • 4,997 ft gain • 8 hr 1 min • Class 2
25 climbs • 5.5 mi • 3,021 ft gain • 6 hr 11 min • Class 1
19 climbs • 6.8 mi • 4,339 ft gain • 5 hr 41 min • Class 2
18 climbs • 16.6 mi • 6,435 ft gain • 11 hr 40 min • Class 1
14 climbs • 10.1 mi • 4,362 ft gain • 9 hr 17 min • Class 1
5 climbs • 7.8 mi • 4,330 ft gain • 8 hr 40 min
2 climbs • 0.5 mi • 72 ft gain • 53 min
2 climbs • 8.1 mi • 4,214 ft gain • 10 hr 0 min
2 climbs • 9.4 mi • 4,105 ft gain • 6 hr 6 min
Latest climbs
"A great experience. This was my first time hiking in New Hampshire, first time hiking before the sun, first time sleeping over night in my car and my first time doing a big solo hike. A lot of first times haha. I started off at the Ammonoosuc ravine trail. The hike in the forest was pretty good, tho I got lost since it was dark and there’d be times I’d miss the markers. But I found my way with the help of other hikers. It was a breeze till the incline, to be honest I had a grand time rock climbing the tall inclines. But at some points there was hidden ice so you had to be careful. Unfortunately tho by the time I got to the lake of clouds cabin, I started to get cramps in my inner thighs so I had to stop a lot along the way. I was still able to reach the summit of Mount monroe and Washington. I wasn’t going to do Monroe but a couple hikers convinced me especially since I was right there. It was an adventure. Also I really got lucky with such beautiful weather. I just want to say shoutout to all the hikers that helped along the way, I couldn’t have done it you all. I’m still a newbie who recently got addicted to hiking 3 months ago but I feel blessed to be in the hiking community tha..." — CTprest • Oct 11, 2025
"started below at hermit lake, we trekked up the loins head, across the alpine garden and ascended up near the huntington ravine junction. The summit was less sastiving due to all the tourists. Still a summit under the belt 💪 " — sebastienauger • Aug 23, 2025
"Mt. Washington. On foot. With a thunderstorm on the way down for added anxiety, chaos, and near disaster. We made it down, battered, bruised, drained, but intact… An experience we’ll never forget. Next time we take the highway!" — manitoid • Aug 8, 2025
"Camped at Dolly Copp! Weather was so comfy for hiking, not too cold at the top. Not enough food packed! Dipped in the Ellis River close to the AMC Pinkham Notch visitor center (freezing)." — meilijohnson • Jul 19, 2025
"Day one of the Presidential Range Traverse. The climb up Madison is a real bear, but it is worth it for the stunning views. All of the cols are above treeline, and the climb up Adams and Jefferson was just as beautiful. Excellent views into the Great Gulf also. The trail is very rocky, and there are many scree fields on Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. The trail up and over Clay was well worth it for the awesome views of Mount Washington. Washington was very tough at the end of the day on the way down but the trail up is less rocky and is very nice. We spent the night at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut." — elimihuta • Jun 27, 2025
"They weren’t kidding about the exposure on this peak. It was a cloudy fall day at the bottom and Polar Express up top.
~6 hours from leaving the trailhead to returning (up Ammonoosuc, down Jewell)." — lex_isamess • Oct 9, 2024
"Third stop in our East Roadtrip of Mount Marcy, Mount Mansfield, Mount. Washington Katahdin and. Finn and I drove up this one, Jason hiked up. Had never driven up here, last year we were out here and took the rail system up. Some day Finn and I will come bak out and hike it proper. But another awesome day, and was well worth the drive up." — CravinoCrew • Jul 17, 2024
"Presidential Traverse, NH - Day 2 - Lake of the Clouds Hut to Madison Spring Hut. Woke up early. Caught breakfast at LotC Hut and then gunned it up to Washington. Bought some stickers, snickers and a Red Bull then continued the traverse around to Clay, Jefferson, Adams and then dropped into Madison Hut for the night." — wiweasel • Jul 5, 2024
"As far as weather in the Presidentials go, could not have asked for a better day. Clear skies with only minimal cloud cover later in the afternoon, mild temperatures, and even the forecasted 10mph winds dropped to a light breeze. Car spot with a friend parking at the Base Station and I drove the group to Caps Ridge Trailhead. We set off from the trailhead just after 8am. Starting off at 3000ft. meant we were already in a subalpine forest and quickly emerged at the first optional "cap" about a mile in. After briefly dipping back into the trees, we entered the alpine zone and began scrambling up the caps. They weren't as intimidating as I expected and I enjoyed the variety in terrain. Soon after the last cap is the intersection with The Cornice which marks the beginning of climbing over boulders until we reached the summit just before 11:15am for my 14th NH 4000 Footer. The summit area is a relatively flat boulder field with 2 larger piles. The western pile is the true summit, and both were swarming with giant moth-like insects. We didn't stay at the summit of Mt. Jefferson for too long on account of the giant insects, so we climbed down the boulders on the Mt. Jefferson Loop, linked..." — JCalautti • Jun 16, 2024
"A Monroe, Washington, Jefferson hike for my Grid and calendar day. Hiked up Ammonoosuc Ravine Tr. From Gem Pond, I used my microspikes on the ascent. I ascended into a cloud and had no views on Monroe and on Washington. On the way over to Jefferson, the cloud cover was breaking up. I dropped my snowshoes just past Jewell Tr. On Jefferson, I had views, but Washington was still in the clouds. I headed back to Jewell Tr and down that, making good time coming down. I was beat after today's hike. Saw a short tailed weasel below the summit of Jeff!!!" — newenglandwarrior • May 3, 2024
Photos
Awards
Challenges
About peakery awards
Log climbs on peakery to earn awards:
Peak Badges: Earn a special badge for each unique peak you summit. See all of your badges on your Badges page.
First Ascent Award: Only 1 available per peak. Goes to the first peakery member to log a successful summit of a peak. Snag this award and the peak will forever bear your name.
King of the Mountain Award: Only 1 available per peak. Summit a peak more times than any other member. Beware: this award can be lost!
Summit Steward: Summit a peak at least 5 times to become one of its Summit Stewards. As Steward of a peak, you’re encouraged to keep that peak’s info up-to-date on peakery and spread goodwill on your future climbs up the peak.