Mount Washington Cog Railway
Scenic railway · New Hampshire
The world's first mountain-climbing rack railway has hauled passengers up Mount Washington's west slope since 1869. Biodiesel and vintage steam locomotives grind up a 37% grade past treeline, fall color giving way to alpine tundra near the 6,288-foot summit.
Don’t miss
Color nearby peaks: October 5–October 9
Color builds from September 23 · mostly bare by October 28
Sampled at Mount Washington Cog Railway’s own coordinates and elevation (1174 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 4 weather points across New Hampshire, nudged 3 days later to match 1 published peak date from almanac.com. This year's weather has the peak running 2 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Mount Washington Cog Railway
The color window runs about 23 days, holding until around October 16. Against New Hampshire overall, that is 7 days earlier. Most of that is elevation. It sits at 3,852 ft.
Mount Washington Cog Railway on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of New Hampshire, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Mount Washington Cog Railway peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 5–October 9 (best estimate October 7). Color starts around September 23 and is mostly bare by October 28.
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