New England's Year-Round Train Ride Is The World's First Mountain-Climbing Cog Railway With Vibrant Fall Foliage

Going on a road trip through New England's picturesque landscapes is a feast for the senses at any time of year. But in the fall, it's particularly beautiful, with travelers venturing out into the countryside, passing through miles of fiery mixed woodland and quaint historic towns, or winding through the rocky passes of New Hampshire's captivating White Mountains. And it's to the tallest of these mountains that the Mount Washington Cog Railway steadily climbs.

Sit back and enjoy the views on this uplifting journey to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington on the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway. Carrying passengers up its slopes since 1869, the railway departs from Marshfield Base Station near Bretton Woods, at around 2,700 feet, for a three-hour round trip to the highest peak in the Northeast. It trundles its way through four ecological zones, from northern hardwood forest and wind-stunted spruce to bleak alpine tundra, capturing a kaleidoscope of color along the way.

The railway was the creation of New Hampshire native, businessman, and inventor Sylvester Marsh, who, after nearly dying on a hike up Mount Washington in 1857, decided to devise a way for visitors to safely reach the summit. Astonishingly, there were already two hotels at the top, including the Tip Top House, where he sheltered from the severe weather. Even more surprising is that the very same building where he had his lightbulb moment still survives today as a historic site and museum, although it's currently closed for renovations. It stands next to the considerably more modern Sherman Adams Summit Building, which also contains the Mount Washington Observatory's working weather and research station.

While the railway is open year-round, you can only reach the summit from May through October, with some leeway around those dates depending on the weather. In winter, trains only go as far as Waumbek Station at 4,000 feet. Boarding at Marshfield Base Station, around 12 miles from Carroll, you'll be pleased to know the passenger coaches are heated, keeping you cozy as temperatures plummet on the ascent.

The train begins its 3-mile journey through dense forest, with maple, birch, and oak coming alive in the fall. Colors typically begin changing at higher elevations first, with peak foliage in the White Mountains arriving from early to mid-September. As you arrive at Waumbek Station, the southern Presidential Range comes into view, and on a clear day, you can see as far as the Canadian border. Higher up, the trees take on a different form, with the thick boreal forest giving way to krummholz, tiny, twisted conifers shaped by the harsh mountain weather.

If continuing to the summit, you'll pass Jacob's Ladder, the railway's steepest section, which runs along a 300-foot-long trestle nearly 25 feet above the mountainside. From here, the landscape becomes more barren as you enter the alpine zone. Look out for wildlife as you climb, from moose, black bears, and red foxes on the lower slopes to ravens gliding around the upper mountainside. After a roughly one-hour journey, you'll reach the summit, with an hour to spend exploring. When the visitor facilities are open, you can look around the visitor center, observatory, or grab a hot drink at the café. The Tip Top House remains closed for renovations but can still be admired from the outside. If weather conditions allow, you can look out over five states and as far as the Atlantic Ocean.

Marshfield Base Station is 163 miles from Boston and roughly 185 miles from Montreal. The station itself is quite remote, so you'll need to organize your own transportation to get there. Note that the railway is on the opposite side of the mountain from Mount Washington Auto Road, which also reaches the summit, so don't let your GPS send you on a wild goose chase.

While the seasonal full summit experience takes roughly three hours, the winter ride to Waumbek Station only lasts around an hour, with a 25-minute stop at the observation decks, giving you time to warm up at the fire pit and enjoy a complimentary hot drink. One thing you will have to prepare for is the weather, which means packing lots of layers. Not called the "Home of the World's Worst Weather" for nothing, Mount Washington can get seriously cold, with the lowest recorded temperature plummeting to a chilly minus 47 degrees Fahrenheit. Add to that New England's notoriously changeable conditions, and you should be prepared for anything that comes your way.

Ticket prices and departure times vary throughout the year, and booking in advance is recommended, especially on fall weekends. Trains depart hourly during the warmer months, but check the official schedule before visiting. For hikers hoping to reach the top on foot, you can buy a one-way ticket back down from the summit, but only in person and if seats are available. Or, do it in reverse and ride up to the top, taking the popular Jewell Trail or Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail back down toward Marshfield. There are also miles of cross-country ski trails around nearby Bretton Woods. When it's time to cozy up for the night, the historic Omni Bretton Arms Inn provides an intimate setting. Or book a stay at the grander Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa, which has a whole range of activities and spa treatments to keep you busy.