The seasons in the Presidential Range don't follow the calendar in the valleys. Snow can linger on the summits into June and return in September, and a summer day can turn wintry in a few hours.
Dates for roads, railways, and huts change from year to year, so always check with the operators before you go. Links are at the bottom of this page.
Spring
Spring comes late to the high peaks. While the valleys turn green, the summits often stay snow-covered, and the lower trails turn wet and muddy as the snow melts.
This is the season of Tuckerman Ravine, New England's best-known spot for backcountry spring skiing. Skiers climb into the ravine to ski slopes as steep as 50 degrees, a tradition that peaks around Memorial Day and can last into June. The ravine is also one of the most avalanche-prone places in the East, with around 100 avalanches recorded each year.
Good to know
- Check the Mount Washington Avalanche Center before going anywhere near the ravines.
- Streams run high with snowmelt. The river gauge on the Hiking page shows how high.
- The Auto Road usually opens in stages between late April and late May, weather permitting.
Summer
Summer is the busiest season. The AMC huts begin full service in June, serving dinner and breakfast to hikers along the ridge, and the summit buildings, Auto Road, and Cog Railway are all open.
In June, the alpine wildflowers bloom above treeline: diapensia, White Mountain avens, and the rare Robbins' cinquefoil. Each June the Mount Washington Road Race sends runners up the 7.6-mile Auto Road to the summit.
Summer weather is still serious. Fog, cold rain, and afternoon thunderstorms are common, and snow can fall on the summit in any month. In 1900, a hiker died of exhaustion in a June snowstorm near the Lakes of the Clouds.
Good to know
- Hut bunks book up early. Reserve well ahead on the AMC huts page, or see the Huts for direct booking links.
- Start early to be off the exposed ridges before afternoon storms.
- Pack warm layers, a hat, and gloves, even in July.
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Fall
Fall brings clear, crisp days and some of the best views of the year. The foliage usually turns first at higher elevations in late September, then spreads down into the valleys into October. Above treeline, the alpine sedge meadows turn gold.
Winter arrives early on the summits. The first snow and rime ice often come in September or October, and by mid-October the summit facilities of Mount Washington State Park close for the season. The AMC huts end full service in late October, and the Auto Road closes around the end of the month.
Good to know
- Days are shorter. Carry a headlamp and plan a turnaround time.
- Above treeline, conditions can be fully wintry while the valleys are still in color.
Winter
Winter in the Presidential Range is real mountaineering. Hurricane-force winds, deep cold, and whiteouts are routine. In February 2023, the summit wind chill reached −109°F.
The summit buildings are closed to the public, but the Mount Washington Observatory's staff stay on top all winter. The Cog Railway keeps running, with winter trains climbing partway up the mountain to its Waumbek Station. Experienced climbers come for the ice in Huntington Ravine, and a winter Presidential Traverse usually takes two to four days.
Good to know
- The Lion Head Winter Route is the usual winter way up Mount Washington from Pinkham Notch.
- The three Presidential huts close for the winter. Elsewhere in the White Mountains, a few AMC huts stay open as self-service.
- Read the Observatory's Higher Summits Forecast and the avalanche forecast every time.
Check before you go: seasons and schedules change every year. See the Mount Washington Auto Road, the Cog Railway, the Appalachian Mountain Club for huts, and the Weather page for current conditions.