Mount Washington gets steeper, and more challenging, the higher up you go. The rocky terrain above treeline is brutal on a hiker’s knees. For some hikers, the total excursion time on Washington can be as long as 12 hours — depending on how many times you stop for pictures or other breaks, how long you spend at the summit, and how fast you hike. read more
"The Mount Washington Auto Road also operates a "Hiker Shuttle" one-way down the mountain. Service is dependent on weather and availability of equipment, so hikers should NOT count on having access to a shuttle for the descent – if they are hiking up, they should plan on hiking down, and consider themselves fortunate if they can ride a shuttle down. read more
It then joins the Gulfside trail for an easy ascent up to the summit of Mount Washington (ow: 7.9 miles; 5,000 feet; 6:25). With only one car you may have to return the same way, many find going down the headwall unpleasant (rt: 15.8 miles; 5,000 feet; 10:25). read more