Mount Washington Auto Road
Presidential Range, New Hampshire · 1,564 ft
Typical peak
Sep 30 – Oct 8
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
The toll road climbs 7.6 miles from the Glen House to the 6,288-foot summit, crossing hardwood, spruce, krummholz, and bare rock in under an hour. Pullouts above the four-mile mark look down into the Great Gulf, where the color line shows as a distinct band across the slopes.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Enter at the Auto Road gate on NH Route 16 opposite the Glen House, about 2.5 miles north of Pinkham Notch, and pay the per-vehicle toll at the base.
What turns here
- paper birch
- mountain ash
- sugar maple
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 4Typical color progression for Mount Washington Auto Road. No change from Aug 27 to Sep 13. First color from Sep 13 to Sep 22. Approaching peak from Sep 22 to Sep 30. Peak from Sep 30 to Oct 8. Past peak from Oct 8 to Oct 18. Bare from Oct 18 to Nov 1.
Mount Washington Auto Road is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 7
7 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
56°F / 35°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Mount Washington Auto Road on October 4, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:17 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 95° | 6:46 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 7:24 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:33 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 5:42 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 265° | 6:21 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:50 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 35m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.