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The Atlas/New Hampshire/Mt. Washington Auto Road — Base Gate

Mt. Washington Auto Road — Base Gate

The only road to the summit of Mount Washington — at 6,288 feet, the highest peak in the Northeast — the 7.6-mile private toll road begins at 1,527 feet in Pinkham Notch and climbs at an average 11.6% grade to the summit. Motorcycles are welcome on the road, which is paved and marked by painted guide lines warning riders of the severe dropoffs. The summit offers a visitor center, the Sherman Adams building, and one of the most dramatic mountain-road experiences in the eastern United States. Check the website before riding — the upper road closes in weather. Season runs mid-May through late October.

New Hampshire
Region
Attraction
Stop type
Standalone stop
Atlas
// Why riders stop

This is a bucket-list ride for Northeast touring motorcyclists — a steep, technical, 7.6-mile climb on a road with no guard rails and genuine 4,000-foot vertical exposure. The descent requires sustained engine braking; bikes with high-mounted exhausts have caused pavement fires in overheating brakes. The base gate at Pinkham Notch on NH-16 is 12 miles north of Jackson and 8 miles south of Gorham — both directions offer excellent riding.

// Rider photos

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// Nearby & related
StopNew Hampshire
C.L. Graham Wangan Overlook
New Hampshire
A Forest Service–maintained roadside overlook on the eastern stretch of the Kancamagus Highway (NH-112) in Bartlett, just beyond Kancamagus Pass at roughly mile 20 from the Conway side. The overlook provides wide views of the Swift River Watershed and the mountains to the north and east, with a generous paved parking area that accommodates large groups of motorcycles. Maintained restrooms are available at the site. The overlook is one of the most visited scenic stops on the Kanc and is especially popular during fall foliage season.
RouteNew Hampshire
4.8/10
Crawford Notch (US-302)
New Hampshire
Twin Mountain to North Conway via Bretton Woods, ~30 mi. Sweeping notch scenery past Mount Washington Hotel. Pairs perfectly with the Kanc via Bear Notch Road.
56
miles
StopNew Hampshire
Flume Gorge — Franconia Notch
New Hampshire
A natural granite gorge 800 feet long and up to 20 feet wide carved by the Flume Brook at the base of Mount Liberty in Franconia Notch State Park. The Flume Visitor Center at the park's southern end (just off I-93/US-3) sells tickets for the self-guided 2-mile loop that traverses the gorge via boardwalks and covered bridges. The park is open mid-May through late October; admission is charged. The visitor center has a café, restrooms, and a large paved parking area — one of the most substantial facilities in the White Mountains.