White Mountains

Understand

The White Mountains are the most rugged mountains in New England.

Other destinations

• White Mountain National Forest
• Mount Washington State Park

Stay safe

One should be aware of basic wilderness survival skills when outdoors due to the exceptionally harsh nature of the area's climate and lack of civilization. Read the safety section of the White Mountain National Forest guide for more information. Also, moose and deer on roads can cause accidents, with the latter sometimes fatal.

Crime is not an issue in the White Mountains; it's virtually non-existent.

Note that Mount Washington is particularly dangerous. While over 500 mountains in the United States have higher peaks, only three have more deaths noted on them. Mount Washington is at the intersection of warm Gulf, cold Arctic, and wet Atlantic air systems, resulting in extreme weather conditions that get as cold as the coldest parts of Antarctica (-240 F) and some of the highest winds ever recorded (over 230 mph), with over 50 in of snowfall in winter routine. It is also the tallest peak in a 1000 mi radius and has extreme crevasses. Unlike taller mountains, accessing Mount Washington is relatively easy and one can drive up the mountainside, but weather conditions can change dramatically, particularly above the treeline, where hikers will be on an exposed plain. Exercise the utmost caution if you decide to visit, particularly if you go higher up on the mountain.

Towns

• Bretton Woods
• Franconia
• Glen
• Gorham
• Jackson
• Lincoln
• North Conway
• Sugar Hill
• Waterville Valley