The Mt. Washington Auto Road in Gorham, New Hampshire, is America's oldest man-made attraction. There were no cars--and no cameras--when the first tourists traveled this route to the summit of New England's loftiest mountain peak. The road--an engineering feat--debuted in 1861, and it's been a popular outing since horse-drawn carriages followed its course.
So, it never crossed my mind that driving the Mt. Washington Auto Road might be: scary. My husband's knuckles were white even before we spotted a car in a ditch, its axles bent. It's an intimidating drive, and even New Hampshire State Police Dispatcher Bouton tells me: "Personally, I would never drive my own vehicle up." Yet, Troop F only responds to one or two "really minor" mishaps on the Auto Road each year, she assures: "It wouldn't be open if it was unsafe."
Timid drivers have options: guided van tours or the Cog Railway. But the Mt. Washington Auto Road is an unforgettable experience worthy of your bucket list.
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 The Road to the Sky |  A Rare Mishap |  We Made It! |  The Rewards Are Vast |
 Got Brakes? |  Why Are We Stopping? |  A Scenic Traffic Jam |  Once in a Lifetime |
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