Hikin' the Auto Road

[dentonfabrics]

Hi,

One of the things on my list of hiking to-do's this summer is to hike the Auto Road to the summit of Washington. I think I've read here that some of you guys have already tried it.

My plan is to leave sometimes in the late afternoon on a day where weather conditions are favorable and sometimes near a full moon. I'd summit before sunset and descend by midnight. Is this a good hike? I'm interested in it just for the sheer novelty of it and to get some great late-day photos from the road.

Questions: Is this hike legally allowed? Where do I park? I wonder how crowded the summit would be around 10pm on a summers night? Any suggestions from you guys who have actually done this hike? I've hiked the rockpile before but this plan has a certain appeal to me for some reason.


thanks,
bob

 

[David Metsky]

Questions: Is this hike legally allowed?

While cars are driving the Auto Road, they really don't want you walking up or down. After the road closes (6:00 PM) I don't think they care much, but it's still probably technically against their rules.

Where do I park?

You can park at the Auto Road base area along Rt 16.

I wonder how crowded the summit would be around 10pm on a summers night?

Probably not very crowded. A few folks might hike up from Lakes, and if it's a nice night the summit crew and eduguests might be outside. I doubt there will be many hikers like you.

-dave-

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Sorry if this comes across a bit pessimistic, but - a few years ago a group of us did it in early May, right after it opened, thinking it would be easier on one of the guys recovering from surgery. It wasn't - it was hot, dusty, boring, and surprisingly hard on the feet. We decided to come down an easier way, and took Lion's Head.

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

FWIW:
I found hiking up the Auto Road to be hard on my feet and ankles....descending was hard on the knees.

...but it was worth it to see the moon rise over the Carter's.

 

[RoySwkr]

Scary

I was going to do a loop hike in the Great Gulf going up Chandler Brook and down Madison Gulf, which required a walk on the Auto Road as CB doesn't connect to anything (and I looked for herd paths). Most of the road had no shoulder and it was pretty thick trying to bushwhack along the side. Many of the drivers seemed to be at their limit but when one of the stage vans put a wheel up on one of the rocks on the side (driver looking at me not road?) I decided I was risking lives of others besides myself and bushwhacked down to the Great Gulf Trail instead.

 

[Snowflea]

According to the person I spoke with at the Auto Road, it's technically not illegal to walk on the road, but they don't encourage pedestrian usage for reasons of safety. As others have said, the road is narrow and drivers are often looking at the views, so you must get out of the way!!

I've run the road on my own a few times but always either after hours (may I suggest a full moon excursion?) or before the road has opened for the day. A non weekend day very early in the season would be a fine time as well.

Running DOWN the Auto Road is a great quad workout, and...
Running UP is a great gluteus maximus workout!!

 

[stu]

Never hiked up the auto-road, but years ago we did hike down (sometime in the summer, it was hot!). The thing I remember most was how much longer it seemed to take. Personally, I would'nt do it again, too many nice trails to redline. just my opinion though!

 

[--M.]

Well, when compared to the cog, it follows a gentler, more circuitous route, as cars can't just go right up the way the cog (and some hikers) can. I'll bet 'wackin' the cog pathway would be much more challenging and fascinating. I wonder how "they" would feel about that.

 

[Waumbek]

According to the person I spoke with at the Auto Road, it's technically not illegal to walk on the road, but they don't encourage pedestrian usage for reasons of safety. As others have said, the road is narrow and drivers are often looking at the views, so you must get out of the way!! I've run the road on my own a few times but always either after hours (may I suggest a full moon excursion?) or before the road has opened for the day. A non weekend day very early in the season would be a fine time as well.

A heads-up footnote to Stinkyfeet's post: there are occasionally some drivers on the road after hours. They're the pros who drive the vans all day so they're not likely to be rubbernecking and run you off the road, but narrow is narrow.

 

[DougPaul]

Well, when compared to the cog, it follows a gentler, more circuitous route, as cars can't just go right up the way the cog (and some hikers) can. I'll bet 'wackin' the cog pathway would be much more challenging and fascinating. I wonder how "they" would feel about that.

I read somewhere (an old guidebook?) that following the cog railway is not a good route. Don't know if this has changed as a result of the cog ski operation. Never tried it myself.

Doug

 

[sweeper]

I was doing loops out of the GG I came down Nelson Craig then walked up to the top of Chandler Brk via the Auto Road.
I won't reccommend it. As stated above It's tough on the feet, the continuously watching for cars, the smell of brakes. Then there are the question from the nonhiking tourists.
I don't see a repeat in my future.

 

[Mike P.]

Farmer Bob & I came down the road in mid-late November. Due to the conditions above treeline, (wind in 20-30 range, temp in 20's & trails barely covered with some snow & ice making footing treacherous with or without crampons) we opted for descending the road.

In this particular case it was quicker than the trail in those conditions & the road only had a few inches of snow on it.

Cars & vans in summer would make it too much of a hassle IMO (this summer I walked down the road from the Clingmans Dome back to Newfound Gap after taking the AT up - while wider, worrying about drivers not looking for me was nerve-racking)

I'd plan this trip either from now until they open the road, knowing their may be some big snow drifts or after they close the road in the fall with the plan of starting & ending during the day.

While I usually do not have issues with my knees, the time we spent on the road (summit to Old Jackson) began to get to my knees, while there are some changes in the grade, it's not that much of a difference unlike a trail.

 

[Jim lombard]

I'll bet 'wackin' the cog pathway would be much more challenging and fascinating. I wonder how "they" would feel about that.

I did that in April once coming down after going up the Ammonusuc and it wasn't much fun at all. All you look at is black coal and lots of litter folks throw from the train.

 

[--M.]

Yeah, what a total letdown, huh? Our species is embarrassing sometimes isn't it?

 

[dentonfabrics]

I'm surprised to hear so many negative stories about this hike. I'll have to reconsider making it. Thanks for the input.


bob

 

[Mike P.]

Bob,

That was my 1st time on the Auto Road, the views from the road, particularly of the Northern Peaks are great. I'd do it again, just when there is no traffic. In descent weather, late October to Thanksgiving or the week before they open the road seems to make more sense.

While a full moon hike might be neat, I'm not sure the views then would justify it. Full Moon experts might disagree with me, most of my evening hikes are sunset hikes with an hour or two in the woods by headlamp. For me, my appetite for a full moon Presidential Hike would likely be more of say Monroe from LOC or Adams or Madison from Madison Hut