If you think the New England scenery is spectacular at ground level, wait until you see it from up high. New England is tops for scenic mountain summit drives that take you above the trees for an entirely different view of autumn's brilliant foliage or the lush greens of late spring and summer. (Continued Below)

Related Resources • Fall Foliage Driving Tours • Conserve Gas On Your Road Trip

Elsewhere on the Web • Mt. Washington Auto Road • Mt. Greylock • Mount Equinox Skyline Drive

Best of all, you can arrive at the mountaintop fresh as a daisy in the comfort of your own vehicle. Even if you like to hike, driving to the peak allows you to save your energy for exploring once you've reached the point of most-panoramic views. Here's your guide to five mountains you can drive. Keep in mind that access to these mountain roads is seasonal, so it's a good idea to call ahead from late fall through early spring.

The Mt. Washington Auto Road is the mother of all mountain drives in New England. That's because New Hampshire's Mt. Washington is the region's tallest peak. Don't be surprised to find the weather atop Mt. Washington radically different from what you left behind when you began the eight-mile journey. The photo at right was taken in June. Mt. Washington didn't earn its reputation as the home of the world's worst weather for nothing. The 6,288-foot peak still holds a world record set in 1934 for the strongest wind--231 miles per hour--and you're likely to need a jacket at the summit, even on the hottest summer days.

The "Road to the Sky" opened to horse and carriage traffic in 1861--it is quite an engineering marvel. Reputed to be the nation's first man-made attraction, the Auto Road continues to provide travelers with an opportunity to reach the "top of New England" in just about a half hour. At the summit, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Presidential Range and beyond, plus visit the Mount Washington Observatory Museum.

Fees for 2003: $18 for car and driver including an audio tour on cassette or CD and a "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington" bumper sticker. There is a $7 charge for each additional adult and a $4 charge for each additional child ages 5 to 12. The fee for a motorcycle and operator is $10. If you don't think your car is up for the climb, guided van tours are also available. Some vehicle limitations apply.

Directions: The Mount Washington Auto Road is accessible from Route 16 north of Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire.

For Information: Call (603) 466-3988.

Massachusetts' tallest mountain, Mt. Greylock, is the focal point of its first State Park, Mount Greylock State Reservation. Though this 3,491-foot western Massachusetts peak can't rival Mt. Washington for height, it offers its own array of enticements. For starters, the road over the mountain is open to the public absolutely free.

When you drive the eight-mile road to the summit, you'll immediately notice the beacon-like structure at the top. This 92-foot War Memorial Tower, pictured at left, was originally intended to serve as a lighthouse on the Charles River in Boston. Climb the tower for views of five states.

Another surprise awaits atop Mt. Greylock. Bascom Lodge, a stone and wood retreat built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, actually accommodates overnight guests. You'll find a gift shop, snack bar and restrooms inside, and if you don't mind rustic accommodations with shared facilities, call (413) 743-1591 to book one of two private rooms or a bed in one of the co-ed bunkrooms for the night.

Fees for 2003: Free

Directions: From Route 7 North in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, turn right on North Main Street. Turn right on Rockwell Road and follow it to the summit of Mount Greylock. Drive down the mountain on Notch Road, heading north toward North Adams. At the base of the mountain, make a sharp right near the Mt. Williams Reservoir to stay on Notch Road, then turn right onto Route 2 East, the Mohawk Trail. The road over the mountain may also be driven in reverse.

For Information: Call (413) 499-4262 or (413) 499-4263.

Serious drivers will love the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive's hairpin turns and dramatic climb to the 3,848-foot summit of the highest mountain in the Taconic Range. The 5.2-mile upward climb is the longest, privately owned, paved toll-road in the U.S. Interestingly, it's owned by monks. The road and about 7,000 surrounding acres on Vermont's Mount Equinox were given to the Carthusians, a Roman Catholic monastic order, by their former owner, the prolific inventor and former President and Chairman of Union Carbide, Dr. Joseph George Davidson.

The Carthusians' quest for serenity can be yours when you embark on this breathtaking trip, and your tight grip on the wheel will be rewarded with majestic views that stretch as far north as Canada and encompass parts of five different mountain ranges.

Fees for 2003: $6.00 for the car and driver and $2.00 per adult passenger. There is no charge for children under 12. The fee for motorcycles is $5.00 for the bike and driver, $2.00 per passenger.

Directions: The entrance to the Equinox Skyline Drive is on Route 7A south of Manchester, Vermont.

For Information: Call (802) 362-1114.

Next page > Two More Mountains > Page 1, 2