AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch

I booked a room at the AMC Highland Center in October in preparation for a hike of the Presidential Traverse trail with 5 other friends. We booked the room for one night, which included 6 bunk beds and also included dinner and breakfast. The cost for the room is very reasonable, and you can save more by becoming an AMC member. There are also discounts on hiking gear in the shop if you are an AMC member. I was impressed with the dinner that was included with the room cost. They served salmon, pasta, and many other side options. Everyone in the group was pleasantly surprised. We left early to hit the trail, so we did not get to try the breakfast. We ran into rough weather on the trail and bailed off the mountain that evening. We needed a place to stay and called the AMC Highland Center for a room. They had the same room available from the previous night. We stayed and had breakfast the next morning, which was very good. We found out that the cost for the room is cheaper if you decline the dinner option the night of your stay. I enjoyed my stay at the AMC Highland Center very much. The staff were very knowledgeable and hiker friendly. I saw many other hikers staying at this location. The bunk beds were not the most comfortable, but for the cost of the room with six guys, it was a great value, especially with dinner and breakfast. I expect to come back to hike the White Mountains again and will book another room at the AMC Highland Center. Highly recommend this location anytime if year if you plan to do hiking in the White Mountains

A beautiful location with clean restrooms, maps, and just enough parking spots. This location has perfect access for railfans to see Conway Scenic pull into the Crawford Notch station, or for hikers to get to the plethora of trails that start around Saco Pond or right on the other side of the tracks. In addition, they're right on an Appalachian trail access route! They've got a small shop stocked with hiking and survival gear as well as a dining room that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I didn't stay as a guest but as a hiker passing through, just needed the Wi-Fi to send an important message. What I saw of this AMC Hut is terrific! The front counter clerk was very friendly and told me all about the hut. I also met Emily, a super lovely and friendly young lady over the train depot. She explained the history of the depot and we discussed a few hiking trails. Anything AMC is well run!! I want to stay at the Highland Center on my next visit.

The AMC Highland Center is located in the heavens and staffed by angels. By a stroke of bad luck, we (Bostonians) completed a day hike at Crawford notch and returned to find a non-functional car. We hitchhiked to this nearby lodge for help, where our bad fortune turned around: every staff member (shoutout to Kiff and Ethan) was immediately friendly, creative, and helpful. Within 30 minutes, we were fed a delicious salmon dinner, provided a comfortable place to rest, and offered solutions for car repairs and getting back home. The scenic views were rivaled only by the kindness of staff we met. We cannot recommend the AMC Highland Center highly enough!

The 4 stars are primarily based on location, location and location. The five stars for rooms are based on the Shapleigh Bunkhouse, where you pay for a bunk in a coed room, which is wonderful, inexpensive, clean, and cozy. So be aware I am not commenting on the fancier and far more expensive rooms in the main building. "Service" is a misnomer when applied to the dining room, as meals are served cafeteria style. The food is mediocre: The scrambled eggs are hard and overcooked. Soft and creamy scrambled eggs do not require that much effort. Eggs cooked to order would be a nice option. I have seen that work in military and college dining halls, where many people are quickly served. The waffles, like the eggs, are dry and precooked. A better option would be to have a few waffle irons in the dining room (where it wouldn't interrupt serving line traffic). Guests could make their own, like they do in budget motels. I looked forward to the salmon at dinner, bit it was overcooked and mushy. The price of beer and wine at the "bar" is commensurate with what I would expect at the four-star Omni Mount Washington Resort a few miles down the road in Bretton Woods. I would have stayed at Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch, but at that property, the AMC has discontinued its long-standing practice of renting bunks. That, and the weird new logo, shows how far the AMC has strayed from its roots.