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    Hudson Highlands State Park

    4.6 (73 reviews)

    Hudson Highlands State Park Photos

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    Hunter S.

    Well organized trail system with lots of easy, available parking. I took the easy Cornish Estate trail, which is about one mile in and one mile out. Mostly flat terrain, with a little uphill incline at the end. At the end are very cool ruins that make for good photos. There are more challenging trails. Near Beacon, NY, which is home to Bannerman Castle. Some quaint little shops in the nearby downtown. Could make a nice little day trip from NYC.

    Lourdes M.

    There is an option between Break Neck Ridge or the Bull Hill trail on this state park. We picked the later being a beginner rate hiker. Unexpectedly, we enjoyed the trail we took in this state park when we finished. We started before 9 am and the parking near the trailhead was already full. Lucky that a-crossed the street near the state park office has still plenty of spots available. Wow! The parking is free being said a state park. A plus for this review. It picked up the elevation right away few yards from the start of the trail. It is still lingered on my mind while walking if we were doing a short loop which is 4.4 miles or the full loop of 5.9 miles. Glad that we did the full loop, it challenged us and we prove of our worth. Aside from the scenic view of Hudson River and the town from the top, we were able to went higher and see NYC from a distance. As we were making a turn for the loop, we passed by so many beautiful trees with vibrant colors of its leaves. Along the way , we passed by small creek and then ended the trail seeing historic ruins of an estate of former well know city dweller. It took us one hour longer than the estimated trail completion time of a blogger. It is worth the effort and time taking this trail.

    Monica M.

    The short hike to the ruins was totally worth it. The trail was very beautiful and breathtaking. It's an easy trail to navigate, and the walking path is wide. However, due to the thunderstorm we had the past few days, there was a lot of debris and falling trees. Otherwise, it was gorgeus, and I went further and checked out the dam and waterfalls , which is an extra 5-10 min walk.

    On part of "Breakneck Ridge" trial
    Dan P.

    Nice state park for hiking. We went on a mild June Saturday afternoon. The park has many trail of differing difficulties. If you see a trial description with "scramble" in it, that will be a very, very hard trail requiring great physical exertion. Just providing that tip because we noticed lots of people getting to the scramble section of one trail that either (1) immediately turned around or (2) put themselves in danger trying to climb rocks when they had no business doing so (out of shape/overweight individuals). If you plan on a longer hike, carry a good backpack with a waist strap to carry your water and snacks. Keeping your hands free is essential on some of the harder sections.

    Trail map - take a pic and go
    Robert C.

    We used the parking lot by Sprout Brook for entry and enjoyed a relatively lightly humaned hike - a few sets of hikers out, with about 50% masked - we actually stepped off the trail to let the selfish folks pass. Trails in relatively good shape, with a couple of muddy spots requiring some balance and a few steep uphill sections. Mostly narrow sections requiring single file. There are three sets of trails, and you can select how far up - and how difficult - you want to take your walk. Some streams, ponds and small waterfalls provided by Mama nature. Great day, wonderful weather and glad to get out. Love our Town of Cortlandt!

    Hiking Bull Hill Mt. Taurus
    Anita Y.

    Another year, another mountain!! I've been on Yelp for 10 years and an Elite member for 6+ years and I just realized we could check in on a mountain... It was my first time tackling Bull Hill Mt. Taurus with 16 of my friends back from nursing school. This time, I decided to take one of my fur babies on her first hike (after checking out videos beforehand to make sure the terrain isn't too bad). A lot of people laughed at the fact that I brought a small breed dog on a hike and while I agree that larger breeds would probably have an easier time, it was still very doable - we both had a lot of fun and she actually wasn't tired from it at all (I was surprised too because she's got little legs). I hike every year and I would say this is not a hard trail. I definitely recommend this place for beginners. However, keep in mind that there is a bit of uneven ground and can be a little rocky coming back down (lots of loose rock and pebbles and mud on the path) and that was probably the only time I had to stop and carry her every now and then to make sure she doesn't get injured. The views of the Hudson below were impeccable. You won't regret it.

    Data on route I took during my visit to Breakneck & Mt. Taurus.
    Eric R.

    I'm an avid hiker and love this region of mountains to hike spanning from Beacon mountain, Fishkill Ridge and Taurus Mountain! I've been all over these mountains in recent years. Depending on the route you take the hikes vary from moderately difficult to very difficult. There really is no "easy" route in my opinion because you will eventually find yourself going UP. Summer months bring plenty of water and a good pair of hiking footwear and no the fancy Uggs while are beautiful boots do not qualify for proper footwear. Wear something designed specifically for hiking because I've seen countless people slip on rocks because their $400 pair of "Yeezy's" lacked the grip necessary to navigate some rock obstacles. In winter months be sure to pack micro spikes for your footwear in case you come across ice where you risk injury trying to cross large masses of ice. Above all else please BRING A MAP darn it!! While I don't mind saving you when I find you completely lost, I will lecture you on not having a map especially when the wonderful trail stewards who volunteer their time do give out maps for FREE at the Breakneck trail head. Bring MAP, water, food, camera, good footwear and have fun but be safe.

    Frances L.

    We hiked the white/WB, yellow/UC and red/BK and blue/CN loop today. White trail goes upward and was somewhat strenuous but was the way to get on the yellow trail which had wonderful views of the Hudson. The red/blue trail was an easy hike back. If you're traveling with young kids/stroller, I recommend only hiking the blue trail from the parking lot to the Cornish Estate Ruins. The small lot fills up very quickly so early arrival (8 am) is a must. Only port-a-potties at the parking lot were available but they were clean ( in the morning anyway). I also recommend stopping by Round Up Texas BBQ for a meal. Food was delicious and affordable. Plenty of picnic tables for outdoor dining.

    Cornish Estate Ruins
    Tim C.

    We did the "Full Bull" hike and loved it. This was my favorite hike of the season. The views were nice and the ruins towards the end were a lot of fun to explore. Lot of spots to get great pictures, but in the natural areas and at the ruins. The hike itself was moderate, but easier than I though it would be. I am 300lbs; I imagine if I can do it, most people can if they choose to stick with it. The beginning little bit was the worst, then it was a cake walk from there.

    Trails identified.
    Mary Jane R.

    Many trails to choose from with varying difficulty in this multi-location park. We chose the easy Stoney Point Trail, located just north of Cold Spring. Beautiful hike along the river and then up a small hill to a cliff overlooking the Hudson. On this crisp winter day it was a perfect 1+ mile circular counter clockwise hike.

    Bina P.

    I've only hiked here 7-10 times and I can't get enough of it. The hiking views are amazing, it's dog friendly, and people are so friendly. Level of difficulty: I came here (breakneck ridge) probably 6 times last year and the last time I came, there were a group of girls that ran out of water so I had an extra bottle to spare. So if you're reading this review make sure to bring a ton of water and a snack. There is also climbing involved so you may have to lift yourself up from big boulders. Washburn and bull hill are easy hiking trails. The views are just as beautiful but doesn't require the level of intensity as breckneck ridge.

    Aleksandra E.

    This was one of the best hikes, not really the easiest one, but it definitely worth it! This place has so many spots to explore, we couldn't cover the whole area in one day. Hudson Valley has a lot of breweries around so after a hot day it is very nice to check them out, or they have nice ice cream shop nearby

    so cool
    Karen 2.

    this spot is extremely beautiful and has great scenery. i'd highly recommend stopping by and enjoying the nature here.

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    Great place for all year good or great memories with friends and family. Safe place to go.

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    Ask the Community - Hudson Highlands State Park

    Review Highlights - Hudson Highlands State Park

    Breakneck Ridge is not for beginner hikers, as it is strenuous and challenging, but very rewarding!

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    Breakneck Ridge - Fall folliage

    Breakneck Ridge

    4.5(79 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    As far as hiking trails go in the immediate NYC-metro region, this is one of the best in terms of…read moreviews and a good choice for moderate aerobic exercise. From the hilltop peaks your sightline on a clear day follows the winding path of the Hudson River and then extends for miles along the east and west horizons. Arrival to the trail is by car or train. There's no parking lot at the main two trailhead entrance/exit points so cars park alongside the road next to these markers for about half a mile each way. Arrival by metro-north train drops you off at Breakneck Ridge station, though worthwhile to double check whether it stops here on off-peak weekdays and winter months. There are a few main options for trail difficulty and length. The short loop takes 1 hour though doesn't ascend the main peaks, the long loop takes 3 hours and involves a pretty arduous (steep rock scramble for hiking novices) climb up to reach 2 main peaks, the Break Neck to Cold Spring route includes the rock scramble portion of the long loop and the takes 4 hours. There are other combinations of trails you can take, and park services has done a good job of posting trail markers so you don't get lost. My friend and I took the long trail and on a clear fall Saturday morning tons of other hikers had the same idea. The rock scramble was about 30 minutes of continuous steep ascent, some parts of which you need to push or pull yourself over boulders so a decent level of physical fitness, a good sense of balance and shoes/boots with good traction are a must. This part of the trail is one-way meaning for ascent only--descending would be rather dangerous if other people were trying to climb up at the same time--and especially bc on certain parts there's only 1-2 routes uphill with a clear path and good grip (at least for inexperienced rock climbers like me). There are signs warning not to take this route if you have a fear of heights. The second peak along the long loop requires similar rock scaling though there's an option to go up via a side route which was still steep but involved less scrambling. The rest of the loop is mild and mostly downhill though you do need to be careful of dusty (or muddy) patches and loose rocks and pebbles causing slippery slopes. Make sure to bring enough water if you're doing the longer trails, and ideally a snack to replenish some energy part way. No rest stops or bathrooms on the trail (it is after all a hiking trail in the woods) so plan accordingly! Dogs are allowed and I saw some on and off leash.

    So the novice in me (and I use that term very loosely) decided to embark on this journey without…read moreeven knowing that a scramble was. The views at every point, the nice breeze amidst the summer heat, and the friendly folks along the way made this a highlight of the summer. Oh, and hiking snacks came in clutch

    Photos
    Breakneck Ridge - A flag on Breakneck trail.

    A flag on Breakneck trail.

    Breakneck Ridge - On the first hilltop

    On the first hilltop

    Breakneck Ridge

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    Hudson Highlands State Park - parks - Updated June 2026

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