Whoever told me the white trail was the easiest one was completely lying. It was more like rockclimbing and it was by no means an easy hike or trail. I came here on a Sunday morning taking the 2nd of 2 Metro North trains coming up from the city to the stop, Breakneck Ridge. Walked about 10 minutes to the white trail and began my 4 hour hiking journey. Really everyone had said white was the easiest but it was definitely not easy at all. Not even relative to the other trails we were on (yellow and blue). It had spectaclar views but get ready to climb lots of rocks. We weren't up that far on the white trail and there was really no way to get down from where we were. The white trail did have the best views of the water. There are maps at the base of each trail but they aren't super helpful. There is parking available at different parts of the park. Also from the end of the blue trail, it was about a mile walk to the Cold Spring train station. read more

Oh my god, amazing! I had been READY to get out of the city for a while for a hike upstate and finally got around to doing it today with a group of friends. We climbed Mt. Taurus, taking a few different trails throughout the entire hike. The hike was pretty strenuous for the first hour or so, you gain A LOT of elevation in a short period of time. Once you're on the top of the mountain, the views are spectacular. Large stretches of the Hudson underneath you and the rest of the range, the town of Cold Spring, etc. The hike down is lovely and doesn't involve too much rock scrambling. There are also amazing ruins from what was once a mansion on the blue trail on the way down. I can't recommend this state park enough! It was just what I needed. Its only an hour and 15 minutes from Penn Station, and $24 round trip so you really have no excuse to not go! read more

This park contains the famous and well reported on Breakneck Ridge hike. The first 45 minutes or so is a bit like walking up irregular rocky stairs, but after that it levels off and gets easier for the most part. Not to say that it is hard, I have seen children and the elderly on the trail. Just go at a comfortable pace. And be advised that there are some "rock scrambling" portions of the trail where you may have to use your hands. Nothing at all like rock climbing but it isn't simply just walking. Unless you take the alternate (marked) routes that are easier. The views from the lookout points are really nice, especially during Fall when the leaves change. The entire hike (White trail to Yellow trail to Red Trail, which is the shortest loop) takes 3 hours at a leisurely pace. I am not sure if Mt. Taurus / Bull Hill is also considered to be in the Hudson Highlands State Park, but it is about a mile away from Breakneck (and easily walkable from Cold Spring) and also has great views. read more

Came here for Fishkill Ridge: Lambs Hill, it was a good and long hike. We did the red trail to go up, then did a loop around the white trail. There were couple of overlooks, and interesting spots. read more

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Definitely not for the faint hearted, but breakneck ridge is a great workout with scenic views - similar to what other reviewers have said. Be prepared for a combo of steep hiking and rock climbing. Bring substantial food and water. Probably wouldn't recommend wearing shorts on the hike since your legs and knees will likely make a lot of contact with the rocks. Can't wait to go back! read more

Get away from it all! This park is just a short ride up the Hudson River on the Metro-North line. The scenery on the voyage up is spectacular. The high cliffs that buttress the river have a majestic feel to them. Really incredible in the fall when the leaves are changing. Take the train to either the Cold Spring or Breakneck Ridge stop. Cold Spring is a cute little town that has some decent shops, restaurants and coffee places. Follow the NYC crowd when you get off the train to know the direction. The Breakneck Ridge stop is literally just a pause along the side of the tracks. There is no station... in fact there isn't anything there. This stop drops you right at the park itself. The park is mostly undeveloped so you can just meander through the woods. The are incredible vistas that sweep through the entire Hudson Valley. The autumn colors abound and are quite breathtaking from the vista. I recommend this day jaunt to anyone who is itching to get out of the city, but can't afford a car to do so. It's invigorating and enjoyable. After all the hiking, you'll sleep like a baby, too! Be sure to read up on the park and to bring proper materials (water, appropriate shoes, etc.). Plus, check the Metro-North schedule so you know when to leave and when to be back to the train to get home. There are several groups that organize trips for hikes, so surf the web and you can most likely attach to one. read more

Where to even begin by saying this place is amazing, as a new beginner as a hiker this is an amazing "trail" just keep an eye out for the color postings while your walking if not, you will get lost! Like I did but the experience is amazing. Make sure you wear some great gear and also while your parking make sure to leave a note on the windshield therefore if you get lost, they can either contact you or your emergency contact that you have on there as well! Very Important! Parking you need to park on the side of the road you'll see once you get there, but make sure to get there early! Like around 10:00AM and if you're just starting to hike I would say earlier like at 7:00AM. Definitely do your research to find any trails or maps while you go hiking, bring a COMPASS, before you leave your car make sure the coordinates of the car so you can retrace your steps if you get lost! Wear comfortable hiking shoes and then you should be good to enjoy this Mountain! Overall awesome place and experience. read more

This park and hike was amazing, I would do it again however whoever listed this as "moderate" hike was definitely mistaken. It was a pretty steep uphill for a good 30-40 minutes, and at times I thought I might die. It was also VERY crowded, I'm not sure I've ever encountered so many people in the woods on a trail before! Apparently is a easy train ride from NYC so I guess people come out for the day... very attractive, young NYC people, so that's a plus, but I think I still prefer being in nature somewhat alone to take it all in. The trails were marked super well, and there is even a trail suggestion tent set up on the main road. Overall 4 stars. read more

Some of the best hiking in the Hudson Valley. From Camp Smith to Fishkill Ridge, you really can't go wrong with any of the trails in this area. My go-to hike is Bull Hill/Mt. Taurus. The initial climb is hard enough to be a challenge, but not so long that you can't enjoy it. The views are amazing, it's not too crowded and the hike down the backside of the mountain is long enough to get you some mileage. The ruins of the Cornish Estate are an added bonus. Breakneck Ridge is one of the most popular hikes in the Northeast. Avoid it on weekends if you can. Anthony's Nose is a must see. read more

Oh how I wish we had mountains in the Midwest. This little rock scramble was the most fun I had on our visit to NY, not even NYC could beat it. The hike is pretty quick but super fun and the view is spectacular. read more

aka breakneck ridge. Start at the white trail -- also where the rock climbing was-- the climb up gets a bit tough but really exciting and fun. Do not even think about going down once you're up. You are literally hugging onto the rock when you're climbing. No safety ropes or anything. I almost slipped wearing the wrong kind of shoes. Free parking, go early before 11am for parking and to avoid any congestion on the way. Bring at least 1 Litre of water, lunch, and the right clothes wear. It is colder there but once you start, you can work up a sweat and then it gets hot. read more

The hike up to breakneck was a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The walk was nice and the view was pretty. It wasn't amazing or mind blowing but worth the visit. I personally didn't find it as challenging as some of the other reviews state. It's steep but completely manageable. I'm not in athletic shape and I just had running shoes. . . I did just fine. Oh, one more thing - it was pretty crowded on the weekend. I'd suggest going mid week, if possible, for a more private experience. read more

Worth the hiking trip, I'm always climbing this mountain. Great hike, view. Everyone should try it out! read more

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Loved rock climbing here, went from white to red to yellow as suggested. Four scenic views and more. It was lot of fun. read more

Hudson Highlands State Park - Parks Near Me - Beacon, New York

Easy to get to from grand central. Don't get off at cold springs- take it one more stop to breakneck ridge platform. You will have to walk to the last car to get off. I went with a group of four and a 45lb dog. We hiked the hardest trail- the white trail to the top, to the blue trail that takes you back to the town of cold spring, where we walked into the town and had lunch at a restaurant outside. None of us are extreme activists- we were struggling midpoint but that was mainly because we didn't bring water. Huge mistake. The dog loved it! There were times we didn't know how to get him up some rocks but with a little push and lift he was fine. He was actually trail leader most the trek. I highly suggest taking the blue trail back to cold spring, as there are many old stone forts and structures to see, in addition to a beautiful brook which is fresh enough that you can drink the water (we did- mainly because we made the biggest mistake of not bringing water) and there was a little pool where the pups can swim. Overall the hike took 3.5-4 hours/8.9 miles. It was very crowded in the beginning but as you keep pushing up the mountain it gets less crowded. Also the crowd kinda pushes you to just keep going so it can be seen a positive reinforcement. read more

Some excellent hiking here. Many great views. Terrain varies . There are a few different loops some harder then others. Look at a trail map before you and get your route dialed in. read more

I wish I could paintball here. .. I love coming to this park whenever I'm in philly. there is no place quite like it anywhere. probably at the top of my favorite park list read more

first off - how are there only 4 reviews of this??? second -- yes, come here for a day trip from new york. stop thinking about it, and just do it. on the weekends you take the 7:47a or 8:47a metro north train up to the breakneck ridge stop. it's only $12.25 (one way). once you're there, do the scramble up the rock face (white trail) til you're totally out of breath and your palms and knees are a little scraped up. you'll have several stops along the way with amazing views of the hudson river valley. and you'll get to see, to paraphrase my uncle, "what those hudson river school people were painting!" it's spectacular, and unlike the city, and just so fun and refreshing. there are enough trails along the way that you can choose to really go all out for a long and strenuous hike, or trim it down to a 3 or so hour hike. i like to go for a 3-5 hour hike, then walk over to cold spring, catch lunch and the train. trains to the breakneck stop are pretty rare, but the train stops at cold ridge at least once an hour. there's a good trail map here: http://hikingcampingtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/mt-taurus-to-breakneck-ridge-hiking-trail-map.jpg it's pretty easy to come prepared to this hike. a bottle, or 2, of water, a snack for your lunch, sturdy hiking shoes, and pants you don't mind getting a little muddy or scratched up. that's it. you're ready, slick. get going. read more

In recent years, I have got into hiking in all the various destinations I travel to for vacations. As such, I realized that I neglected exploring the great hiking spots in New York, specifically the Hudson Valley where I grew up. I have gone up Mount Beacon multiple times over the years. However, I have not done the other phenomenal hikes in the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. In particular, the Breakneck Ridge hike has become extremely popular in recent years. In fact, Metro North created an impromptu Breakneck Ridge train stop to accommodate hikers. Consequently, I really wanted to try it. Subsequently, I have also completed the other main hikes in this state park: South Beacon Mountain, Fishkill Ridge, and Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus). The Hudson Highlands offers an incredibly diverse set of hikes of varying difficulties that provide stunning views of the Hudson Valley. They are a short distance from New York City and are great day trips. Both the Breakneck Ridge and Mt. Taurus hikes are easily accessible via a short walk to and from Metro North train stations. While there are snakes on the trails, they will not bother you if you do not bother them. Nevertheless, pay attention and be on the lookout for them. Of course, stay attuned to the trail markers which are color coded and generally on trees along the paths. The New York State Parks, Recreation also provides maps and instructions at the beginning of the Breakneck Ridge and Mt. Taurus trailheads. Below are link for similar maps I received that are also helpful in planning and hiking during the trip. In particular, the first link is a better map for the Fishkill Ridge trail. http://www.fofhh.org/files/HudsonHighlandsNorthTrailMap.pdf http://nysparks.com/parks/attachments/HudsonHighlandsHighlandEagleViewingMap.pdf If you would like my recommendations/ suggestions for the major hikes in Hudson Highlands State Park, please feel free to contact me via Yelp or obtain the electronic copy that can be obtained via the link in my profile. read more

the name states the seriousness of this amazing hike, you can actually break your neck, the paths are very well marked, there are easy ways up the mountain and difficult ways up the mountain, for those amateur hikers, the white markers are the easier ways up, but all the hard work will pay off at the end with amazing views of the hudson and trees, i'm all for the views, you must work hard to see something awesome, be careful of the loose rocks, and if you are a daredevil, go back down the same way you came up, its exhilarating, don't worry, there is an easy way down, just a little longer in mileage but easy on the body, nearby is a town called cold spring, which has an amazing ice cream place and popsicle joint, along with a decent restaurants to go to after a half day of hard work hiking up the mountain read more

Breakneck Ridge Trail Review The start of the trail is right next to the tunnel with parking alongside Route 9D. The first hour of our hike was insane. It was just an hour of strenuous, steep climbing but then you get passed it and you see this amazing view from the top. And then off to another steep climb. Many hikers brought their dogs even tiny ones which did amaze me a bit. It leveled off eventually and felt like a normal hike -- strolling in the woods with some minor up and down a hill. We took the shortest route (Bypass Trail) but even that took us 3.5-3.75 hours (with several stops) to complete. Though for me it was just the perfect amount of distance because after 3 hours in, I was ready to go find my car. I was a bit worried mid-trip thinking we might have already passed the red trail and missed it but it turned out this sign was very hard to miss. There was a clear sign on a big boulder to 9D/red trail in bright red paint. So if you decide to take the shortcut (which would still give you a pretty good workout/distance/hike) in my opinion, keep going until you can no longer see the river and the red trail should be close. If you see the blue trail however, then you've definitely walked too far. White Trail -- left to Red Trail (Bypass Trail) --follow Yellow Trail 2.8 miles ?? 3.5 - 3.75 hours including lunch and several minor stops The view of the Hudson Highlands from the top was undeniably gorgeous but that was the only scenic view you could see in this trail. There were no streams, ruins, or waterfalls. It was worth driving 1.5 hours to for the first time but I wasn't too impressed and wouldn't consider it favorite hiking trail since it doesn't offer an all-encompassing views of nature. read more

Nice views, free parking if park on street has small lot gets but filled quickly. Will go back again and I recommend the walk over the hudson read more

My first hike on the east coast and wasn't sure what to exactly expect. I've heard good things about Breakneck ridge and now i know why. This place is amazing! I love to challenge myself and rock scrambling up this non stop in the drizzle definitely will leave you huffing and puffing. A group of 16 came up on a dreary sunday and we never gave up till we made it to the end going up white and coming down red to who know where cause ended up .5miles away from where we parked. The views would be been more spectucular if it wasnt for the weather but i soaked everything i could. Even saw 3 deers crossing ahead in the forest. Be ware of climbing up steep cliffs and rolling your ankle because one BIG thing here is SAFETY. Enjoy the beauty of nature but be careful and bring a little snack if you want chill out by the flag and soak in the view! Definitely got to come back here and if you dont have a car, the metronorth stop is literally by the route. read more

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I loved this hike! I highly recommend taking the special morning train that stops at Breakneck Ridge, so that you can hike up the mountain and into Cold Spring. read more

Don't miss out...lived in the area most of my life and never visited until the last 5 years or so. Take your pick of hikes ranging in difficulty and length but where else can you hike to 1000+ feet in less than 30 minutes and get such spectacular views. Breakneck and Mt. Taurus offer great views of Storm King and West Point or go north a bit further and head up Mt. Beacon (check out the fire tower on the south peak maybe you'll see NYC). If you want a full day hike from Breakneck to Beacon...not as difficult as you might think and oh so worth it. Enjoy! read more

Hudson Highlands State Park - Breakneck - Parks Near Me - Beacon, New York

I love coming up here. Breakneck Ridge is not for beginner hikers, as it is strenuous and challenging, but very rewarding! Make sure you bring plenty of water and wear hiking shoes with proper gripping (or crampons, if it's winter with ice/snow). This is the type of day hike which you need to physically prepare yourself for if you've never hiked up mountains before. Not only are the views rewarding but it's one of those hikes where you can really challenge yourself and then say, Hey, I did it! And you'll feel proud of yourself. :-) Once you're ready for it, don't give up half way! Push yourself, yet know your limits. I suggest going with a friend or a group, for safety reasons as well as having that extra support and motivation. read more

My cuteness and me and some friends came here for a hiking extravaganza. We steered clear of Breakneck Ridge. I am a pigeon-toed, clumsy young-ish person who's not in amazing shape, also recovering from a cold. I did not want to fall to my doom. However we did the long loop of Washburn to Notch to Cornish (about 3 hours total). The climb up was very steep and strenuous for me, but not very long. I was having trouble breathing at some points and my ear got clogged for some reason. But the view at the top was worth all the sorrow. The trails were very clearly marked so navigating was easy, and we didn't get lost once. There were some people twice my age who were three times better at hiking than I am. They desperately wanted to pass me. On the bright side, if I can do this (with a good pair of hiking shoes and having loaded up on quality nutrition beforehand), so can you! I saw some reviews that warned about crowds, but I did not find this to be overly crowded and I went during a busy day I.E. LEAF SEASON. The ruins were mad cool. I recommend you read up on the Cornish estate online so that you know what you're looking at. If you do the same loop that I did, I recommend you bring plenty of water and maybe a snack or two. The nice park men in the front had a big tub of water from which we filled our bottles, but I'm not sure if that's a regular thing. Bring tissues if you tend to snot a lot at high altitudes. Afterwards get some food in the town, behold all the trinkets in the shops, and get on the train. The locals appear to be pretty annoyed with the volume of tourists, as evidenced by their crotchety demeanor. But then again, who could blame them? If you use the Cold Spring stop towards NYC, the back of the train is less full cause all the Breakneck daredevil fools board in the front of the train. Luckily my cuteness and I were able to snag two seats together for some quality snuggles and love. read more

Nice trail with scenic views but felt misled by the handful of giant cedar trees at the beginning of the hike.... I was hoping to see more old native cedar & pine trees but instead was consistently surprised by the amount of trash I saw scattered about the landscape... people need to take better care & learn how to exist in the world & leave no trace.... On my way down from hiking I was reading the signage & saw there's a summer camp at the top of the hills & the bottom was a private property less than 100 years ago & I feel like that explained the reason there's a lot of invasive plants in the park & so much of the park seemed to be overgrown ruins. I'm not sure what the point of preserving land is if they are just going to let it be overrun with invasive plants that don't help wildlife whatsoever... there's a couple areas where you can see nice stands of mountain laurels which are nice! I would have been nice to see a protected population of salmonoid fish in the stream but I think the Hudson Valley was over fished & gave up on them a long time ago.... sad to see Barberry Bush have pretty much taken over the whole park & invasive Phragmites always seem to find their way everywhere as well as Norwegian Maples.... The lower end of the park has Japanese Knotweed & porcelain berry taking over which is becoming pretty common across the Hudson Valley... but in protected areas where people are paid to protect the areas you would think it would be less prevalent.... I saw 3 Eastern White Pines in the center of the park & a few seedlings starting to sprout which if they continue to grow could help return some balance to the area someday...... and I saw a few Eastern Hemlocks are reaching maturity which maybe someday they will again repopulate the area.... like most of the area its obviously been clearcut & overly harvested over the last couple hundred years & that's why so many invasive trees have taken over... but there's a few spots that offer small glimpses into better days: the couple cedars, the handful of pines & a wetland area with beautiful birch trees where I saw a giant flock of wild turkeys & the largest Pileated Woodpecker I've ever seen that gave me a little hope... I think with some diligent effort on the part of the local community picking up trash & selectively weeding out invasives & seeding & helping juvenile native trees survive into adulthood could bring back the areas majesty. read more

Awesome hike. It's like climbing a giant pile of rocks. Don't go if you are afraid of heights or in bad shape. Can get relatively crowded on summer weekends due to city slickers. If you like challenging hikes, it doesn't get much more fun than this. You also have an amazing view for almost the entire hike. Whoever gave this under five stars is a dork. read more

I survived Breakneck Ridge! What I thought would be an idyllic hike turned out to be a death-defying obstacle over massive rocks to reach the summit of the mountain followed by another summit and yet another. Starting at the trail head, the white trail, what's suppose to be a scramble is practically rock climbing-it's steep! I almost started to cry when I was scaling the rock cliff, every imaginable worse case scenario, I thought it. Once I reached the top, the incredible panoramic views of the Hudson river and mountain made the near death experience worth it. From the white trail we headed to the red and yellow trail. The red and yellow trail noted by markers on the trees are not as steep, at this point I was hiking on dirt ground. But I was there yesterday where the paths were covered with leaves. This made for a slippery hike. I fell once and my friend fell twice. The hike is beautiful and forget Sumba at your local Y, no better workout can be had, as evidenced by my sore body today. Two things to keep in mind, the hike is not appropriate for young children-duh. And although I arrived by car, for those who don't, the Metro-North has a stop only two miles away. read more

Breakeneck Ridge: steep, dangerous, overcrowded, highly eroded. This is a disaster waiting too happen...go during the week in the off season to avoid the crowds and the possibility of a rock coming loose and hitting you. If you go when it's been dry for a few days, it gets unbelievably dusty from all the foot traffic and the bare dirt. (Much of the vegetation has been destroyed by the popularity of the place.) I'm always amazed that people come up from NYC to get out into nature and then choose this trail where they are with tons of others hikers and breathing dust for the first mile or so. Yes, admittedly, the views are terrific and the scrambling is fun if you like that sort of thing. read more

One of the best hikes I've ever done. Views of the Hudson are incredible. I have 2 videos of my breakneck ridge hiking experiences on my hiking website. If your interested in seeing the videos, looking at trail maps, gps waypoints, photos or general trail info, check it out at www.hikingcampingtrails.com read more

This post is about the notorious Breakneck Ridge. A lot of the comments here will give you the impression that you're scaling a completely vertical degree rock face with no hope for you if you slip. In reality, if you stick to the trail the most you could ever fall is maybe a few feet. We saw elderly people, overweight children, and dogs scrambling the entire way up the slope. It's challenging but rewarding and fun! The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because of how crowded this area is. Even on a weekday, if the weather is nice you're hiking alongside a lot of people. On a weekend, the metro north out of NYC drops off entire train loads full of people. For someone who likes to "get away from it all", this slightly dampened the experience (yes I know, I'm not in traffic, I am traffic). Nevertheless, the scenery is beautiful and the views are spectacular. The small, quaint town of Cold Spring nearby is also worth visiting. read more