Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Breakneck Ridge
If you’re looking for a hiking day trip in upstate NY, you’re in the right place.
The best part? No car needed.
A couple of things before getting into everything you need to know about hiking Breakneck Ridge...
This hike is not for the faint of heart. I’ve been on numerous hikes — from the rocky trails of Sedona, Arizona, to the mountains in North Carolina and Banff, Canada — I will say that this hike was one of the most strenuous and challenging hikes I’ve encountered yet.
I 100% recommend hiking shoes for this hike. You will be rock scrambling (climbing a rock or mountain without a rope or climbing gear — using your hands for balance and pulling up when you scramble) towards the beginning of the hike. There is an option to go an easier ascent, but the first mile or so, there is a steep incline all the way up.
How do you get to Breakneck Ridge?
One of my good friends hiked this trail numerous times in the past and the day trip planning was all his idea. Since we both live in Manhattan, we met at the 125th St. Station in Harlem to take the Metro-North on the Hudson line. You can also hop on the Metro-North at Grand Central Terminal as another option. We left at around 9:50 AM.
How long is the commute from NYC to Breakneck Ridge?
From there, the commute took us about 1.5 hours. On the way, I recommend sitting on the left side window for a scenic view alongside the Hudson River. You’ll be able to spot the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and even a glimpse of West Point.
What stop should you get off?
We got off at the Beacon stop since the Breakneck Ridge station was undergoing construction. Normally, you’d be able to get off at the Breakneck Ridge station and then find your way to the trail, but we had to adjust to the changes. From the Beacon station, we took about a 10 minute Uber ride continuing onto NY-9D S/Breakneck Road. The Uber dropped us off on the river side of the road, by the tunnel (see above) which marks the start of the trail.
You can also drive, but there is limited parking by the trailhead.
Where is the first lookout point?
The first mile of the hike is a steep incline. You’ll be climbing up the steep rock escarpment until you reach the first lookout point, aka the flagpole with a stunning view.
In my opinion, this first lookout point was by far my favorite view. You can see the road below with a beautiful shot looking down the Hudson River.
Most people who are looking for a shorter hike normally turn back after the first lookout point.
I think the fun and challenge really begins after hiking up to the next lookout point and beyond.
From the flagpole, we continued moving upwards where you’ll have options to climb an easier ascent or the difficult one. Since we love a challenge, we decided to take the difficult route. There was this one scary moment where I was trying to pull myself up onto the rocks, feeling around the area for places to grab, and also trying not to look down, but doing so anyway. I’ll just say… it’s a long way down.
After pulling through and bruising my knees a couple of times, we made it up to the second overlook, which is the same view, but higher up.
You can see the flagpole from the first lookout point in the photo below.
Where do you go after the second overlook?
There are many options to go from here. The white to yellow and blue marked paths will go the full length of the Breakneck Ridge trail to Mt. Beacon. That hike is 5.5 miles and 4+ hours long. Or, you can take the red marked paths (bypass trail) back to Route 9D. The green marked paths lead to other trails. Since we had originally planned to make our way to Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus) and then to Cold Spring, we were following the yellow marked paths. Above, you’ll see what the majority of our path looked like en route to Bull Hill.
How do you get to Bull Hill (aka Mt. Taurus)?
If you continue following the yellow marked path, you’ll eventually find your way to Bull Hill. In the photos above, you’ll see Storm King Mountain (left) across the Hudson River. In the right photo, if you squint hard enough, you can see the flagpole (first lookout point) straight ahead.
We basically hiked from one mountain to the other.
How long is the hike?
It took us about 4 hours total from Breakneck Ridge to Bull Hill and into the town of Cold Spring.
What should I do in Cold Spring?
If you can, I definitely recommend visiting Cold Spring after your hike. You’ll more than likely be exhausted and want to relax in a small, quaint little town. The village of Cold Spring is also 2 miles south on Route 9D. There, you’ll find ice cream, antique shops, restaurants, a water front plaza, and more.
Any places you recommend?
This smoothie shop we stopped at was fairly new in the area. It’s called Sweet Harvest and the girls working at the counter are the sweetest. There’s tons of smoothie options, including acai bowls, bubble tea, parfaits, salads, and more. For dinner, we ate at Hudson House River Inn Restaurant right beside the waterfront plaza. If you can get this table with the red umbrella by the corner, I highly recommend it. You can people watch and eat with a beautiful view.
What did you order at Hudson House River Inn Restaurant?
We ordered the steak that came with green beans, jumbo shrimp, carrots, and mashed potatoes. Probably one of the best meals I’ve had this year.
What about drinks?
We ordered the house-made red wine sangria. It’s delicious, made with fresh fruit, and comes in a tall glass. Definitely recommend.
And lastly, there’s a famous ice cream shop right around the corner where there’s long lines waiting to get in. It’s called Moo Moo’s Creamery — The World’s Best Ice Cream Shop.
We unfortunately did not try it, but you can take the ice cream out to the Cold Spring Pier and sit by the water. We caught the sunset right before heading to the Cold Spring train station, which was about a 5 minute walk from the Pier. We took the Metro-North back home to New York City.
I hope this travel guide was helpful! Feel free to bookmark it or share it with someone you’d like to travel with. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!