hudson highlands state park

We did the 9 mile loop on xmas day 50 degrees and had the place to ourselves!About an hour up the Hudson line from Grand Central. There is a special stop near the trail head.The initial scramble to the top is ridiculous! Awesome views...You can even see the city from the fire tower area.Pick a non-hot or non-wet/icy day unless you are an expert!

Great experience , totally out of my comfort zone , I could give less stars because I was exausted and my feet hurt so bad because of bad quality hiking shoes and it was the craziest thing I've done this year , it was a 5h hour hike pretty much . But the views are great , peacefull place , zen ,nature , all I could ask , besides getting home just so tired that my sleep was amazing !! But seriously , very tricky rock scramble , specialy downhill because of loose rocks and at this time of the year there are so many leaves on the ground that sometimes there's a rock there and you can't see , so an ankle twist is something very possible . Bring food and plenty of water , you'll need it . Have fun !!

Firstly, if you're coming from NYC via Metro North: You can get off the train at Cold Spring, then walk up Main St a couple of blocks to Fair St. Turn left and walk to its end at Rt 9D. Turn left again and after a short walk you will see a parking lot on the right with 2 trailheads [Cornish (easier) and Washburn (harder)]. The walk from the train station to these trailheads is about 20 minutes. You can also take the train to Breakneck Ridge on certain days at certain times. The Breakneck Ridge Metro North stop puts you at different trailheads. You should definitely spend some time figuring out which trails you want to hike. The maps provided are less-than-clear. For instance, although the trails are well-marked, there are multiple trails on the map with white markers, but they are not connected to one another. Long story short: this place is an absolute must for hikers. You will need more than 1 day to check out all the trails. Even if you show up and "wing it," you'll do fine. The town of Cold Spring is a great starting or ending point.

Spent the day hiking here with my daughter and future son in law. The hike was easy and enjoyable, lush vegetation, many rock formations. There is also an old abandoned mansion from the Cornish family. Beautiful photo opportunities here. Imagining what the mansion would have looked like back in the day is fun!

We love the steep 1400 foot elevation hike to the top of Mt Taurus (Bull). But a hike along the river at Glenclyffe with the hike to Arden Point and the loop is less strenuous but still very scenic. Fahnestock State Park nearby offers a wide variety of moderate hiking. I enjoyed the hike from Charcoal Trail to Jordan Pond and then to a theraputic horse farm. The NYNJ hiking association maps are a must.

we came down the yellow to red trail at the end of the red there were paved roads we came across many old small stone house ruins and a little further up was a very large house ruin with stone arches and multiple fire places and what looked like 3 floors. does any one know what this is and its history?

Breakneck Ridge is a challenging hike that can be done as a day trip from New York City. Metro North trains will drop you off at the Breakneck Ridge "station" (a wooden platform in the middle of nowhere) that is within walking distance of the trail head. The trail is marked with white paint and becomes very steep within the first 5 minutes. Your climb will be more bouldering than traditional hiking, so expect to use all fours to negotiate the large rocks. There are several natural rest points on the way up which also have incredible views of the Hudson River and Storm King Mountain across the river. Overall the summit is about 1250 feet. The return trip is considerably easier and more gradual if you take one of the other trails down (I recommend red to the yellow, but check a map). Some tips:* This is a challenging hike. If you are a beginner, only go if you are in decent shape for considerable cardio. This will be like doing the hardest stairmaster of your life.* Pick a day with fair weather. I don't recommend trying the hike on a very hot or cold day. Do not attempt the hike when its raining or when it's wet -- too slippery. Autumn is ideal, especially when the leaves change colors.* Apply sunscreen to exposed skin -- there is a fair amount of exposure during the climb.* Wear comfortable clothes and stretch before you begin. It is considerably windier and cooler as your climb.* I can't stress enough to wear comfortable shoes with good support and tread. Hiking boots may be too heavy - high-top sneakers are better. Don't even think about sandals or flip flops.* Wear hiking gloves or something to protect your hands. You will definitely be using all fours to get up the boulders.* Pack a lunch, snacks, and plenty of water.* There are no facilities on this hike.* Bring a map (http://nysparks.com/parks/attachments/HudsonHighlandsNorthTrailMap.pdf). I had cellular service and the trail was shown in Google and Apple Maps, but don't count on your phone to guide you.* The hike takes several hours, including rest stops. * Enter the trail head on the side of the road closest to the railroad tracks. The trail will take you up, over the road, and to the boulders. Then the fun begins! * Return along the bypass trails through wooded terrain. This descent is much shallower than the climb.* Don't forget to bring a camera!If you have time and energy afterward, the town of Cold Spring is quaint and has a strip of restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream, etc. It is about two miles south of the trail head, but unfortunately this walk requires walking on the side of the highway. On the plus side, trains stop more frequently in Cold Spring than Breakneck Ridge. Have fun!

Once we got on 301 we took Denneytown Road to the end and started on the Blue Trail. It ended up being The Three Lakes Trail! It was such a wonderful day! The terrain was ever changing. Several creeks to cross while balancing on rocks, waterfall, beautiful Lakes, climbing up large boulders and rocks! The property was well maintained and clean! We only saw 2 other people in passing during our 5 mile hike! We did see 2 snakes though! There are MANY trails at Fahnestock State Park and we plan on returning! If you enjoy a day in the woods- check this place out! Its beautiful!

This is a great location to spend quality family time and be at one with nature. The views are breathless and plenty of walking trails. Definitely bring a camera and capture the best images.

Heard about the trails from a friend and we weren't disappointed. The trails can get rocky in some places, but mostly enjoyable. We took the Blue Hill trail and it was manageable and very enjoyable. Will definitely come back again to hike and maybe see the beach.

My fiance and I hiked these trails last summer and were happily surprised that they were as much of a challenge as other folks had mentioned they were. Breakneck Ridge is definitely not your typical "leisurely" climb - much of it requires you to climb over steep rocks and paths. The view from the peak, however, is gorgeous. Make sure you pack a lunch for the top as you'll certainly be hungry and thirsty after the climb!

From Breakneck Ridge, directly across the river from West Point, to Mount Beacon, the northernmost peak in the Hudson Highlands, the views are well worth the hike.On a clear day the top of the Empire State Building is visible from the top of Mount Taurus (Bull Hill).

Great views of the Hudson River. Nice way to spend some time.

If you want to see fantastic Hudson River Valley vistas, this is the place to go for a hike and picnic!

So here's the little secret...there are 2 trains on Saturday A.M. and 2 on Sunday A.M. from Grand Central that literally drop you off at the trail head (Breakneck Ridge - and it also stops at Manitou for those going to Bear Mountain). I've been hiking here since 2004 with my son (then 4, now 11). It's a fun time with great views. The best is to take the white trail and cross to the yellow or blue to go back to Cold Spring (where the trains run every hour). If you are a more experienced hiker, go to Beacon where you can also pass a fire tower (and it adds some length and additional elevation change to the hike). I went one year when it was wet - not recommended for any but the heartiest trekker. You can drive if you want (there is parking along 9D)