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WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Hiking can be dangerous and the information furnished below may contain errors! |
Breakneck Ridge Hike
Total Distance: approximately (3.1, 3.2 or) 5.5 miles
Difficulty: medium - difficult (multiple rock scrambles)
Estimated hiking time: 4+ hours - 2
people, 5 - 6.25 hours - group
Hiking Notes
The hike begins on west side of the road where you will find the Breakneck Ridge Trail (white blazes). This first section of the hike involves 1.5 miles of sometimes difficult climbing and rock scrambling until you reach a 1200 foot crest.
After reaching the crest a red blazed trail (Breakneck By-Pass trail) will intersect from the left, continue straight. A blue blazed trail (the Notch trail) will merge with the white blazed trail we are on. Follow the white (and blue blazed) trail.
Make a left onto an unmarked fire road and a half a mile later make another left onto the Wilkinson Memorial trail (yellow blazes) (the turn onto the Wilkinson Memorial Trail is poorly marked!). In about 1.5 miles you will reach two nice views from atop Sugarloaf Mountain (eat a well deserved lunch here - at the first viewpoint). Continue on this trail until it takes you back to the road and your car.
Alternative (Easier) Route #1 (3.1 miles, under 4 hours): From the Breakneck Ridge Trail (see above), make a left onto the Breakneck Bypass trail (red blazes). At the end of the Breakneck Bypass trail make a left onto the Wilkinson Memorial trail (yellow blazes). Take this trail back to Route 9D and your car (probably a left turn once you get to Route 9D).
Alternative (Easier) Route #2 (3.2 miles, under 4 hours): From the Breakneck Ridge Trail (see above), make a right onto the Notch Trail (blue blazes). Eat lunch at the nameless lake on the left or at the abandoned mill soon afterwards. Where the Notch Trail intersects the Brook Trail (red blazes) take the Brook Trail until the road. Make a right turn on the road and take the road back to your car, just beyond the underpass.
REFERENCES: NY-NJTC Map #102 (East Hudson Trails)
Other Useful Information
We are meeting, promptly, at 8:00am in front of TBA. Drivers should double park their cars in front of the building (please gas up BEFORE coming). All passengers are expected to contribute their fair share towards gas, parking fees, and tolls! We will return to the city in mid to late afternoon. Rain cancels the trip.
Driving Directions from NYC
From NYC take the George Washington Bridge to the Palisades Interstate Parkway (going north). Take the Palisades Interstate Parkway for about 40 miles until its end at the Bear Mountain Bridge. Cross the Bear Mountain Bridge and make a left onto Route 9D (north).
Take Route 9D north for about 11 miles passing through the town of Cold Spring. About two miles north of Cold Spring you will drive through an underpass. Park on the roadside just north of the underpass (GPS: N 41.44354, W 073.97791).
The total driving time is estimated at one hour without traffic.
Public Transportation
Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Valley line stops at the "Breakneck Ridge" station which about 0.25 miles north of the trailhead (212/532-4900 or 800/638-7646).
Questions: Michael Brochstein
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| The Metro North "Breakneck Ridge" train stop about 0.5 miles north of the trailhead. (October 2001) | Looking north on Route 9D at the Breakneck Ridge underpass (beneath Breakneck Ridge) just before the parking area immediately after the underpass. (October 2001) | |
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| The trailhead next to the parking area (to the right) just north of the Breakneck Ridge underpass on the southbound side of the road. (October 2001) | The parking area next to the trailhead on the southbound side of the road. (October 2001) | |
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| View of Breakneck Ridge from Storm King Mountain. (photo by Joel Miller). |
Along the Notch Trail. (October 2003) |
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Panoramic view of the Hudson River from a lower part of Breakneck Ridge. Storm King Mountain is the "hump" in the middle across the river. (September 2004) |
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| Pollepel (Bannerman) Island (October 2003) | Rock Scrambling at a higher elevation of Breakneck Ridge. (October 2006) | |
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| Altitude profile for the first 1.5 miles of the hike(s). (August 2008) | ||
Last updated: 8/2008