East Hudson Trails

Besides the thirty-five 3500 foot peaks in the Catskills, there are many other smaller mountains to climb. In addition, there are hundreds of miles of trails to hike. There are also MANY other places to hike also. I have divided the Trails section into list of All Trail, the Catskills, the Shawangunks, Bear Mt/Harriman, East Hudson, West Hudson, New Jersey and Other Trails. The All Trails list is almost 250 different trails and may load slowly on your computer. The "divided" list should load more quickly.

You can view all the East HudsonTrails here.

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--Choose-- All Trails Bear Mt/Harriman Catskills East Hudson New Jersey Other Shawangunks West Hudson

Anthony's Nose: AT from Route 9D

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.8 miles	790 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel north on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge. There are several places to park cars along the shoulder or in pulloffs. Be careful walking along Route 9D as the cars travel too fast and the road is too narrow. The trailhead is marked by a sign on the right side of 9D headed north just after the bridge. There is no trail register here but the markings are the white blazes of the AT. The trail initially winds its way toward the rocky crag which is Anthony's Nose. Shortly it turns upward with several steep portions. A few level parts and switchbacks help you catch your breath. At the top, after only .5 miles, the AT heads northeast to the left. Turn RIGHT onto this wide woods road to head toward Anthony's Nose. As you approach the edge of the cliffs, turn up to your right to get to the lookout. Return to your car by reversing the route.

Anthony's Nose: Camp Smith Trail from Route 202

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.1 miles	850 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel south on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge for about 1.1 miles and turn left on Route 202 (Jack Woods Road). Watch for the small parking area on the left. Park and start hiking north on the Camp Smith Trail. The trail immediately starts to gain some elevation, drops a little and then ascends to Anthony's Nose. At the top of the climb bear slightly to the left to get to the lookout. eEturn to your car by reversing the route.

Anthony's Nose: From South Mountain Pass

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 miles	950 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel north on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge for about 1.4 miles and turn on Manitou Road on the right. At the T turn right on South Mountain Pass Road. Drive .5 miles and watch for the small trail head parking on the right. Get on the wide woods road which is the Appalachian Trail.Follow the trail to the right as it starts level and then gains some elevation. At around 1 mile the AT heads right and down to the river. Continue straight ahead to Anthony's Nose. As you approach the edge of the cliffs, turn up to your right to get to the lookout. Return to your car by reversing the route.

Anthony's Nose: Phelps Mine and Camp Smith Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.7 miles	2550 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel north on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge. There are several places to park cars along the shoulder or in pulloffs. Be careful walking along Route 9D as the cars travel too fast and the road is too narrow. The trailhead is marked by a sign on the right side of 9D headed north just after the bridge. There is no trail register here but the markings are the white blazes of the AT. The trail initially winds its way toward the rocky crag which is Anthony's Nose. Shortly it turns upward with several steep portions. A few level parts and switchbacks help you catch your breath. At the top, after only .5 miles, the AT heads northeast to the left. Turn onto this wide woods road to head toward South Mountain Pass trailhead. The road is wide but rocky. Follow the blazes as they turn left into the woods. Obey the posted signs which mark Camp Smith, an active Army National Guard training site! The trail rolls up and down and switches back and forth several times. After about 1 mile it meets another woods road. Turn left and walk out to the trailhead if you wish. On to the way back you will have to bushwhack up the mountain to find the mine. Look for an informal campsite and head up and east. The Phelps mine is clearly marked on the NYNJTC maps. At some point you may hit another woods road that leads directly to the mine.

As you approach the mine you will notice a slope of "rusty" tailings. Look up the right and walk in that direction and you will see an old, rusty fence surrounding the adit to the mine. At least one section of the fence is down allowing access to the mine adit. Be VERY careful around the mine entrance. The stones are loose and the mine is DEEP!. Outside the fence and a little to the right is an airshaft with a grate. Looking through the tailings and mine waste may reveal some mineral samples. The mine was originally opened as an iron mine but copper, zinc and sulfur were all extracted. When you have had enough, retrace your route back to the woods road and follow the At back to where you ascended from 9D. Continue straight ahead for .5 miles to Anthony's Nose. Depending on the season and the weather the views here can be quite different. They are always interesting but may be clearer or more beautiful on a particular day. The Bear Mountain Bridge is directly below and the Popolopen Gorge Bridge and footbridge below are visible. Bear Mountain with the Perkins Tower are directly across the Hudson. Looking south reveals Iona Island and Indian Point. Depending on the day you may see trains on the tracks on the west side of the river, pleasure boats and barges on the river and birds riding the air currents.

Return to the blue trail from Anthony's Nose and walk straight ahead to another viewpoint. This one has a USGS seal at the top. Continue on down the blue Camp Smith Trail. The trail descends for 1 mile until it reaches a trailhead on Route 202 north of the bridge. (Continuing along this trail for just under 2 miles will bring you to the start of the trail at the Hudson Highlands Gateway.) Along the way there are a few other viewpoints but none as nice as Anthony's Nose. At the trailhead turn around and retrace your path to Anthony's Nose and then to the trail that leads down and back to the car.

Fahnestock Mines

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.0 mi.	766 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Fahnestock Park on the east side of the Hudson River in Putnam County is beautiful in its own right. It is also the site of several historic iron mines.

From Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson turn east on Route 301 and drive 5 miles to the intersection of Dennytown Road. Turn south and rive for less than a mile to the parking area on the left near the now closed Sunken Mine Road. Walk for about .3 miles on the road and then turn right into the woods to start the bushwhack to the Denny Mine. Head southeast for about .2 miles over a small hill. The Denny Mine is a large pit in the eastern side of the hill. From here head northeast and in another ,2 miles you should pick up the road/trail again. You will pass by a pond on the left. Continue on the road for only about .1 miles to where the road crosses a stream. Turn left on an unmaintained trail. Just after you start up the trail, the long open pits of the Hamilton Mine will be on your right. You can walk up to these pits to "explore" and photograph them. BE CAREFUL as many are filled with water and a fall into one would be a problem. Continue on the path for about .3 miles and then start heading to the left and over the top of the small ridge. The Sunk Mine is on the southeastern side of the ridge and is hidden. There is a steep and "slippery" descent to get down to the mine which consists of several open trenches and one large opening cut into the hillside. Inspect these features with caution as they can be precarious places. You can follow the unmaintained path back to the road and then walk the road back to the parking area. You can also follow the path to its end, only a short distance, where it intersects the blue 3 Lakes Trail. Turn left and follow this trail back to the road and then to the parking area.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge and Mount Taurus

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2 mi.	1940 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close the the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The fire tower on South Beacon is closed but is being restored. The entire hike is long and would be difficult to complete for some ! As you hike the trail goes through a series of rolling ascents and descents. Shortly after the "top" of the initial, steep climb is a trail to the left. This is the Breakneck Ridge Bypass Trail and offers the first opportunity to shorten the hike. Continuing on the trail there are several places where the paint marking are faint and where woods roads invitingly cross the trail. Stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail as many of these other side routes take you FAR away from where you want to be. The next cutoff is the Notch trail which leads off to the right and down the ridge back toward Route 9D and Cold Spring. Turn right on the Notch Trail and begin to descend through several switchbacks and passed some impressive cliffs on the right. The trail leads through an open forest to the pond just north of the Cornish dairy barn just .5 miles from the start of the trail. Continue on down the trail for another .2 miles where the Undercliff-Overcliff Trail crosses. Turn left to go up and over Mount Taurus. This trail is seldom steep but ascends until it reaches its highest point on Bull Hill. At times it follows woods roads. In several places the walls that shored up the sides of the road are visible and in very good shape. Several switchbacks make the climb easier until after about 1 mile several viewpoints open up near the highest point on the trail.

Continue on this trail as it heads east and then south down Bull Hill. There are lookouts along this trail down into Cold Spring and across the river to West Point. You will pass by the quarry on your right and then descend an old road to the Little Stony Point parking area on Route 9D with the scariest part of the hike yet to come. Walk along Route 9D for 1.25 miles. There is NO SHOULDER and cars travel MUCH TOO FAST! Near the end of the trip walk through the tunnel to arrive back at your car after about 6.25 miles of hiking.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge and Little Stony Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	1690 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

WARNING: This hike requires two cars or a walk along busy Route 9D which as no shoulder. Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Continue on Route 9D to the parking area for Little Stony Point and Mount Taurus. Park one car here and then head north again to the tunnel. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close the the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The first side trail you pass is the yellow Undercliff Trail on the right followed by the red Bypass Trail on the right. Continue passed both of these to the blue Cornish Trail on the right. Descend this trail to the area of a pond and an old barn. This farm was associated with the Cornish Estate further down the trail. The barn is very interesting. Follow the Cornish Trail down to the river as it widens and becomes a paved driveway for the former Cornish Estate. A large cistern appears on the right and then the remains of a greenhouse. Walk down the driveway to the greenhouse. Not too much father along are the remains of the main house which was ravaged by fire. Vegetation and vines have recaptured most of the structure giving it a surreal appearance. The paved driveway continues down parallel to the river and the railroad tracks until it ends at a gate on Route 9D. Keep on the path as it winds its way back to the parking lots.

At the parking area, take the time to walk around Little Stony Point. This is an area of land that pushes out into the Hudson. Try turning right after crossing over the train tracks. This path will take you to a beautiful sandy beach right on the Hudson with incredible views north toward Storm King, Breakneck ridge and Pollepel Island. Continue on around the point in a counterclockwise direction. Take in the views as they change from north to west and then south. The fact that you are at river level gives an entirely different feel than viewing the same area from "above". As you walk notice the large rock outcropping on you left. This makes an excellent vantage point. Continue on around to the point where you started. Just as you see the footbridge over the tracks there is a trail to the left that leads to the top of the rock outcrop. It is an easy walk with only a few rough spots. Your reward are some beautiful views of the river below. When you are done looking up and down the river, retrace your steps to the car.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge to Bypass Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 mi.	1433 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close the the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

Just after the summit the trail start to descend and the Breakneck Bypass Trail turns left. Turn here and be ready to keep turning sharply to the left as the Bypass Trail makes nearly a 180 degrees turn to parallel the Breakneck Ridge trail before heading a little more north and down the ridge. The trail descends almost 800 feet over the next .7 miles to a junction with the Wilkinson Trail. Turn left on a woods road and walk less than .5 miles to Route 9D. Turn left on Route 9D and walk the .15 miles back to the parking area.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge to South Beacon Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi.	2995 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close the the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The fire tower on South Beacon is closed but is being restored. The entire hike is long and would be difficult to complete for some ! As you hike the trail goes through a series of rolling ascents and descents. Shortly after the "top" of the initial, steep climb is a trail to the left. This is the Breakneck Ridge Bypass Trail and offers the first opportunity to shorten the hike. Continuing on the trail there are several places where the paint marking are faint and where woods roads invitingly cross the trail. Stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail as many of these other side routes take you FAR away from where you want to be. The next cutoff is the Notch trail which leads off to the right and down the ridge back toward Route 9D and Cold Spring. Bear left here to stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail.

After a few miles the trail forks with a blue trail heading left. You may take this trail but continuing on for less than half a mile will bring you to Sunset Point. At Sunset Point a wooden observation platform looks out over the Hudson River. The view is somewhat the same as from other parts of the ridge. After taking in the view, return to the white Breakneck Ridge Trail north. In less than half a mile this trail intersects the yellow Wilkinson Memorial Trail. Turn right and follow both trails up an old woods road. After only a few hundred feet the white trail turns left and proceeds straight up the mountain. Turn left and get prepared for some more steep rock scrambles. After the first, most strenuous scramble, the trail levels some and continues to the fire tower. Along the way there are some nice lookouts but none compare to the summit vantage point.

The tower is in poor shape with no landings for the stairs. The stairs are "blocked" with a chain. The cab is barely intact. The summit is completely treeless and offers a 360 degree unimpeded view in all directions. Up river the Mid-Hudson Bridge can be seen. On a clear day New York City can be seen to the south. Walk around on the summit ridge to get the best views before turning back to retrace your steps. Use caution as you descend the rock scrambles you came up. At the Wilkinson Trail turn right and walk back down to where the Breakneck Ridge Trail parts from the Wilkinson Trail. This time turn right and stay on the yellow Wilkinson Trail to offer some variety. Alternatively follow the white Breakneck Ridge Trail back to Sunset Point and to the Wilkinson Trail from there.

The Wilkinson memorial Trail drops down to Squirrel Hollow Brook where it meets the blue Notch Trail. You could turn right and follow the Notch Trail out to Route 9D but this leaves more than a mile of walking along a busy highway. Turn left and follow the Wilkinson and Notch Trail for a little more than half a mile on a slightly uphill trek. At this point the Wilkinson Trail makes a sharp right and separates from the Notch Trail. Turn right to head back to where you parked the car. This trail heads mostly downward toward the river for about three miles. It has varied terrain through small clearings and darker forests. In the last mile there is a slight climb to the open summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. From here the trail descends sharply for several hundred feet. After this the trail continues to descend but the pitch moderates some and this is aided by several switchbacks at the upper end. The further you descend the gentler the pitch becomes until the trail ends abruptly on Route 9D less than a half mile north of where you parked.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge to Sunset Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	2100 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close the the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The fire tower on South Beacon is closed but is being restored. The entire hike is long and would be difficult to complete for some ! As you hike the trail goes through a series of rolling ascents and descents. Shortly after the "top" of the initial, steep climb is a trail to the left. This is the Breakneck Ridge Bypass Trail and offers the first opportunity to shorten the hike. Continuing on the trail there are several places where the paint marking are faint and where woods roads invitingly cross the trail. Stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail as many of these other side routes take you FAR away from where you want to be. The next cutoff is the Notch trail which leads off to the right and down the ridge back toward Route 9D and Cold Spring. Bear left here to stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail.

After a few miles the trail forks with a blue trail heading left. You may take this trail but continuing on for less than half a mile will bring you to Sunset Point. At Sunset Point a wooden observation platform looks out over the Hudson River. The view is somewhat the same as from other parts of the ridge. After taking in the view, turn around and head back to where the blue trail split off. After only a few hundred feet on the blue trail, the yellow blazes of the Wilkinson Memorial Trail show up on the left. Turn here to head back to where you parked the car. This trail heads mostly downward toward the river for about three miles. It has varied terrain through small clearing and darker forests. In the last mile there is a slight climb to the open summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. From here the trail descends sharply for several hundred feet. After this the trail continues to descend but the pitch moderates some and this is aided by several switchbacks at the upper end. The further you descend the gentler the pitch becomes until the trail ends abruptly on Route 9D less than a half mile north of where you parked.

Hudson Highlands: Canada Hill

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.0 mi.	2130 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. DRive to a point just north of the Bear Mountain Bridge. Turn east on South Mountain Pass Road. About .7 miles up this narrow, dirt road is a small parking area on the right. The Appalachian Trail crosses here. Walk up the road and turn left into the woods to start the hike on the Appalachian Trail.

The first .2 miles of the trail are a little steep going about 160 feet. After this, the AT turns right and continued to climb steeply for another .2 miles gaining around 300 feet from the start of the hike. In several places the trail blazes all but disappear so that staying on the trail is difficult. Once you are up on the ridge the trail becomes a wide woods road for some distance. There aren't too many views from the ridge but the open forest especially near the top of Canada Hill is very pretty. You will pass by Canada Hill at about .8 miles and the trail continues toward the northeast. Around .9 miles, the Osborn Loop Trail appears on the right but you should stay on the AT. At 1.3 miles, a yellow trail comes in from the left but you should continue on the AT. Along the way there may seem to be the possibility of some viewpoints but all are blocked by trees. At 2.4 miles, the blue trail appears straight ahead and the AT turns right. Turn on the AT and start down off the ridge. Watch for the yellow Carriage Connector Trail which is further down the hill than you might expect. The yellow trail lies on a wide woods "road" that heads north where an unmarked path turns right and to the south to get to the White Rock lookout. The problem is that you have to hike more than a half mile north to pick up the path and then back a half mile on the path to the viewpoint. Since the viewpoint is just above the junction of the AT and the yellow trail it is possible to bushwhack up to the path and save some useless backtracking. Turn right off the trail and begin a rather steep ascent through some brush that can be thick at times. The path lies between the first climb and the cliffs directly ahead! Turn right on the path and hike to the top of the hill and to the viewpoint. The viewpoint looks south across Camp Smith, Anthony's Nose and the Hudson. When you are done, hike around the hill on the path. When the path gibes out, bushwhack down the hill and pick up the path again. Follow the path which follows a road back to the yellow trail.

As you walk along the yellow trail, notice that the road is supported by a stone wall on the right side. The construction is old but has stood the test of time. Further along the stone wall support changes to the left side of the trail where a stream would have cut into the road. The wall is higher and much more impressive here. The yellow trail ends at about 4.3 miles and you should continue straight ahead on the blue trail. Almost immediately you will see stone pillars with pipe railing on the left side of the road near a 90 degree turn. The pillars have depressions on top that act as planters. On a small hill to the right of the trail is a wooden gazebo with a stone foundation. It seems that the east side of the Hudson always "had money". As you continue the hike you will come to a junction with a red trail to Sugarloaf Hill. The trail is a dead end and the climb is short but steep gaining 200 foot over .2 miles. After the climb, the trail flattens and it is another .25 miles to the end of the hill and the viewpoint. The lookout points south and there are a few annoying trees in the way. The Bear Mountain Bridge is visible but it seems pretty far away! When you are done, head back down the hill. At the trail junction, turn right and head out on the trail at 5.5 miles into the hike. The blue trail runs between the hills and along a brook but at about 6 miles it starts to climb the ridge again. At 7.0 miles continue on the yellow trail toward Curry Pond. Curry Pond is small but pretty. Walk around the pond and follow the yellow trail as it starts the final ascent back to the AT on the ridge. The trail passes through some dense laurel, crosses a small stream and then makes a short but steep ascent through a cleft in the rock ledge. It flattens at the top and at 7.8 miles you will be back on the AT. There is about 1.3 miles of hiking left to get back to the car.

Hudson Highlands: Mount Taurus and Little Stony Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	1525 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just south of the tunnel there are parking lots on both sides of the road at Little Stony Point. They are often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lots are filled. The white blazed Washburn Trail leaves from the north end of the parking lot on the east side of the road. The trail starts as a rather broad road and goes uphill at a pretty good incline. In less than half a mile the trail turns to the right at the top of the hill and continues as trail not road. This is the site of an old stone quarry which appears as a "scar" on the landscape from Storm King or Breakneck Ridge. Walk around in the quarry and then return to the trail which follows the western and southern rim of the "crater". As you rise above the quarry take some time to look down into it for another perspective.

As you climb the trail don't ignore the views to your left. As you walk up the trail the views down to the Hudson and to the south toward West Point and Stony Point become better and better. Just before the trail turns up into the woods and away from the river, a lookout sits just to the right of the trail on a rocky ledge. It is worth the time to walk to this lookout and take in the views to the south. From this point the trail turns into the woods and begins a steeper climb towards the summit of Mount Taurus. Along the way views across the river become prevalent. At the top of one of the steeper sections the yellow Undercliff Trail crosses the Washburn Trail. This trail is a relatively new trail constructed by the NY-NJ Trail Conference. It connects Breakneck Ridge in the north to Nelsonville farther south. As you make the final climb up to Mount Taurus several lookouts provide views to the north and west. The summit of Bull Hill has too many trees to provide a clear viewpoint. As you descend Mount Taurus, there is a very nice lookout on the right on a spur trail. It is worth the short stroll out to this open area which gives pretty views to the south. As the Washburn trail descends an old woods road other lookouts provide more views to the north and west.

With a quarter mile the trail leaves the road to the right and continues on straight Down the hill while the road switches back and forth. The trail and road intersect several times until the green Nelsonville Trail leaves to the right. Bear left and continue your hike on the blue Notch Trail. This trail continues the descent and shortly makes a hard left and heads for Breakneck Brook. All along this trail there are signs that this area was once extensively settled. The trail becomes wider as it joins a woods road .The road is flanked by rows of stone and many stonewalls can be seen. At Breakneck Brook The notch Trail turns right and eventually heads up to Breakneck Ridge. The red Brook Trail turns left. before taking the red trail, turn right on the Notch Trail to investigate the ruins of a 19th century dairy farm. The ruins include many recognizable farm buildings including a stone barn with a stucco covered silo and a milking parlor. Just beyond the barn is a small pond with a long, low cement dam. When you have exhausted your curiosity, return to the Brook Trail.

The red Brook Trail is pleasant as it parallels Breakneck Brook. After a very short distance, the yellow Undercliff Trail crosses the Brook Trail. After another short section the Brook Trail continues out to Route 9D. The blue Cornish Trail bears left and eventually leads back to the parking area at Little Stony Point. Follow the Cornish Trail down to the river as it widens and becomes a paved driveway for the former Cornish Estate. A large cistern appears on the right and then the remains of a greenhouse. Not too much father along are the remains of the main house which was ravaged by fire. Vegetation and vines have recaptured most of the structure giving it a surreal appearance. The paved driveway continues down parallel to the river and the railroad tracks until it ends at a gate on Route 9D. Keep on the path as it winds its way back to the parking lots.

At the parking area, take the time to walk around Little Stony Point. This is an area of land that pushes out into the Hudson. Try turning right after crossing over the train tracks. This path will take you to a beautiful sandy beach right on the Hudson with incredible views north toward Storm King, Breakneck ridge and Pollepel Island. Continue on around the point in a counterclockwise direction. Take in the views as they change from north to west and then south. The fact that you are at river level gives an entirely different feel than viewing the same area from "above". As you walk notice the large rock outcropping on you left. This makes an excellent vantage point. Continue on around to the point where you started. Just as you see the footbridge over the tracks there is a trail to the left that leads to the top of the rock outcrop. It is an easy walk with only a few rough spots. Your reward are some beautiful views of the river below. When you are done looking up and down the river, retrace your steps to the car.

Hudson Highlands: Scofield and Fishkill Ridges

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.7 mi.	3380 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the parking lot for Mount Beacon Park just south of the main center of Beacon on Route 9D. The hike starts on some groomed walkways and heads east on the red Casino Trail and up a series of metal stairs to a woods road at about .5 miles. Along the way look to you right and you will see the remains of the track of the elevated Otis Railway that took patrons to the casino that was perched on the lookouts at the top of the trail. The woods road winds back and forth through several switchbacks to mitigate the steepness of the mountain. The trail is eroded in many places with loose rocks.There are some viewpoints on the way up but the best ones are at the top. At about 1.2 miles you will be near the top of the mountain. Watch for the ruins of a red brick building. This housed the donkey engines which polled the cars of the elevated railway to the top. Some of the machinery is still present. You may be able to find pieces of track and cables. Walk to the viewpoints and imagine what is was like when the casino was in operation. You can inspect the foundations and get some idea of the size of the casino before getting back on the trail and heading southeast to about 2 mile. Turn right here on the white Breakneck Ridge Trail and follow it on a steep ascent to the South Beacon fire tower. The tower is in the process of being restored and is safe to climb to just below the cab. The view from the tower is 360 degrees. REtrace your steps to the Casino trail and walk to the junction with the yellow Wilkinson Trail. Turn left to begin to walk along Scofield Ridge The ridge is just over the county line and is the highest point in Putnam County. The trail may not pass over the highest point on the ridge and there is a lot of debate over where that point is located. You may want to bushwhack a little off the trail to find the highest spot and take in some great views. At about 4.5 miles a short side trail leads to a fantastic lookout which is worth the brief walk. The trail takes some sharp turns and descends steeply in spots crossing some other trails, paths and woods roads. At about 5 miles the yellow Wilkinson Trail start to descend off the ridge. Bear left on the white Fishkill Ridge Trail. This trail starts by traveling parallel to the ridge as it slowly rises in to the 6.3 mile point. This walk of about 1.25 miles along the ridge has some possible viewpoints especially near the turn at the end but better things are to come. The trail now turns almost 180 degrees and continues to rises almost to the top of Bald Hill;. The views from here are unobstructed. After this point the trail continues to rise and fall with a few more viewpoints along the way. At 7.8 miles there is another viewpoint and just passed this you will be at Dozer Junction. This trail junction has a large, yellow bulldozer! Continue on the white Fishkill Ridge Trail as it ascends Lambs Hill for some more views. At 8.6 miles there will be another lookout and a junction with the red Overlook Trail. Stay to the left and continue to follow the white trail down the ridge. At around 9 miles you will cross over a road that goes to the Beacon Reservoir. The trail marking can be confusing here so look across the road to pick up the blazes and continue on the trail. For the next .5 miles the trail runs along a stream and there may be some waterfalls on the stream and the small tributaries depending on the volume of water. At 9.5 miles the white trail continues to the right. Bear left on the yellow trail which will return you on a woods road to the top of the stairs which lead back down to the parking lot.