Loading...

WINTER SALE! 50% OFF Supporter Accounts — now through January 31st. Learn More.

Breakneck Ridge Loop Trail

The Breakneck Ridge Loop Trail near Beacon, New York, is a strenuous 3.7-mile hike up to an amazing lookout point high above the Hudson River. Breakneck Ridge is a great day trip from New York City and the surrounding areas.

The trail starts on the white-blazes at the southern end of the parking area just north of the tunnel and heads south, almost immediately reaching a viewpoint over the Hudson River to the left of the trail. The trail leads west to red blazes and finally to yellow blazes heading down the mountain.

This trail involves steep climbs over rock ledges that can be very slippery when wet. You'll need to use both your hands and your feet in many places along the way. Proper footwear is essential for this hike, which is best done on weekdays, to avoid the large crowds on the weekends. Do not attempt this hike in wet weather, or if the trail is covered with snow or ice.

Dogs are allowed, but consider leaving them at home if you don't think you can handle the rock scrambles with them.

Click here for more details.
Explore 6 trails near Cold Spring, NY

Know Before You Go

  • Breakneck Ridge Loop Trail is a challenging 3.7-mile hike near Cold Spring, NY, offering stunning views of the Hudson River.
  • The trail requires physical exertion, including steep climbs over rocks, making proper footwear essential and recommending against hiking in wet conditions.
  • Weekdays are preferable for hiking to avoid large crowds, and consider the difficulty of rock scrambles when bringing dogs.
Interactive topographic map for Breakneck Ridge Loop Trail located in Cold Spring, NY. Click the "View Map" button to load GPS coordinates and trail markers.
Get directions
Distance
3.7 mi
Difficulty
Strenuous
Type
Loop
Est. Time
1.9 hrs
Elev. Gain
1,567'
Rating
0.0
Added
February 15, 2017
Updated
April 17, 2019

Weather Forecast

Loading...
Total Change
1,216'
Ascent
1,567'
Descent
1,546'
Loading...

Download the GPX Data for Offline Use

Supporters get exclusive access to download trail routes to the MyHikes app for offline use. Stay prepared on your adventure, even without an internet connection! Become a Supporter today to unlock this feature and hike with confidence.

Download Breakneck Ridge Loop Trail GPX Data to the MyHikes Mobile App

Features

Vista / Lookout Point
Dogs
Mountain Summit

Points of interest

  1. Parking

    41.444073, -73.978387
  2. Main Trailhead

    41.443219, -73.977992

Safety information

For your own safety: plan ahead, let someone know where you'll be, and hike at your own risk.

Markers

Blaze Color

White

Availability

Summer

Surface type

Dirt

Trip Reports (Reviews)

Your opinion matters! Be the first to rate this trail.

Ready to help fellow hikers? Add a trip report to share your experience and provide valuable insights for other hikers!

3.7 miles / 6.0 km
March 08, 2017
Hiking
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

Popular categories

Scenic mountain view representing vista trails
Vista trails
Scenic gorge of cascades representing waterfall trails
Waterfall hikes
Rugged mountain terrain representing summit trails
Summit trails
Scenic mountain view representing dog-friendly trails
Dog-friendly
Scenic campsite with a view representing camping trails
Camping trails
Appalachian Trail logo representing A.T. hikes
A.T. hikes

You May Also Like

Colorado's Million Dollar Highway - Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.
Explore

Colorado's Million Dollar Highway

Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.

Read
Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road - Discover the breathtaking beauty of Glacier National Park along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. From stunning roadside stops to picturesque waterfalls and vistas, this engineering marvel offers endless opportunities for exploration.
Explore

Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Glacier National Park along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. From stunning roadside stops to picturesque waterfalls and vistas, this engineering marvel offers endless opportunities for exploration.

Read
🍪 We use cookies to learn about site usage and to serve map tiles. You may block cookies manually in the browser. By continuing you agree. Learn more