Breakneck Ridge

Hiking Breakneck Ridge: The Climb

Not long after that first view, the work begins. Keep following the white blazes.

The trail splits many times, giving you options on your ascent, which can be fun — but also a bit confusing.

A navigational app like AllTrails, GaiaGPS or Avenza is a great idea on any hike. You’ll always know exactly where you are and which way you should be headed. (See 12 Best Hiking Apps.)

Regardless of the route you choose, the next ¾ mile of trail is the hardest part of this hike…

When I did it on a fine May morning, the scramble was so hard, and required such concentration, I didn’t take a ton of photos. But much of the lower scramble looks like this…

This is one of the “easier” sections on Breakneck Ridge…

Higher sections on this trail require real thought, and some courage.

There are also places where the trail forks for a short distance, offering you an easy/hard challenge. In general, the trail options to the left are easier and the trail options to the right are harder. (But stay on the white trail and keep an eye on the signs which will inform you about your options.)

Sketchy Ledge at 400’

The only part of the hike that really tested my nerves was this sheer ledge just above the 400’ contour. Making my way across the top of this ledge felt quit dangerous.

• Read The Top 6 Hiking Dangers
• Read Hiking Safety 101

The rock face here is slanted downwards toward 9D, and the footing is very sketchy. I was definitely using my most careful and certain foot placement, and deploying both hands in death grips, to secure my hold on the mountain. A mistake here would be catastrophic.

But I made it, and was quickly rewarded…

Breakneck Ridge Hike: First Amazing View

About 100 feet beyond the sketchy ledge, you get to rest. It took me well over an hour to get this far. The rest of the hike is easier.

This is the first great view. And how great it is.

A large open flat ledge looks directly across to Storm King Mountain — but also way south (left) toward New York City and way north (right) to The Catskills.

This is a great place to catch your breath. There are great views in every direction. Here’s a nice photo of a boat…

Across the water you can see the scar of Route 218 as it traces its way around Storm King’s sheer eastern face. If you watch closely, you’ll see cars moving back and forth.

Looking north, you can look down on Pollepel Island and Bannerman’s Castle (an abandoned military surplus warehouse) in the Hudson River.

Beyond them, you can see the long low ridge of the Shawangunks — and to their right, on a sunny day, you can even make out Ashokan High Point and the Burroughs Range in the Catskills.

You can also look south at the Metro North line running down to Grand Central. Overall, it’s an amazing spot.

Onwards and upwards…

When you’re ready, continue uphill. Although the hardest part of the hike is behind you, this next section took me a minute to figure out.

There are large smooth rock faces to contend with, and it’s easy to slip.

Again, I would never attempt to hike this side of Breakneck during or after any precipitation.

Keep turning around. Keep checking the views. You can sit and watch boats and barges traveling north and south on the Hudson River. You’ll somtimes see helicopters flying back and forth too.

A little higher up on the trail, to the right, a small rock ledge provides yet another great view of Storm King.

Breakneck Ridge Quarry Face

Next you’ll come to a large exposed cliff formed by quarrying. Far below, you can make out a handful of buildings. The ruins of the Cornish Estate are somewhere down there, too; and that’s a super-fun short hike.

The large hill across the dip is Bull Hill (aka Mount Taurus).

Turn Around?

Most people seem to stop here and head straight back down to 9D by the same route they came.

I didn’t fancy that. Climbing down is much tricker than climbing up — you can’t always see what your feet need to do, and there’s a real danger (especially here) of slipping into a fall. People do the reverse route all the time, but this was my first visit to Breakneck Ridge so I figured, on this day, it wasn’t for me.

Instead, I decided to carry on and explore the loop that rolls over Breakneck’s highest point before then leading back down to Route 9D via some quiet, easy trails. (You can also hike out to Mount Beacon along the same trail.)

Breakneck Ridge Loop Hike

Once again, follow the white blazes and markings.

At first, the trail descends a little into a col between the two knobs.

There are lots of criss-crossing trails up here. This is where an easy-to-use navigational app comes in handy — see 12 Best Hiking Apps.

Here, a sign says the easier ascent is to the left. I went to the right.

After the first climb, this second climb was really no big deal. I soon found myself looking back at the first high knob of Breakneck Ridge, and the small groups of hikers enjoying the sunshine there.

Here’s a quick video snippet…

Breakneck Ridge High Point

After less than 10 minutes, I was at the highest point on Breakneck Ridge which provides solid 360° panorama. This is the view looking south toward the southern Hudson Highlands.

Somewhere around here, I caught the following view to my right. This is Camp Surprise at Lake Surprise.

Descend Breakneck Ridge to 9D

From here, follow the white blazes for another few minutes until you come to the junction with the red-blazed Breakneck Bypass trail which heads downhill to your left.

The descent is very easy and very quiet. Follow the red blazes.

For the rest of this hike, I saw only one other couple until I got all the way down to 9D.

The woods here are very calm and quiet. There are some nice stone staircases like this one…

Pass this wigwam…

Red/Yellow Junction

Here, the red trail ends as it hits the yellow-blazed Wilkinson Memorial trail. To return to 9D, turn left; it’s only 10 or 12 minutes to the road. (To the right, the yellow trail also leads up to Sugarloaf which is currently closed for habitat protection; a bad fire scorched the mountain in 2020.)

This next section is also very easy, and much less steep.

It’s an easy mellow woods walk…

Pass this sweet mountain drainage…

Soon, you pop back out onto 9D.

And that’s it. You just did Breakneck Ridge, the hardest hike in the Hudson Highlands.