Is Breakneck Ridge worth it?
Worth it, with conditions. 4.9 on Google: hikers consistently say the views and scramble live up to the reputation; the complaint is difficulty, not hype.
Been to Breakneck Ridge? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
It is the region's signature scramble, but it is closed until about mid-2027; hike Bull Hill (Washburn/Cornish) from Cold Spring instead for now.
Why Reality is 66
What people loved
Breathtaking Hudson River and Highlands views from the lookoutsThe rock scramble is a genuinely fun, challenging climb, the best-known day hike reachable by train from NYCWell-marked trails with easier return routes and bail-out pointsWhat wore them down
Closed since April 2025 and not expected to reopen before mid-2027Slippery rock with nothing to hold in places; many people turn back on the first scrambleHistorically very crowded on weekends, and the walk along Route 9D was dangerous (the reason for the new connector)Bugs and heat on summer afternoons; you need plenty of waterParking & getting there
Don’t driveDon't drive to Breakneck: the Route 9D trailhead is closed until about mid-2027 and walking in from the road shoulder isn't allowed. For the open Bull Hill alternative, use the small Washburn lot on 9D, or better, take Metro-North to Cold Spring.
- Washburn Trail on Bull Hill Parking Lottrailhead · about 36 min walk · ★ 4.6 (15)Price not publishedMap
- Cold Spring Metro-North station (parking for Little Stony Point area)park and ride · about 58 min walk · ★ 4.5 (88)Price not publishedMap
- Breakneck Ridge, Wilkinson Memorial and Lower Brook trailheads closed until mid-2027 nynjtc.org
- Parking at trailheads and along roads is limited; illegally parked cars are ticketed and/or towed parks.ny.gov
Without a car: Metro-North Hudson Line from Grand Central to Cold Spring or Beacon (Breakneck Ridge stop closed), then walk to the Washburn, Notch or Little Stony Point trailheads
Driving rules in New York City
Don't drive in Manhattan as a visitor: you pay the congestion toll below 60th St, traffic is slow, street parking is scarce and garages are expensive, while the subway reaches every major sight 24/7. A car only makes sense for outer-borough destinations like the Bronx Zoo or NY Botanical Garden, and even those are easy by subway or Metro-North.
- Congestion Relief Zone toll (congestion pricing). Driving onto any local street or avenue in Manhattan at or below 60th Street costs a once-per-day toll for cars: $9 with E-ZPass at peak (5 a.m.–9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. weekends) and $2.25 overnight; drivers without E-ZPass are billed a higher Tolls by Mail rate. The FDR Drive and West Side Highway/Route 9A are excluded, but leaving them onto local streets triggers the toll. Up to $3 crossing credit at peak only if you entered via the Lincoln, Holland, Queens-Midtown or Hugh L. Carey tunnels with E-ZPass. The toll rises to $12 in 2028. Bridge/tunnel tolls into Manhattan are charged on top. mta.info
- Alternate side parking (street cleaning). Most residential streets carry signs (with a broom symbol) banning parking on one side for a 90-minute or longer window one or more days a week so sweepers can pass; the rule is suspended on holidays listed on the city's ASP calendar. Ignoring it means a ticket ($65 in Manhattan below 96th St, $45 elsewhere) and possibly a tow. Always read every sign on the pole; 'No Standing' and commercial-only meters are common in Midtown and Downtown. nyc.gov
- Garages and meters. Street meters in Midtown and Downtown are usually commercial-only or limited to 1–2 hours on weekdays, so visitors end up in private garages (Icon, SP+, LAZ, Impark, Edison and others) where posted drive-up rates are steep and Manhattan adds an 18.375% parking tax; pre-booking through apps such as SpotHero or ParkWhiz is usually far cheaper than the posted drive-up rate. nyc.gov
Know before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No permit or reservation; the trail itself is closed until about mid-2027
In their words
“The views are amazing. It wasn't too crowded, especially the yellow and blue trails.”
“A few times, I found my feet are slipping on the big rock without anything to hang on with.”
“The initial scramble was difficult, I saw it turned many people away.”
“In all honesty, the White Trail is a very challenging route with incredibly rocky uphill climbing path.”
Tips from people who went
No tips yet. Be the first to share one.
Questions people ask
Is Breakneck Ridge open?
No. The Breakneck Ridge, Wilkinson Memorial and Lower Brook trailheads and the Breakneck Ridge Metro-North stop closed on April 21, 2025 and are expected to stay closed until mid-2027.
Why is Breakneck Ridge closed?
To build the Breakneck Connector and Bridge, a new trail and pedestrian bridge so hikers no longer walk along Route 9D, plus a renovated train station, sidewalks and formal parking.
What can I hike instead of Breakneck Ridge?
Washburn/Cornish (Bull Hill), Notch and Little Stony Point remain open; take Metro-North to Cold Spring or Beacon.
How hard is Breakneck Ridge?
Hard. The opening White Trail section is a steep rock scramble that many people turn back on; the Yellow and Blue trails make easier descents.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- NY-NJ Trail Conference – Breakneck Ridge and Wilkinson Memorial trailhead closure remains in effect (Apr 2026)
- NYS Parks – Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve
- Hoodline – Breakneck Ridge barricaded as makeover drags on (May 2026)
- Railway Track & Structures – Metro-North Breakneck Ridge station will close for two years
- Google Maps – Breakneck Ridge Trailhead