+ 70
Breakneck Ridge to South Beacon
Hiking Trail
Hard
8.32 mi
3,121 ft
A technical climb and ridgeline traverse to the summit of South Beacon Mountain.
Breakneck Ridge is a popular but strenuous and technically-challenging route that leads to a gorgeous overlook of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands.
The ascent up the ridge is steep and technical, requiring arduous scrambling up a never-ending series of boulders. In some places, the ridgeline is quite exposed, too. While this exposure opens up gorgeous views, hikers with a fear of heights should proceed cautiously. On the flip side, if you're sick of running mellow trails that simply wind through the woods, consider tackling Breakneck Ridge as a truly challenging climb!
The lollipop loop shown here is one of the longer routes incorporating Breakneck Ridge. This 8.3-mile lollipop includes a lengthy traverse of the entirety of Breakneck Ridge, undulating up and down the ridgeline before making a final ascent to the summit of South Beacon Mountain. The route then returns along the stem of the lollipop before breaking off onto a different ridgeline, descending along the flanks of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Since this longer loop version is much less trafficked than the 3-mile version, expect even more technical challenges, a fainter trail, and some sections of overgrown trail in mid-summer.
**Note:** At the time of this writing, the trailhead is currently closed for renovation from March 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023. It should reopen after that time.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Breakneck Ridge is a popular but strenuous and technically-challenging route that leads to a gorgeous overlook of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands.
The ascent up the ridge is steep and technical, requiring arduous scrambling up a never-ending series of boulders. In some places, the ridgeline is quite exposed, too. While this exposure opens up gorgeous views, hikers with a fear of heights should proceed cautiously. On the flip side, if you're sick of running mellow trails that simply wind through the woods, consider tackling Breakneck Ridge as a truly challenging climb!
The lollipop loop shown here is one of the longer routes incorporating Breakneck Ridge. This 8.3-mile lollipop includes a lengthy traverse of the entirety of Breakneck Ridge, undulating up and down the ridgeline before making a final ascent to the summit of South Beacon Mountain. The route then returns along the stem of the lollipop before breaking off onto a different ridgeline, descending along the flanks of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Since this longer loop version is much less trafficked than the 3-mile version, expect even more technical challenges, a fainter trail, and some sections of overgrown trail in mid-summer.
**Note:** At the time of this writing, the trailhead is currently closed for renovation from March 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023. It should reopen after that time.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakneck to Fire Tower | 4.57 mi | 1,555 ft | 6.4% |
| Breakneck Scramble to Flag | 0.24 mi | 410 ft | 32.5% |
| Breakneck to Undercliff | 0.63 mi | 951 ft | 27.0% |
| Breakneck White Blaze to Sunset Rock | 1.16 mi | 1,115 ft | 17.5% |
| Breakneck to Red Trail Intersection | 1.35 mi | 1,158 ft | 15.4% |
| Rte 9d Climb | 0.79 mi | 1,063 ft | 25.4% |
| Breakneck | 0.45 mi | 850 ft | 35.3% |
| Hudson Highlands State Park Climb | 0.30 mi | 279 ft | 17.5% |
| Breakneck White Blazed | 1.05 mi | 525 ft | 8.0% |
| Breakneck Ridge Trail Climb | 0.19 mi | 138 ft | 13.4% |
| Lake Surprise Road Climb | 0.23 mi | 138 ft | 11.3% |
| Highland Rd Climb | 0.64 mi | 656 ft | 19.2% |
| yellow all the way down | 2.16 mi | -1,106 ft | -9.7% |