Update: Popular hiking trailhead to reopen 7/1
Breakneck Trailhead is set to reopen for July 4th holiday weekend.
The work that began on March 1 at the Upper Overlook area of the Breakneck Trailhead is proceeding on schedule and the trailhead will reopen as planned on Saturday, July 1.
Previously: Upgrades at Breakneck to help ease pedestrian and vehicular traffic
A record 79.5 million visitors took to the trails throughout New York State last year, a million more than the previous year. Around the Hudson Valley, over 471K people hiked the Hudson Highlands, which includes Breakneck (compared to the measly 77K people that visited in 2003).
But that much foot traffic and vehicular congestion leads to overuse and trampling off-trail, creating “social trails” that adversely impact the surrounding ecosystem. To help restore those trails and ease the impact of the park’s visitors, as part of a multi-phase restoration project, the Breakneck Ridge trailhead will be closed beginning March 1 through July 1, 2023. The park is expected to open on time, on July 1, in time for the Independence Day Weekend.
During the closure, Breakneck’s scenic ridge was only accessible via the Wilkinson to the Nimham trail, or via the Cornish/Brook/Undercliff Bypass/Undercliff trails from the Washburn parking lot. The rock scramble between the trailhead and flagpole was closed in both directions. Descent through the construction zone is not permitted.
“The trailhead will be fenced and signed,” Evan Thompson, manager of Hudson Highlands State Park said. “We ask all hikers to respect this closure and stay off the trail during this time.”
As part of this first phase of the Fjord Trail, a seven-mile linear trail connecting the Village of Cold Spring to Long Dock Park in Beacon, work will begin on the Breakneck Connector trail plaza, a pedestrian bridge over the Metro-North tracks. Plans also include new ADA-compliant restrooms, native plantings, the completion of a parking area at Dutchess Manor, and restoring the manor into a visitor center and offices for the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail.
The Breakneck Connector and Bridge is planned to be completed by 2030.
In addition to repairing eroding trail surfaces and installing stone steps at the initial ascent, the main trailhead will be relocated away from busy Route 9D, a 55-mph highway. In the past, up to 250 cars squeezed along Route 9D, according to HHFT staff. The new Breakneck Connector design will allow for 77 cars in painted, formal parallel parking spaces, an and additional 36 spaces in two parking lots at Breakneck. Additional closures may be necessary along the Route 9D corridor.
Reduced parking availability is expected during this time period. Officials recommend hikers take Metro-North to the trail when possible.
Sources:
NYS Park attendance data 2003-2022
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Master Plan (PDF)
Hard copies of the plan document are available at Beacon City Hall, Cold Spring Village Hall, Fishkill Town Hall, Philipstown Town Hall , Nelsonville Village Hall, Blodgett Memorial Library, Butterfield Library, Desmond Fish Library and the Howland Public Library.
“We ask all hikers to respect this closure and stay off the trail during this time.”
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