Breakneck Ridge, one of the most popular trails in the Hudson Valley, is aptly named. Even with a dedicated Metro-North train stop for day trippers, hikers must cross the two-lane, high-speed Route 9D before they can begin the short but somewhat treacherous hike that involves rock scrambling and a steep incline.
Now, that could change.
New York State Parks today announced a recent property acquisition along Route 9D in Putnam County with the goal of relocating the trailhead for Brook Trail at Hudson Highlands State Park to provide a safer access for hikers as well as an improved, southern access point for Breakneck Ridge.
State Parks purchased the property, the former catering business Chalet on the Hudson, for $1.71 million from the not-for-profit Open Space Institute.
“While this property… is only about two acres, it will have a large impact by allowing State Parks to create a relocated trailhead and amenities for Hudson Highlands that will help with pedestrian safety on Route 9D,” State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said in a press release.
Currently, there is no parking for the Brook Trailhead on Route 9D, which means people need to walk along the highway to reach the trail. In fact, all trails along the highway, including Breakneck and Brook, were closed in April 2020 due to the volume of pedestrians walking along 9D, creating a dangerous situation for both walkers and motorists. The relocation of the trailhead and associated parking to this location would help solve the safety issue.
“People pull off to side of the road or walk from Little Stony Point to the trail if they want to use [Brook Trail],” said Amy Kacala, Executive Director of Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, a nonprofit. “This would create a small parking area and provide a trail connection.”
Kacala said that while it won’t be a fix-all move, it will help keep more people off of Route 9D, which is a 55 mile-per-hour highway with no shoulder.
“There needs to be a number of moves such as this to shift some of the behaviors of hikers into a more organized pattern to improve safety,” said Kacala. “It will help motorists and hikers and improve this specific trail head.”
The new trailhead would also provide alternate access into Breakneck Ridge from the south, which means hikers could avoid the rock scramble – ideal for those hiking with a dog or seeking an easier ascent.
Breakneck Ridge became a little safer earlier this season, when a new connector trail constructed by Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail. The new Ninham Trail, accessed by the Wilkinson Trailhead, provides an alternate ascent route to and from Breakneck’s false summit.
Kacala said the New York New Jersey Trail Conference has been tracking data and, since the connector trail was created at the end of June, there have been no reports of lost or injured hikers at Breakneck. Overall, Hudson Highlands State Park, which Breakneck is a part of, drew in more than 3.1 million visitors over the past decade.
“If people need to stop their hike earlier, they’re able to with this trail and they don’t need to wander,” said Kacala. “When people wander, that’s when there are reports of injuries and lost hikers. People are using it and it seems to be working.”
The acquisition of the property will also help maintain the region’s ecological integrity by protecting wildlife bio-corridors and preserving scenic viewsheds in an area of development pressure. The property is situated along the Hudson, offering views of Revolutionary War historic sites and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point across the river.
Both Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell and State Senator Sue Serino said in a press release that the acquisition is especially timely with the backdrop of COVID-19 and more residents and tourists exploring the great outdoors and trails here in the Hudson Valley.
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