South Beacon Mountain via Breakneck Ridge Loop in Hudson Highlands State Park, NY

Hike South Beacon Mountain via Breakneck Ridge Loop Hudson Highlands State Park, NY

Class 2 9.2 miles 3300 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Jul 5, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
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Route Map
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South Beacon Mountain via Breakneck Ridge Loop GPX Track

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Breakneck Ridge is a really popular hike, so much so that I almost don't even want to recommend it anymore. Over the last 10 years since I first heard of the hike, graffiti, garbage, and erosion has taken over. It's still a fun Class 2 scramble, and would serve well as the start to our longer hike up to South Beacon Mountain. You can see the Breakneck Ridge and Notch Trail Loop here, if you're looking for a shorter hike.

This trail ascends Breakneck Ridge, then follows the trail along the ridgeline using a white-blazed trail, passing over Sunset Point and leading to the base of South Beacon Mountain. Along the way, there are plenty of fun little Class 2 sections, occasional views, and forests and small meadows typical for the area. At the base of South Beacon Mountain is a junction (yellow blaze) we would later take to make this into a loop, but first Austin and I headed up to South Beacon Mountain and climbed the lookout tower to get some nice views. Aside from Breakneck Ridge, the short ascent to the base of the lookout tower was the most fun part of the hike, where the trail scrambles up fun boulders with a nice view behind us as we went.

Back at the base of South Beacon Mountain, we took the yellow blaze along an old forest road until the blazes pointed us to the left onto a single-track. We took this trail all the way to a junction with "scenic overlook", which is actually Sugarloaf Mountain. I suppose that recently the trail leading down the south side of Sugarloaf Mountain was removed, resulting in us having to backtrack, despite the appearance of a trail being there on maps. The trail down from Sugarloaf Mountain was popular, but pretty.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Breakneck Ridge
1280 ft
160 rise
2
Sunset Point
1300 ft
189 rise
3
South Beacon Mountain
1600 ft
1220 rise
4
Sugarloaf Mountain
900 ft
240 rise

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Starting up the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Starting up the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Looking out across the Hudson River toward Storm King Mountain along the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Looking out across the Hudson River toward Storm King Mountain along the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Some Class 2 fun.
Some Class 2 fun.
Image 3 from gallery
Looking back down the first Class 2 section of the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Looking back down the first Class 2 section of the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Image 5 from gallery
The classic Breakneck Ridge Trail photo.
The classic Breakneck Ridge Trail photo.
View north of the Hudson River.
View north of the Hudson River.
Continuing from the classic rest spot where most turn around.
Continuing from the classic rest spot where most turn around.
Looking back on some Class 2+ scrambling. This section is avoidable via a workaround, but it's one of the more fun sections of the hike.
Looking back on some Class 2+ scrambling. This section is avoidable via a workaround, but it's one of the more fun sections of the hike.
Entering the woods for a short time before more scrambling.
Entering the woods for a short time before more scrambling.
Image 11 from gallery
Pretty ledge along the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Pretty ledge along the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Looking back, you can see the flag and standard turnaround spot in the center.
Looking back, you can see the flag and standard turnaround spot in the center.
Continuing to the top of the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Continuing to the top of the Breakneck Ridge Trail.
Image 15 from gallery
Final section of Class 2 before the top.
Final section of Class 2 before the top.
Looking back at the final section of Class 2. Bull Hill visible top left, Hudson River on the right.
Looking back at the final section of Class 2. Bull Hill visible top left, Hudson River on the right.
Image 18 from gallery
At the top of the Breakneck Ridge Trail, continuing north.
At the top of the Breakneck Ridge Trail, continuing north.
Looking back as Austin and I traverse the top of Breakneck Ridge, after the scrambling ended.
Looking back as Austin and I traverse the top of Breakneck Ridge, after the scrambling ended.
Junction with the Breakneck Ridge loop.
Junction with the Breakneck Ridge loop.
Continuing along Breakneck Ridge.
Continuing along Breakneck Ridge.
Image 23 from gallery
Image 24 from gallery
Junction with the Notch Trail, which leads east to make a loop. We would be continuing to South Beacon Mountain.
Junction with the Notch Trail, which leads east to make a loop. We would be continuing to South Beacon Mountain.
Lots of pretty forest walking, though not particularly photogenic. We passed over Sunset Point along the way.
Lots of pretty forest walking, though not particularly photogenic. We passed over Sunset Point along the way.
Starting up to South Beacon Mountain.
Starting up to South Beacon Mountain.
Image 28 from gallery
Some short Class 2 to get to South Beacon Mountain.
Some short Class 2 to get to South Beacon Mountain.
Looking back toward Sunset Point, the way we came.
Looking back toward Sunset Point, the way we came.
More fun Class 2 on the way up to South Beacon Mountain.
More fun Class 2 on the way up to South Beacon Mountain.
Looking back from the top of the scramble.
Looking back from the top of the scramble.
Final ascent to South Beacon Mountain.
Final ascent to South Beacon Mountain.
South Beacon Mountain lookout tower.
South Beacon Mountain lookout tower.
Views from the lookout tower.
Views from the lookout tower.
South Beacon Mountain lookout tower, view the way we came along Breakneck Ridge, Hudson River visible ahead.
South Beacon Mountain lookout tower, view the way we came along Breakneck Ridge, Hudson River visible ahead.
Back at the base of South Beacon Mountain, ready to start the western half of the loop.
Back at the base of South Beacon Mountain, ready to start the western half of the loop.
Image 38 from gallery
Image 39 from gallery
Some views, but mostly forested and occasional meadows.
Some views, but mostly forested and occasional meadows.
Image 41 from gallery
Image 42 from gallery
Image 43 from gallery
Image 44 from gallery
Junction with the Sugarloaf Mountain spur trail.
Junction with the Sugarloaf Mountain spur trail.
Image 46 from gallery
Heading up to Sugarloaf Mountain.
Heading up to Sugarloaf Mountain.
Image 48 from gallery
Summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, view toward the Hudson River. The trail used to continue down, but it is no longer there. We backtracked to the junction.
Summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, view toward the Hudson River. The trail used to continue down, but it is no longer there. We backtracked to the junction.
Back on the main trail.
Back on the main trail.
Image 51 from gallery
Almost back to D-9, completing the loop.
Almost back to D-9, completing the loop.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

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