Hiking The Hudson Highlands: Metro-North Improves Train Access

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Hikers who head up the Hudson River on weekends from New York City will soon have an alternative to walking on a busy road to reach trailheads for some of the metro area's most popular destinations.

Work started Tuesday on improvements to the Breakneck Ridge Station, part of a massive, many-pronged effort to improve the Hudson Highlands State Park. Safety is one of the imperatives.

In the spring of 2020, the state actually closed all trails and parking areas along the corridor including Breakneck Ridge, Notch Trail and Mount Beacon because so many people were walking on Route 9D.

SEE: State Shuts Down Trails, Parking Areas Along Route 9D.

With the dramatic increase of visitors, more than 1,000 people may hike trails on and around Breakneck on a weekend. The park has drawn more than 3.1 million visitors over the last decade.

The plan for the east side of the Hudson River between Cold Spring and Beacon is to better manage high-use areas, protect sensitive habitats, reduce the number of injured and lost hikers, and create safe connections for walkers and cyclists.

In the works: a 7.5 mile linear park called the Fjord Trail.

Metro-North Railroad, the state Department of Transportation and the New York state parks department joined the nonprofit Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail to make the announcement.

“This next step in improving the safety of the Route 9D corridor and the hiking experience in the Hudson Highlands is due to the collaboration of many partners. We thank everyone for the thoughtfulness of the approach to the entire system. It’s an exciting time to be in the Highlands,” said Linda Cooper, Taconic Regional Director for New York State Parks.

There are 20 partners working on the project, including Scenic Hudson, the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, City of Beacon, Village of Cold Spring, Metro-North, and state parks. Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, Inc. is a subsidiary of Scenic Hudson.

The first step is what's been dubbed the Breakneck Connector. According to the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, the Breakneck Connector project will:

• Create a pedestrian and bicycle path connection between the Breakneck Ridge Metro-North train stop and the Breakneck Ridge trailhead to keep pedestrians out of the roadway.
• Replace the Breakneck Ridge train platforms with ADA-accessible platforms that will decrease the time hikers need to exit the train, avoiding delays on the Hudson Line caused by the current platforms.
• Demarcate on-street parking and emergency vehicle staging along Route 9D in the half-mile section north of the Breakneck tunnel, and eliminating nose-in and other dangerous parking conditions.
• Pave and stripe the current dirt parking area, including designated space for three emergency vehicles, bathroom facilities and a trolley stop.
• Reduce the speed limit on Route 9D from 55 to 40 mph and add enhanced pedestrian crossings and other features to improve safety.

After improvements are made to the Breakneck Station, Metro-North will reopen it as a weekend stop on the Hudson Line, making three stations where visitors will be able to access the Fjord Trail directly: Cold Spring, Beacon, and, on the weekends, the Breakneck Ridge station.

Some initial site preparation has already taken place in the area between the train tracks and Route 9D. Metro-North removed overgrowth to ready the area for necessary measures including an off-road trail that will connect passengers to the southbound platform, a safety fence separating pedestrians from the railroad tracks, and temporary wayfinding signage.

“Safety is at the core of everything we do,” said Catherine Rinaldi, President of MTA Metro-North Railroad. “Our Breakneck Ridge station is the gateway to one of the most popular and iconic hiking destinations in the region. As Metro-North ridership continues to recover, especially weekend ridership, I am thrilled that Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is moving ahead with these safety improvements and that we will soon be able to reopen a safer and more inviting station for our returning customers.”

The station work is slated for completion before year’s end.

The project is being funded by Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail and MTA funds secured by State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef of District 95 for Metro-North.

“The fencing Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail will install is the first step in implementing the larger Breakneck Connector project. Safety has always been one of our core aims and securing the tracks from pedestrians in this busy hiking destination is a major step forward,” said Amy Kacala, Executive Director of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail.

Construction of the first segment of the Fjord Trail will commence in 2022.

Other work is underway as well. This summer, as part of safety improvements, Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail and State Parks partnered to create the new Nimham Trail on Breakneck Ridge.

The half-mile connector trail allows for a safer alternative path to start the physically demanding ascent to the Breakneck summit, and eliminates two-way hiker traffic at the narrow, steep beginning of that trail. The new Ninham Trail, accessed by the Wilkinson Trailhead, provides an alternate ascent route to and from Breakneck's false summit.

Safety improvements on Route 9D are also in the works for the Brook Trail in the Hudson Highlands State Park The state bought the former Chalet on the Hudson catering and event space and the plan is to construct a relocated trailhead for the trail.

"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.

There is currently no parking for the Brook Trailhead on Route 9D, necessitating people to walk along and cross the high-speed highway to access the trailhead. The relocation of the Brook Trail trailhead and associated parking will help to solve this safety issue. It also provides an alternate access into Breakneck Ridge from the south other than the rock scramble.

State Parks bought the former catering site for $1.71 million from the not-for-profit Open Space Institute. Planning will now include how best to create information kiosks and a trailhead to the nearby Brook Trail, as well as provide increased safety with added parking off Route 9D.

"Thanks to the tireless work of State Parks for this contribution to our area," said Putnam County Legislator Nancy Montgomery. "It provides a solution to a local problem by keeping our roads safe, protecting our wilderness, and providing safe access for all to enjoy this Hudson Highlands gem."

SEE ALSO:

• VIDEO: Overlooking Hudson from Breakneck
• Galef focuses on Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail on TV Show
• Weekend Day Trip: Hiking Breakneck Ridge
• Hiker Killed In Fall Near Breakneck Ridge