New York City: Breakneck Ridge Trail

Crank up a mountain, and scale the slabs of its summit, before winding along a big-vie ridge and past farmlands on this 8.3 miler.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

Take Metro North from Grand Central Station and start this 8.3-mile point-to-point by cranking up 1,000 feet to cross-Hudson views of Storm King Mountain’s whalelike prow. Scramble up granite slabs to an exposed ridge (or take the X-blazed bypass) and follow the Notch Trail—with vistas of bucolic dairy farmland and crum- bling, Scottish-style Bannerman Castle, which was once home to a 19th-century arms dealer. Finish the day with an easy meander into Cold Spring.

Miles from city center: 60

Waypoints

BRT001

Location: 41.450061, -73.982406

Breakneck Ridge stop on MetroNorth

BRT002

Location: 41.452586, -73.982084

Pedestrian overpass

BRT003

Location: 41.450961, -73.968201

Breakneck Ridge