Hike It: Breakneck Ridge

The area's best-kept fall foliage secret is less than an hour out of the city.

Where to?
Two Metro-North trains stop at the phantom Breakneck Ridge “station,” only on weekend mornings. The backpack set silently bails out of the rear train car onto what are just a few wooden boards beside the tracks. The trailhead lies a half mile down the gravel skirt (back towards a train tunnel). From there, Breakneck Ridge shoots up 1,000 feet straight out of the Hudson. Time to climb.
Metro-North Hudson Line @ 7:47a or 8:47a.

Morning scramble: White Blazes
Once on the trail, follow the white blazes. You'll need your hands to get up the rocks. Whip out your camera on lookouts for stunning views of Storm King Mountain across the river. Once you’ve crested the ridge, amble in the woods along the white blazes.

Channel your inner Emerson: Blue Blazes
Hang a right and follow them past the ruins of the Cornish Dairy. When the blue-blazed Notch trail hangs a sharp left, keep going straight, along the babbling brook. Follow a new set of blue blazes when the trail eventually splits. In these woods looms your next reward: the overgrown remains of a stone mansion, ripe for exploration.
Trail map here.

Feet up in Cold Spring
Nearby Fair Street leads to downtown Cold Spring. Riverview is aptly named, with sunset views and American food. Grab a coffee and sandwiches for the ride back at Foundry Café, or stop by Cold Spring Depot, right at the Metro-North Station, and wait for the train home (they depart every hour) with a well-earned beer.
Riverview, 45 Fair St. (845-265-4778).
Foundry Café, 55 Main St. (845-265-4504).
Cold Spring Depot, 1 Depot Sq. (845-265-2305).