Breakneck Ridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the mountain. For the train station, see Breakneck Ridge (Metro-North station).

Breakneck Ridge
Breakneck Ridge from across the Hudson River
Elevation	1,260 feet (384 m)
Location	New York, USA
Range	Hudson Highlands
Prominence	527 feet (161 m)
Coordinates	41°27′35″N, 73°57′32″W
Topo map	USGS West Point
First ascent	unknown
Easiest route	trail

Breakneck Ridge is a mountain along the Hudson River between Beacon and Cold Spring, New York, straddling the boundary between Dutchess and Putnam counties. Its distinctive rocky cliffs are visible for a long distance when approached from the south, and together with Storm King Mountain on the opposite bank of the river forms Wey-Gat, or Wind Gate, the picturesque northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands.

It has several summits, the highest, some distance inland, reaching approximately 1,260 feet (384 m) above sea level. The southern face of the peak is remarkable for its striking cliffs, the result of quarrying in past years. Lying within Hudson Highlands State Park, it offers many stunning views of the river and region and is quite popular with hikers, to the point that a rail flag stop has been established on the Metro North line which runs right by the base of the ridge along NY 9D.

Former quarries on south side of ridge.

[edit] Name

According to legend, Breakneck gets its name from the same wild bull as neighboring Bull Hill (also known as Mount Taurus), as the place where the bull finally fell to its death.

Until at least the early 20th century, the mountain was also known as St. Anthony's Face or Turk's Face, after a facelike stone formation on the southern cliffs that was destroyed by quarrymen in 1901.

Hikers working their way up the mountain.

[edit] Approach

While several routes exist, most hikers take the white-blazed route up the mountain's west face that begins on Route 9D near the tunnel. After circling around to cross above the tunnels, it begins a steep, rocky and challenging climb up to the first bump of the mountain, about 720 feet (219 m) above the river, where there are sweeping views of the river and Highlands. It continues in a similar fashion over the remaining bumps until it reaches the summit.