Overview: This nearly 8-mile loop climbs a total of 2,300 feet and delivers view after spectacular view of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands. And is there any mountain with a cooler name than Storm King? I dare you to think of one. You’re right: Breakneck Ridge. But still, Storm King is a pretty great name.
Hike Length: 7.8 miles (a little longer if you don’t take the abandoned wood road shortcut)
Elevation gain: 2,300
Location: Storm King State Park, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY.
Parking: Park at the Storm King State Park parking lot on Rt 9W North. The lot holds about 30 cars.
Map: NY-NJ Trail Conference West Hudson Trails (Trail Map #103). Note that some maps do not show the unmaintained trail.
Trail Description:
From the parking lot the Orange trail to the Yellow trail. Head uphill to take in the 360 views from the Butter Hill viewpoint. Continue and turn left onto the Blue/Red trail. After about a half-mile, turn right on Yellow. There are multiple great viewpoints along this trail. Turn sharp left onto the Blue trail. Then turn right to follow Blue/White several hundred yards to where Blue breaks left and descends into the valley between Storm King and North Point. Eventually, turn left on the White-blazed Stillman Spring trail, an old logging road. Continue almost to Rt. 218 and across a small stream to the Blue Trail again. Continue on Blue back through the valley, across the streams and turn left on the White trail (not shown on map above) to the parking lot. For an even shorter hike, about a quarter mile before the white trail is an old unmaintained trail (shown on map above) that you can take as a shortcut. You will need a keen eye to see it since it is not marked or maintained.
