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With 8,000-acre Hudson Highlands State Park practically in its backyard, Cold Spring has plenty to keep outdoor enthusiasts occupied.
The best known hiking trail in the area is Breakneck Ridge, a little over two miles from Cold Spring in Hudson Highlands State Park. You’ll spend some time early on scrambling over boulders, so you need to be reasonably fit to make it to the top. Once you’re there, you’re treated to some killer views of the Hudson River. Be prepared: wear sturdy hiking boots, slather on sunscreen, and bring along plenty of water.
Less than a mile from Cold Spring is the trailhead for Bull Hill, a full-loop trail that doesn’t get nearly enough attention because nearby Breakneck Ridge has a much better name. (Mount Taurus, Bull Hill’s other name, doesn’t seem to have caught on.) Make the climb in the afternoon and you’ll see the sun dip behind Storm King Mountain on the other shore of the Hudson River.
