Breakneck Ridge & Wineries in the Hudson River Valley
When you think of New York, it’s likely your mind goes right to New York City (and for good reason!). The unmatched energy and cultural diversity makes “the city that never sleeps” one of the most vibrant places in the world. But when New Yorkers are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle and spend some quiet time in nature, they travel a few miles north to it’s lesser known, but absolutely spectacular, neighbor — the Hudson River Valley.
The region, which spans 150 miles above the tip of Manhattan north up to Albany, is known for it’s deep rooted history, abundant natural beauty and a flourishing food, winery and farmer’s market scene. Throughout the Hudson River Valley’s 10 counties, you’ll find beautiful hiking trails, historic landmarks, restaurants, orchards, wineries, farms and creative venues to enjoy the great outdoors. For these reasons, this area has become a popular destination for New Yorkers, New Englanders and world travelers alike.
Craving a weekend getaway and time outdoors during quarantine, I set my sights on Breakneck Ridge — the “most popular day hike in America”. With a title like that, I had big expectations and it did not disappoint. Neither did the surrounding area there was so much to do that we feel like we barely skimmed the surface, and we can’t wait to get back to explore. If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, look no further!
A WEEKEND IN THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY
Centering our trip around the hike at Breakneck Ridge, we found several affordable hotel and Air BnB options in Beacon, Cold Spring, Glenham and Fishkill. We went up after work on a Friday evening (it is only a 90 minute drive from central Connecticut!) and stopped at Farm to Table Bistro for dinner and Village Creamery for ice cream. It was a great way to unwind after a long week and get fresh, local food.
We woke up bright and early on Saturday, grabbed coffee and smoothies at Fresh and were off for a full day of hiking and wineries! Here’s our itinerary:
STOP #1: HIKING BREAKNECK RIDGE (3+ HOURS)
430-442 Breakneck Rd, Beacon, NY 12508
All Trails • Directions
Breakneck Ridge is part of Hudson Highlands State Park and there are park staff at the entrance to help you plan your hike. There are three primary trails: Breakneck Short Loop (2-3 hours; 2.5 miles), Breakneck Loop (3-4 hours; 3.2 miles) and Breakneck to Cold Spring (4-5 hours; 4.2 miles). They are all very well marked and overlap for the first few miles, so you can choose to lengthen or shorten your hike by picking a different trail along the way.
We did the 3-mile Breakneck Loop (see photos above) which goes up Breakneck Ridge and winds down Wilkinson Memorial Trail, passing Sugarloaf Mountain on the way back. It’s probably one of my favorite hikes to date. Within minutes, you’re met with panoramic views of the Hudson River that get better and better the higher you go. Literally every step was a picture perfect photo opportunity. We spent plenty of time stopping along the way to admire the views and take in the natural beauty.
A few things to know before you go: It is a rather steep and difficult ascent, especially during the first mile. The views of the river and surrounding landscape are absolutely worth the effort, but it is typically recommended for those with hiking experience. Also. parking is tough to find. We got there at 9 am and the lots and streets were packed. We had to loop around a few times before finding a spot, and it gets harder to find as the day goes on. Lastly, the trails are dog friendly (we brought ours), but if your dog is not comfortable with steep climbs, a lot of sun and some tough terrain, you’re probably better off leaving them at home.
STOP #2: WEED ORCHARDS AND WINERY (1-2 HOURS)
43 Mt Zion Rd, Marlboro, NY 12542
Website • Directions
Weed Orchards is a 5th generation family-run orchard with a beautiful 40-acre pick-your-own farm and built-in winery. The farm offers a huge variety of vegetables and fruits from zucchini to peaches and rows of colorful flowers to make your own bouquet. During picking season, Weed Orchards has festivities every weekend with events like live music, yoga classes, hayrides and barbeques.
The winery (open on weekends only) includes outdoor and indoor tasting rooms featuring homegrown hard ciders and wines, as well as NY State craft beers. There is also full food menu of farm-to-table selections including pizza, salads and other finger foods. We each got a wine flight, which included six wines from dry Riesling to merlot for only $15 and lunch. There is plenty of outdoor seating all around the winery with picturesque views of the sprawling property. This place was amazing — highly recommend!
STOP #3: BENMARL WINERY (1-2 HOURS)
156 Highland Ave, Marlboro, NY 12542
Website • Directions
Eight minutes down the road from Weed Orchards nestled away from the main road is a winery named Benmarl. The property is a 37-acre estate that overlooks the Hudson River Valley and is said to be the oldest vineyard in America. The wines are incredible (be sure to try the Rose) and the team’s commitment to environmental sustainability really separates them from the pack.
The winery holds several events throughout the year from wine and cheese pairings to grape stomping festivals to sangria festivals, which would be great times to visit. Either way, be sure to take plenty of time to explore the beautiful property and take in the beauty.
Later that evening, we watched the sunset over the river at Long Deck Park (photo below) and got dinner and drinks at Kitchen Sink Food & Drink.
Both stops were awesome and were the icing on the cake to a perfect Saturday!
DAY 2: BULL HILL (2-3 HOURS)
3260 NY-9D, Cold Spring, NY 10516
All Trails • Directions
Bull Hill is also part of Hudson Highlands State Park and the trailhead is less than a mile from Breakneck Ridge. It two primary trail options: the Short Loop (2-3 hours; 4.3 miles) and the Full Loop (3-4 hours; 5.5 miles). Both have panoramic views of the Hudson River with beautiful forest trails. We were so excited to hike Bull Hill, but unfortunately we only got about a mile and a half in before it started to downpour. The visibility became poor that we had to turn around, but it was still a beautiful hike and we will absolutely be back this fall.
If you get a rainy day like us, Cold Spring is just down the road with cute shops and restaurants to explore. We grabbed coffees and smoothies from Sweet Harvest and were on our way back to central Connecticut. While a bit earlier than planned, we were raving about how much fun we had that weekend and how we can’t believe we hadn’t done it sooner.
