We're excited to share one of our all-time favorite hikes in the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve.

Accessible from NYC by public transit, and just a short walk from the quaint riverside village of Cold Spring, the Bull Hill / Mt. Taurus hike is a popular go-to for city travelers.

While it may be overshadowed by the highly renowned Breakneck Ridge to the north, this hike offers some of the best views in the park including views west to Storm King State Park and West Point; north to Breakneck Ridge, Shawangunk Ridge and the Catskills; and on a clear day, south to the NYC skyline.

Let’s dig into this hiking guide by Henri de la Vega (our Another Summit Director of Outdoor Adventure and Education, and a New York State Licensed Guide & Registered Maine Guide), which explains everything you need to know about hiking Bull Hill from Cold Spring, including two different routes you can take.

Route 1: Bull Hill Summit

Hike type: Out-and-back

Difficulty: 🟨 Yellow (moderately strenuous)

Distance [from trailhead]: 4.1 miles

Distance [from train station]: 6.1 miles

Ascent: 1,480 feet

Descent: 1,480 feet

Public transit accessible: Yes

Map: NYNJTC Map 102

All Trails Map

Route 2: Bull Hill Short Loop

Hike type: Loop

Difficulty: 🟨 Yellow (moderately strenuous)

Distance [from trailhead]: 4.6 miles

Distance [from train station]: 6.6 miles

Ascent: 1,350 feet

Descent: 1,343 feet

Public transit accessible: Yes

Map: NYNJTC Map 102

All Trails Map

Preparation

What to Bring

It's always good to start with the 10+1 essential pieces of gear to bring on everyday hikes:

Navigation | Map & Compass
Insulation | Layering System
Sun Protection | Sunscreen & Sunglasses
Hydration | Water + Filter
Nutrition | Extra Food
Illumination | Headlamp + Batteries
First Aid Kit | Pre-Made or Custom
Repair Kit | Knife, Tape & Thread
Emergency Shelter | Warm & Dry
Fire Source | Lighter + Tinder
Bathroom Kit | The 11th Essential

How long will this hike take?

A safe bet when timing out your hike is to account for a speed of one mile per hour. This may seem slow, but when you figure in time taking short breaks, exploring interesting areas, and stopping for longer breaks, 1 mph is a pretty safe average.

If you are a faster hiker, you may change this to 1.5 or 2 mph when planning, but it’s still safe to share the slower time with someone at home, just in case you get caught up enjoying the views.

Public Transportation

Cold Spring is the closest town to the start of this hike and is accessible by the Metro North Railroad, which departs from and returns to Grand Central Station in NYC once every hour.

From Cold Spring station, just walk north about 1 mile to the visitor center and Washburn Trail / Bull Hill parking lot.

Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve Visitor Center on Google Maps

Bull Hill / Mt. Taurus Trail Guide

Start by ascending the ⚪ white-blazed Washburn trail to the left following the old gravel quarry road. The first 0.3 miles follow this steep road through a mixed hardwood forest flanked by a myriad of invasive species.

(If you visit during July, you may be tempted into the bush by tasty, fruiting wineberries, but keep an eye out for the poison ivy that is common on this short section!)

The gravel road terminates at the bottom of the old Bull Hill Quarry, a gneissic rock quarry that was owned by the Hudson River Stone Corporation from 1931 to 1967.

The Washburn trail turns sharply to the right at this point, but the quarry has its own short network of flat trails and is worth exploring for a bit while you catch your breath from the first climb.

Back on the Washburn trail, you will leave the gravel road and head south on the single-track trail. While it’s easy to spend the first part of this ascent looking for your next step, be sure to pause and look to the west (right) now and then to catch your first views of Storm King State Park.

At about 7/10ths of a mile into your hike, you will hit the first marked view point. The trail makes a right but you will see an obvious trail continuing straight ahead, follow that trail about 20 feet to get to the viewpoint looking northwest over the quarry. Pat yourself on the back, you were just down there!

Once you are back on the Washburn Trail, continue following the white blazes. Shortly after your first viewpoint, you will come to a second. You will see a ledge just off the right side of the trail, detour to the ledge for a view to the south.

This view looks down onto the village Cold Spring, West Point, Constitution Marsh and Constitution Island. Back on the white-blazed trail, continue for about 0.6 miles to the first intersection of the white-blazed Washburn Trail and the yellow-blazed Undercliff Trail. Here, you have arrived at a fork in the road and have a few choices to make.

Choice 1: Complete the Out-and-Back

Continue your ascent on the white blazed undercliff trail for another 0.65 miles. After a very short descent, you will pass a small vernal pool (which is usually dry by July) before reaching your final ascent.

At the summit, climb the exposed rock and enjoy your reward, sweeping views of the Hudson Valley including a glimpse of the NYC skyline on a clear day. To complete your hike, simply follow the white-blazed trail back the way you came to return to the trailhead.

Choice 2: Hike the loop

When you reach the intersection of the white-blazed Washburn Trail and the yellow-blazed Undercliff Trail, head north (left if on your ascent from the trailhead or right if on your descent from Bull Hill) on the 🟡 yellow undercliff trail. One of the biggest perks to this loop is that, while it may be longer than the out-and-back, you’ve already got the bulk of the hard work out of the way.

Once on the yellow-blazed undercliff trail, the trail eases up, with the mellow ups & downs characteristic to a ridgeline. Over the next 0.35 miles, you will encounter several viewpoints with the last one being what I consider to be one of the crown jewels of the park. This spot has an excellent view up and down the river with great views of Breakneck Ridge, Storm King Mountain, and on a clear day, you can see the Catskill mountains looming to the north — if you are lucky, you may even spot a bald eagle soaring below!

This is a great place to stop for a lunch break during the hike and soak in the views. After your break, you’ll continue on the yellow trail. The trail makes a U-turn at the viewpoint, so it should be just behind you to the left. Continue for 1.25 miles on a gradual descent through a mixed hardwood forest.

There is nothing super notable about this section but for some reason it stands out in my mind as an enjoyable stretch. The woods are dense so it's nicely shaded, the grade of the descent is not too steep and it's often very quiet as most hikers are drawn to the Bull Hill out-and-back to the south or Breakneck Ridge to the north. Enjoy the peace and quiet until you eventually come to the intersection of the blue-blazed Cornish Estate Trail.

Turn left on the 🔵 blue-blazed Cornish Estate Trail down an old, eroded woods road as it follows a narrow stream named Breakneck Brook. The water here is clear and cold and an excellent choice for replenishing your supply if you are carrying a water filter.

Follow the blue blazes for 0.8 miles until you reach the Cornish Estate Ruins. Spend some time exploring the ruined mansion of the late Edward J. Cornish and read the recently installed signboards for a peek into this once-great mansion.

After spending some time at the ruins, continue for another 0.8 miles on the blue-blazed trail through a woodland dominated by towering tulip poplars and carpeted with creeping phlox which is no doubt descended from the mansion's once-manicured gardens. Eventually, the mansion's old driveway gives way to a single-track trail that will return you to the Washburn Trailhead Parking Lot.

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