Breakneck Ridge, the steep Hudson Valley scramble that pulls in city daytrippers on clear weekends, is officially off the hiking menu for the summer. The popular route will stay closed while crews keep working on a multi-part safety and access overhaul. The shutdown covers the Breakneck Ridge and Wilkinson Memorial trailheads and the Breakneck Ridge Metro-North station, which means no train access and no walking in from the shoulder of Route 9D. Anyone heading to the area should plan alternate hikes, be ready for parking and traffic shifts along Route 9D, and keep an eye on official project pages for fresh updates.
Latest update
A May 28 update from local TV outlet PIX11 reports that the closures will remain in place through the summer as construction continues on the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail’s Breakneck Connector and Bridge.
What’s being built
The project lineup is lengthy. It includes a full renovation of the Breakneck Ridge Metro-North station, a pedestrian bridge over the tracks, a new lower overlook at the base of the ridge, ADA-compliant restrooms, an information kiosk, a bike tune-up station, and new trash and recycling receptacles. Crews will remove invasive plants and follow up with native replanting. Project partners also plan several small off-road parking areas west of Route 9D, plus improved crosswalks and wayfinding signs meant to keep hikers out of traffic and boost safety, according to a March 2025 press release from the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail. Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail.
How Route 9D will change
State planning documents for the Fjord Trail detail the coming tweaks along Route 9D, including sidewalks, marked pedestrian crossings with flashing beacons, and new staging areas for emergency vehicles. The same documents note that the New York State Department of Transportation will drop the posted speed limit in the work zone from 55 mph to 40 mph in order to cut down on dangerous pedestrian exposure along the highway. New York State Parks (DGEIS).
Transit and trail access
Metro-North closed the Breakneck Ridge platform on April 21, 2025 to clear the way for station upgrades and connector work. Riders heading for Hudson Highlands hikes are being directed to use the Cold Spring or Beacon stations while construction continues. Metro-North’s official station page lists Breakneck as temporarily closed as part of the project. MTA.
Timeline and alternatives
The initial project announcement framed the closure as lasting “up to two years,” starting April 21, 2025, so crews expect to be on site through the summer and into 2027 as they complete segments. In the meantime, trail partners say interior options such as the Washburn/Cornish and Notch trails, along with Little Stony Point, remain open and are being stewarded while the Breakneck and Wilkinson trailheads stay off limits. New York–New Jersey Trail Conference.
What hikers should do
For now, hikers are being asked to plan ahead, choose alternate routes, build in extra travel time, avoid walking along the narrow shoulder of Route 9D, and follow posted detours and parking rules. Project partners say trail stewards and park staff will be on site to help orient visitors, and the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail website is keeping a construction tracker with regular updates for would-be Breakneck climbers. Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail.
