Dutch colonists once named a Hudson Highlands peak after a lump of butter. I love that one of the most dramatic mountains in New York started out sounding like a breakfast spread.
Nearby, the ruins of a railway once billed as the world’s steepest still sit beside a well-loved hiking trail. Another rugged path climbs past a stone quarry that went quiet in 1967 and slowly turned back into a forest.
Fall gives these climbs an extra layer of drama, with wide river views framed in autumn color. A few routes demand real scrambling, while gentler paths wander past rustic pavilions and meadows that once inspired writers.
The Hudson rewards you whether you climb high on rocky summits or stroll low along its banks. Pack a layer, choose your pace, and let the river handle the scenery from there on out.
1. Storm King Mountain
Storm King gets the fame, but its eastern summit actually stands taller. Butter Hill tops out around 1,380 feet, while Storm King’s summit sits near 1,340 feet.
That Butter Hill name comes from Dutch colonists, who called the peak Boterberg. To them, it looked like a lump of butter.
The popular loop runs about 2.5 miles using the Butter Hill, Stillman, and Bypass trails. It starts with an immediate, steep scramble up Butter Hill.
After that first climb, the hike to Storm King’s summit feels much more relaxed. Views stretch across the Hudson toward Bull Hill on the far shore.
Storm King State Park covers 1,972 acres and stays mostly undeveloped. There are no restrooms at the trailhead, so plan ahead.
The main lot off northbound Route 9W holds about two dozen cars. It fills quickly on weekends, and there’s no access from the southbound lanes.
The park has more than 17 miles of hiking trails if you want a longer day. Bigger loops reach North Point and Crow’s Nest.
Fallen leaves can hide loose rock on the scramble, so wear shoes with solid grip. Bring water too, since the park has no facilities.
Down below, Route 218 hugs the mountain’s eastern slope above the river. It was originally called the Storm King Highway.
Address: 1750 US-9W, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520.
2. Bull Hill
An abandoned quarry sits right on the way up this mountain. The Hudson River Stone Corporation opened it in 1931 and left it behind in 1967.
Bull Hill, also called Mount Taurus, stands about 1,419 feet tall. That beats neighboring Breakneck Ridge, which tops out near 1,301 feet.
Most hikers start on the white-blazed Washburn Trail. It follows an old quarry road before climbing steeply with views over the river.
Recent trail work added stone steps and a viewing platform above the quarry. From there, Storm King fills the view across the water.
The marked Bull Hill Full Loop runs about 5.5 miles and takes three to four hours. A short loop covers about 4.6 miles if you want less mileage.
Heads up: the true summit has no views. The best scenery comes on the way up, along open rock below the top.
The full loop descends to Breakneck Brook, where ruins of the old Cornish estate sit near the trail. An old paved road once led to that mansion.
Parking sits by Little Stony Point on Route 9D, and the lot fills fast in fall. Parallel parking along 9D is another option.
Look north along the way, and you can spot the fire tower on South Beacon Mountain. It’s a handy preview of another climb on this list.
Address: Washburn Trailhead, Route 9D, Cold Spring, NY 10516.
3. Mount Beacon
A railway billed as the world’s steepest once hauled visitors up this mountain.
It opened in 1902, ceased operations permanently in 1978, and its ruins still sit near the start of the hike.
The Otis Elevator Company designed it. It was also the first electrified incline of its kind.
The hike begins with roughly 200 stairs following the old railway line. After that, steep switchbacks lead to the ruins and a big overlook.
Those ruins once held a dance hall, but fires later damaged it, along with a hotel and the railway. Their foundations now work as viewing platforms.
Keep going to the fire tower on South Beacon Mountain, the highest point in the Hudson Highlands. The summit sits at about 1,610 feet.
Built in 1931, the 60-foot tower reopened with stairs in 2013. Volunteers raised the money to restore it.
From the top, you can see the Catskills, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and the Beacon Reservoir. On clear days, New York City appears far to the south.
The round trip to the tower runs about 4.5 miles. Scenic Hudson manages the trailhead park, and leashed dogs are welcome.
Address: 788 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY 12508.
4. Anthony’s Nose
Few summits put a bridge this close to your feet. From the rocky top, the Bear Mountain Bridge stretches across the river almost directly below.
The usual route starts on Route 9D just north of the bridge. It follows the Appalachian Trail up a stretch that feels like a 500-foot stone staircase.
Near the top, you switch to the blue-blazed Camp Smith Trail. The final stretch eases off before the views open up.
The out-and-back hike runs about 2.5 miles. It’s short, but steep enough to feel.
Across the river, Bear Mountain and its Perkins Tower sit directly opposite. You can also spot the Popolopen Gorge bridge to the west.
A northern viewpoint along the Appalachian Trail looks toward West Point. It’s a little overgrown, but worth a peek if you have time.
Parking is roadside along Route 9D, on the east side of the road. Watch for traffic, since cars move fast and the shoulder is narrow.
The peak sits inside Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. Its funny name makes for a great answer when friends ask where you hiked.
Address: Route 9D near the Bear Mountain Bridge, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567.
5. Little Stony Point
This little peninsula used to be an island until quarry operations filled in the channel. Mining here finally stopped in 1944.
In 1967, a company bought the point to build a wallboard factory. Governor Nelson Rockefeller stepped in, and the factory moved elsewhere.
By 1970, Little Stony Point had joined Hudson Highlands State Park. Today, it offers one of the easiest big views in the area.
A flat loop of about a mile circles the point. Along the way, you’ll find a sandy beach, a small cave, and an old mine shaft.
A short uphill path leads to a rocky summit with wide river views. Storm King, Crow’s Nest, and West Point line up across the water.
Swimming isn’t allowed at the beach, but it still makes a lovely picnic spot. Passing trains and boats add to the show.
The Washburn Trailhead for Bull Hill sits right across the road. That makes it easy to pair a short stroll with a big climb.
Address: 3007 Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, Cold Spring, NY 10516.
6. Poets’ Walk Park
Legend says Washington Irving dreamed up Rip Van Winkle while gazing toward the Catskills from these grounds. The park’s name honors Irving and other writers who reputedly strolled here.
In 1849, the Astor and Delano families hired landscape architect Hans Jacob Ehlers to shape the land.
The landscape features a series of outdoor rooms separated by trees and stone walls.
Today, Scenic Hudson owns the 120-acre park, which opened in 1996. Conservation easements protect another 780 acres around it.
About 2 miles of trails wind past rustic pavilions, benches, and bridges. One path follows an old farm road through a ravine and over a stone bridge.
The views lean gentle rather than dramatic. Meadows open toward the Hudson, the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, and the Catskill Mountains.
Scenic Hudson uses rotational mowing to help birds, butterflies, and bees. Keep an ear out for songbirds in the meadows.
Gates open at 8:30 a.m., and closing times shift earlier as fall goes on. Admission is free, and leashed dogs are welcome.
Restrooms are on site, which makes this an easy outing with kids. Bring a notebook in case the scenery sparks a few lines of your own.
Address: 776 River Road, Red Hook, NY 12571.
7. Olana State Historic Site
Frederic Church didn’t just paint landscapes; he built one you can walk through. Olana is considered the most intact historic artist-designed environment in the country.
Church, a leading Hudson River School painter, lived here with his wife Isabel and their four children. He planted trees, dug a swamp into a lake, and laid out roads like brushstrokes.
The 250-acre landscape includes five miles of carriage roads. Many are now pedestrian-only, with carefully planned views revealed along the way.
At the summit sits a Persian-inspired house overlooking the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. Church painted that same view in the 19th century.
Self-guided walks lead to the family’s farm, orchards, the lake, and the site of Church’s first studio. Two marked walks run about 1.3 and 1.4 miles.
The grounds are free and open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. House tours run separately, and reservations are highly recommended.
Fishing is permitted in Olana’s lake with a New York State fishing license, but swimming and boating are prohibited.
An electric vehicle tour offers another way to see the grounds.
Olana is a National Historic Landmark run by the New York State parks office. Its skycam even streams the view live for anyone far away.
Start at the Frederic Church Center for maps and tour check-ins. From there, the carriage roads fan out across the hilltop.
Address: 5720 State Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534.
8. Black Creek Preserve
A 120-foot suspension bridge kicks off this hike by carrying you over Black Creek. Scenic Hudson calls the preserve a great outdoor classroom for kids.
A steep climb at the start may earn a few groans from little hikers. The payoff comes with forest trails and a quiet Hudson River shoreline.
Recent additions grew the preserve to 142 acres along the river. A new trailhead kiosk marks the first segment of the John Burroughs Black Creek Trail.
Trails pass hemlock groves, old stone walls, and vernal pools. The Hudson River Trail drops steeply toward the shoreline.
At the river, Pitch Pine Overlook delivers wide water views. Skipping stones on the shore is an easy way to keep kids happy.
Each spring, alewives and blueback herring swim in from the ocean to lay eggs in the creek. Bald eagles also visit the area.
Combining the Red and Blue trails creates a figure-eight of about 1.5 miles. The preserve is free and open from sunrise to sunset.
Scenic Hudson completed improvements at Black Creek Preserve in 2025, including new trail connections, expanded parking, and riverfront access.
Check for updates before you go, in case work affects access.
The creek also provides habitat for the northern cricket frog, an endangered species. That’s one reason Scenic Hudson made protecting it a priority.
Address: Winding Brook Road at Route 9W, Esopus, NY 12429.
9. Hyde Park Trail River Overlook
Native peoples called the Hudson Muhheakantuck, often translated as the river that flows both ways. This quiet overlook is a fine place to watch it move.
The 1.85-mile trail begins in a grassy field on Thompson Lane at Mills-Norrie State Park. It heads south through forest, wetlands, streams, and rock slabs.
Six years of work went into building this single-track trail. It ends on a 72-acre Scenic Hudson property that was once a Dominican camp.
Two benches at the overlook face the Hudson River and Esopus Island. It’s a calm spot to rest before the walk back.
The trail skips the busier parts of the park, so you may have it largely to yourself. A wooded ravine and a lively little stream keep the walk interesting.
This stretch belongs to the Hyde Park Trails system, which currently includes about 34 miles of trails. It links FDR’s home and library, Val-Kill, Top Cottage, and Vanderbilt Mansion.
The original Hyde Park Trail was designated a Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail in 1992, and the entire Hyde Park Trails system received National Recreation Trail designation in 2006.
Park in the field on Thompson Lane, as officials suggest. Round trip, plan for about 3.7 miles of relatively easy hiking.
Address: Thompson Lane, Staatsburg, NY 12580.