Undercliff/Cornish Trail Loop from Cold Spring station

Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve

Undercliff/Brook/Cornish Trail Loop from Cold Spring Station - Photo: Daniel Chazin Undercliff/Brook/Cornish Trail Loop from Cold Spring Station - Photo: Daniel Chazin Undercliff/Brook/Cornish Trail Loop from Cold Spring Station - Photo: Daniel Chazin Undercliff/Brook/Cornish Trail Loop from Cold Spring Station - Photo: Daniel Chazin Undercliff/Brook/Cornish Trail Loop from Cold Spring Station - Photo: Daniel Chazin Undercliff/Brook/Cornish Trail Loop from Cold Spring Station - Photo: Daniel Chazin

This loop hike climbs to several outstanding viewpoints over the Hudson River, Cold Spring and Storm King Mountain.

41.414781, -73.957944

If you parked in the station parking lot, cross the tracks on the pedestrian footbridge. (If you took the train from Grand Central, you will have arrived on the northbound platform, and there is no need to cross the tracks.)

From the south end of the northbound platform, follow a wide path that heads south and then east, entering the Foundry Cove Historic Site. This path follows the...

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Trip Reports

rate experience
May 03, 2017
5
Great hike, but author didnt mention a few things
I did this hike today. I was surprised that right around the corner from the station was a small parking lot (maybe 6 cars at most) that didn't appear to charge any fees. It is at the end of kemble avenue and the hike can be picked up from that lot. I wish the author mentioned this in the description, I could have saved a few dollars. The directions were on point, though. It is also worth mentioning tha for those looking to that this hike can be done in a different way. It can be done in a loop by starting at little stony point. Take the white into the yellow into the red and blue on return. It can even be done in an out and back if you just want to hit the two viewpoints on the yellow. Doing it through these alternative methods does cut out views to the east over nelsonville, though. For a map of the area, follow this link for a pdf https://parks.ny.gov/parks/attachments/HudsonHighlandsTrailMapNorth.pdf
bromli
December 30, 2015
0
First time hiker - this was great!
<p>I had left NYC for a couple days to relieve myself from the stress of daily life in the city. &nbsp;Many people recommended Cold Spring. &nbsp;I wanted to hike, or spend time in the forests, near water, and this seemed ideal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I didn't plan anything ahead of time and was staying at a hotel in Highland Falls, about a 20 min drive from Cold Spring. &nbsp;On the 2nd day, I decided it was time to hike. &nbsp;I spent about 30 minutes searching online and all I could find were hikes in Breakneck Mountain. &nbsp;It seemed beyond my capabilities. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I found this and decided it sounded perfect. &nbsp;A 4 hour hike with the Cornish estate towards the end as a payoff was the adventure that fit my vision for the day. I texted the directions here to myself and was prepared not to have a cell connection. &nbsp;I did have GPS capabilities on my phone.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I did not know about trail markers when I began my hike. &nbsp;It was when I walked 30 minutes past where I was to have turned that I found a post with a map of the trails, along with the indication of colored markers. &nbsp;Aha! &nbsp;It was then that it turned into a game of finding the next marker. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>About 2 hours into the hike, I reached the first outlook. &nbsp;It was amazing. &nbsp;<img src="/sites/default/files/u25690/DSC_0122.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="225"></p> <p>It was as described, strenuous.</p> <p>There were 2 other views, before the descent. &nbsp;Here's one of the Hudson with Cold Spring on the bottom left.</p> <p><img src="/sites/default/files/u25690/DSC_0134.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="225"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After that, I came upon the bridge, which is where you turn to head towards the Cornish Trail (look for a red arrow. &nbsp;Do not cross the bridge.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="/sites/default/files/u25690/DSC_0137.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="225"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Then later, you find the cistern (screen grab from video)</p> <p><img src="/sites/default/files/u25690/Screenshot%202015-08-28%20at%202.17.22%20AM.png" alt="" width="400" height="225"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And for me, the payoff was Cornish Estate</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img src="/sites/default/files/u25690/DSC_0155.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="225"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As you walk back, don't forget to stop and check out the geese and the passing trains just near a pavilion on Fair Street. The trains will pass by often (I waited 10 minutes at most for a train after missing a photo opportunity on the first).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img src="/sites/default/files/u25690/DSC_0178.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="225"></p>
gnettle
August 11, 2014
0
Did this hike yesterday 8/10/14
<p>Beautiful day to hike. Beginning of hike was a bit confusing, Nelsonville Park has lots of turns and rogue(unmarked) &nbsp;paths, so some doubling back was necessary. &nbsp;After the start the path became much better marked with newish looking trail makers.</p>
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