Home ⎟ Hikes & Wanderings ⎟ New York ⎟ Hudson Valley ⎟ Storm King

Distance: 3 mile loop

Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous

Elevation Gain: 750 feet

Dog Friendly: Yes.

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Driving Directions: Take the Palisades Parkway North to the Bear Mountain Bridge Traffic Circle.  Take the THIRD RIGHT out of the traffic circle onto Route 9W North for 8.6 miles, through Highland and past West Point, and various scenic vistas.  As you make a sharp turn to sharply LEFT on Route 9W North, watch for the trailhead parking area at the top of the curve (it arrives quite quickly) and veer RIGHT into the lot.  If you miss it, you’ll have to head downhill, make a u-turn in Cornwall, ascend and descend the hill and make another u-turn by West Point to ascend the hill once again – so keep your eyes peeled!

Hike Directions: From the Storm King Trailhead Parking Lot right off of Route 9W-North, find and follow the ORANGE-BLAZED Butter Hill Trail uphill past various rocky lookouts over the Hudson and west toward Schunnemunk.  0.39 miles beyond the parking area you’ll arrive at an intersection with the YELLOW BLAZED Stillman Trail.  Turn RIGHT and follow the YELLOW BLAZESa tenth of a mile to the top of Butter Hill. After taking in the 360 degree view from Butter Hill, continue on the YELLOW BLAZES for 0.75 miles to two magnificent rocky outcroppings over the Hudson, affording views north to Fishkill Ridge, Mount Beacon (and fire tower), the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge with Newburgh resting on the bridge’s left shoulder and Beacon on its RIGHT.  Bannerman Island and Dennings Point jut into the Hudson River and Sugarloaf Mountain and Breakneck Ridge arise in the foreground.  Continue beyond the summit views, a little over a tenth of a mile, to an intersection with the WHITE BLAZED Bypass Trail.  Turn RIGHT to follow the white blazes downhill for 0.35 miles to the BLUE-BLAZED Howell Trail.  Continue straight ahead on the blue blazes for a tenth of a mile, and then keep continuing straight onto an unmarked but clear woods road, departing from the blue trail which descends to your left.  Follow the unmarked trail for a little less than a half mile first descending and then ascending up to the parking area.

Scenery: 9/10