Washburn Trail (White)

Washburn Trail (White) is the marked ascent route up Bull Hill in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, starting near Little Stony Point (Route 9D) and climbing toward the summit area of Bull Hill (also known as Taurus). It’s the steepest push in the system and is characterized as a steady climb with rocky footing rather than technical scrambling.

The trail route you follow passes through the site of an old quarry on the Bull Hill side—now overgrown—where remnants like rusted pipes and cables are visible along parts of the line. A reroute completed with trail-improvement work includes stone steps and a viewing platform built above the quarry area.

Length on this marked route varies by where you start or turn around, with common one-way options in the ~1.4 to 2.3 mile range. For many hikers, the Washburn section is treated as the main “go up” segment, then combined with other Bull Hill loop trails for a longer circuit.

Expect big vertical gain on the Washburn climb: the overall route character is described as over 1,000 feet of ascent, with a gradual-to-steep progression that becomes more challenging as you near the upper open-rock area.

On the ascent, the quarry and overlook points provide multiple lookouts toward the Hudson River and nearby landmarks across the water. Near the upper portions, the route comes out onto open rocks with longer south/west views before reconnecting with the rest of the Bull Hill trail network.

Difficulty is best judged as moderate-to-strenuous for a long-distance hike segment: it’s steep with a rocky tread, and hikers are typically advised to use high-traction footwear; trekking poles are helpful on the harder descents when you’re looping back down via other linked trails.

More information: Map, Bull Hill Short Loop – Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, Bull Hill Full Loop, Cold Springs, NY, (Moderate/Strenuous)