South Beacon and Sugarloaf Mountains Loop via the Breakneck Ridge and Wilkinson Trails

This route takes you all the way from the southwestern trailhead of the Breakneck Ridge Trail to the northeastern terminus of this trail at the Casino Trail. Along the way you have the challenging initial mile, with much rock-scrambling, but also incredible views, then more moderate ups and downs before some more rock-scrambling just before you get to the fire tower on South Beacon Mtn, which has a fantastic, panoramic view, ranging from south to NYC to north to the Catskill Mtns. The return trip follows a bit of the Casino Trail, then the Wilkinson Trail, including the fine viewpoints on Sugarloaf. You start at the southwestern trailhead of the Breakneck Ridge Trail (white) and proceed to rock-scramble for about a mile (with excellent views along the way to give you an excuse for a break!), after which the trail levels out, with more gentle ups and downs for a while. At about the 3.2 mile point, you begin a major descent, after which the Breakneck Ridge Trail crosses Squirrel Hollow Brook before turning right to join the Wilkinson Trail (yellow). After about 100 yards, the Breakneck Ridge Trail turns left to begin a steep climb which again entails some rock scrambling, finally arriving at the Beacon fire tower, with its incredible, panoramic view. You then descend to the Casino Trail (red) on the old route of the Breakneck Ridge Trail. Turn right and follow the Casino Trail over mostly flat terrain for about 1/3 mile to the intersection with the Wilkinson Trail (yellow), onto which you turn right to begin a moderate descent. At 6.2 miles, at the point where the Breakneck Trail turns left, stay right on the Wilkinson Trail, continuing your descent. At 6.7 miles, turn sharply left onto the combined Wilkinson Trail and Notch Trail (blue), crossing Squirrel Hollow Brook again, to begin another ascent for about a mile. At the point where the Wilkinson and Notch Trails split, turn right to stay on the Wilkinson Trail. For the next 1.5 miles, there is a (sometimes steep) descent, along the way crossing Cascade Brook, which the trail parallels for a while, after which it crosses a relatively flat (sometimes swampy) area before beginning the ascent of the east side of Sugarloaf. There are fine viewpoints to the west and north once you reach the summit of this mountain. The descent of the southern side of Sugarloaf traverses a steep slope with a bit more rock-scrambling. After crossing an unnamed brook, the slope becomes more moderate as you continue on the Wilkinson Trail until it ends at NY Route 9D.