Bull Hill Loop Hike
Bull Hill Loop is a moderate day hike north of the village of Cold Spring, located in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, in Putnam County, NY. It has beautiful summit views.
Basic Information About Bull Hill Loop Hike
Date of hike: August 5, 2019
Difficulty level: moderate
Distance: 5.4 miles round trip
Approximate hiking time: 3.5 hours
Elevation gain: 1,391 feet
Location: Hudson Highlands Sate Park Preserve, NY
Parking: Parking lot and parking on shoulder of highway
Our rating: 5 stars – great work-out, beautiful views
How Did Bull Hill Loop Get Its Name?
The summit, also known as Mount Taurus, derived its name from a bull that used to roam the mountain terrifying the natives who finally chased him off the cliff.
Our impressions of Bull Hill Loop Hike
We did not run in the morning. With aching feet, we headed out for our second hiking expedition. Gorgeous views and cute waterfront town to visit and relax in after.
We encountered our first cross country hikers, navigating the Appalachian Trail, all the way from Georgia to Canada. Most nights, they camp on the mountains while forwarding their belongings from once city to the next.
As beginner hikers, we took our time to ooh and aah at every gorgeous vista point on the trail yet to realize we must learn to speed up or be stuck on the hike in the dark.
Lesson one learned – get to the hike early to enjoy every view or be prepared to rush through them.
It started drizzling toward the last mile of our hike but it was warm summer rain and we were able to hear the cars driving along the highway, which meant we were close to the car. We were in peace with the inclement weather.
Lesson two learned – always carry ponchos in your knapsack.
