What to expect in the coming months and beyond
Construction of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail (HHFT) is slowly moving toward Beacon, bringing the long-discussed 7.5-mile trail one step closer to connecting the city with Cold Spring along the Hudson River.
The project—designed to improve pedestrian safety while creating a world-class recreational corridor through the Highlands—has inspired years of public debate. This month, the HHFT continues its community engagement effort here in the city as the work progresses north.
A 2024 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of HHFT—with 400 Cold Spring, Philipstown, Beacon, and Fishkill residents, plus 400 residents from additional Hudson Valley communities participating— indicated strong support for the project. Ultimately, an overwhelming 87% of residents in the project areas of Cold Spring. Philipstown, Beacon, and Fishkill supported it.
Find The Fjord Trail team at the Juneteenth Festival
The current round of community engagement starts with Beacon’s Juneteenth Festival on Friday, June 19th when locals will have the chance to chat with HHFT team members and find out more about the latest developments for the Fjord Trail North.
This is the perfect opportunity for community members with questions to get first-hand feedback and answers to questions from those in the know on hot button topics. Want to learn more about HHFT’s visitation management goals? And how the six entry points along the continuous 7.5-mile Main Trail will adequately disperse visitors? Then mark your calendar for June 19th. HHFT will be announcing more community engagement opportunities soon.
The Latest Updates On Fjord Trail North
The Fjord Trail North construction began in March 2026 on the Wade’s Hill parking lot and the connector trail to Wilkinson Memorial Trail which is north of Breakneck Ridge and accessible by Route 9D.
The Nimham Extension will connect the new parking lot to the Wilkinson Memorial and Nimham trails to the south, creating additional access to the Breakneck and Bull Hill system of trails.
We recently caught up with HHFT spokesperson Lori Moss. She explained that the goal is to complete the Wade’s Hill parking lot as soon as possible so hikers can use the Nimham Extension Trail to get to Breakneck directly. “This will be particularly helpful while construction on the Breakneck Connector is still happening,” Moss explained.
The target completion date for this parking lot is fall 2026.
Salvaging Native Trees & Plants
While clearing the construction area, native trees, shrubs, and ferns with a strong chance of survival have been identified, salvaged, and placed in a nursery cared for by the HHFT Park Natural Resource team until the lot is completed. They will be replanted when the time is right.
Concurrent Projects Underway
The Breakneck Connector construction is also progressing while work on the Wade’s Hill parking lot continues. And work will begin on the Dutchess Manor Visitor Center once the Fishkill Planning Board approves site plans for it.
The Breakneck Connector and the Dutchess Manor Visitor Center are both slated to open in mid-2027.
The historic Dutchess Manor—at the midpoint of the trail’s route—will serve as HHFT’s headquarters. Dutchess Manor will be an “orienting hub” for visitors that helps draw them north of more heavily trafficked areas.
A New Improved Metro North Train Station At Breakneck Ridge
Scheduled to re-open in 2027, the completely renovated Breakneck Ridge Metro North train station will significantly help to prevent additional congestion. Moss says, “Visitors who are planning to hike Breakneck can go directly to their destination by train rather than disembarking at Cold Spring or Beacon.”
Fjord Trail North Ends At Beacon
The trail enters two zones—the Marsh Zone and the Forest Zone—once it passes the Dutchess Manor heading north toward Beacon. The Fjord Trail will ultimately connect to Beacon’s existing parks and trails, specifically Dennings Point and Madam Brett Park. Long Dock Park will serve as the northern terminus. At this point, there’s no definitive end date for this part of project.
And while there’s more details to come, the beautiful renderings of the Marsh and Forest Zones illustrate the promise of idyllic, family-friendly trail experiences that we—and future generations—can enjoy.
Addressing Invasive Species In The Forest And Marsh Zones
The thriving industries of the 19th and mid-20th century may have been economically good for the communities here, but they weren’t so great for the environment. These, plus the construction of what is now Metro North Railroad’s Hudson Line, rail spurs that once served mills along the creek, and clay extraction for brickmaking, left the marsh and forest areas highly modified from their natural state.
Invasive species have thrived in the decades since then as a result. Moss explains, “The Fjord Trail project seeks to revitalize the landscape there, and we’re studying the areas along the trail to determine opportunities for ecological restoration.”
“The Fjord Trail project seeks to revitalize the landscape there, and we’re studying the areas along the trail to determine opportunities for ecological restoration.” Lori Moss, HHFT
At Breakneck Ridge, HHFT has already committed to the removal of invasive vegetation and the replanting of native plants including more than 2,000 shrubs, 430 trees, and thousands of pollinator friendly plants.
What You Need To Know About Parking
With three Metro North train stations along the 7.5-mile trail, visitors will easily be able to enjoy a day in the Hudson Highlands without even stepping foot in a car. But we are still a vehicle-oriented culture, so there are valid parking concerns HHFT have been asked to address.
When we asked whether there will be sufficient parking to accommodate trail visitors, Moss replied, “We realize, of course, that there will still be visitors who are coming to the Fjord Trail by car. The Breakneck Connector construction includes the reconfiguration of available parking in the Breakneck corridor on Route 9D. From the potential of nearly 200 cars haphazardly parking there on a peak weekend, there will instead be approximately 100 designated spots. Plus, there will be the addition of enhanced crosswalks.”
The new Fjord Trail shuttle service will also allow hikers and visitors to travel between any of the six entry trail points without using their own vehicles. With all these considerations, HHFT believes parking congestion in Beacon, as well as Cold Spring, is not expected to increase.
Completion of the Fjord Trail is currently estimated for the early 2030s. In the meantime, those looking to get more involved in HHFT’s work can volunteer to be “eco-stewards.” Ward Four council member, Carolyn Bennett Glauda recently shared news of their upcoming summer volunteer days at this week’s Beacon City Council meeting, with a focus on seed collection and propagation, plant identification, and vegetation monitoring.
Benefits To Community Quality of Life
Research increasingly shows that trails and access to nature are more than just recreational amenities. They are essential quality-of-life infrastructure for local communities and are linked to better mental and physical health and more resilient local economies.
According to the Washington Post, experts say spending just an hour or two a week in nature can help people feel less isolated. Meanwhile, a 2023 paper showed that increasing connections to nature improves well-being through the sense of awe that comes when experiencing the beauty of nature.
Despite some well-documented legal bumps in the road, all signs point to the Fjord Trail making the natural beauty that surrounds us more accessible to locals, as well as visitors.
The Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail Proposal
And there’s more: the City of Beacon’s aspiration to convert the Beacon-Hopewell rail spur into a 3.3-mile rail trail would connect the waterfront and Main Street to the 700-mile Empire State Trail system—a serious investment in our entire community’s well-being.
Watch this space for more news to come on both projects.
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Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡