4. Up Mt. Taurus and Down through the Cornish Estate Hike –

Pablo (drummer of Gyre) chillin’ by the ruins of the Cornish Estate

This hike is awesome because of all the history you can physically experience through the hike.  The hike begins on the white Washburn trail that is just north of Cold Spring directly across from Little Stony Point.  The first section of the hike has you skirting the cusp of an old abandoned quarry where they used to blast out rock and ship it down to the city to build the Brooklyn Bridge.  After about a mile of ascent you hit the yellow Under cliff Trail which provides you with spectacular views of the Hudson River, the Town of Cold Spring and Storm King Mountain across the River.  Take an easy descent down the yellow trail and turn left on red Brook Trail after about 1.5 miles on the Under cliff Trail.  Soon after veer off to the left onto the blue Cornish Trail that takes you past all the old Cornish Estate houses and buildings.  This old estate gives you a good perspective on how temporary the social human world really is compared to nature and time.  The Cornish trail will circle you back to the beginning of the hike.