Butter Hill

"Beautiful early-fall afternoon for a HUGE loop of Storm King and Butter Hill. Started at the Stowell Trailhead in Cornwall (on Bayview Ave right after Dock Hill). Nice walk up to the Highlands Trail with beautiful bridge/staircase built into the rock face. Trail becomes a very thin, very rocky ledge until curving around before the summit for some great viewpoints of the Hudson; Mt Taurus/Breakneck Ridge, and even Schunnemunk! I hit the summit, but then turned back around and followed the white-blazed trail down to the trailhead on route 9W. Quick snack and I’m back up the INSANELY CHALLENGING BUT GREAT Butter Hill trail (orange-blazed); essentially just a steep rock scramble back up to both summits! Back down via the Bluebird and Stowell/Highlands trails." — cmck23 • Oct 3, 2025

"A loop of North Point, Pitching Point, Storm King and Butter Hill from the Bobcat trail TH. After descending Butter Hill to the main PA I headed to the old woods road for a short descent then engaged in a crazy bushwhack as a short cut back to the Bobcat TH. Plenty of water hazards on the whole loop, in some cases the trail was an absolute stream, due to recent heavy rains." — Nimblefoot • Apr 8, 2022

"A quick loop of Butter Hill and Storm King from 9W before the predicted T-storms started to drop rain. Not knowing how fast and hard the rain may kick up I bailed on my main objective of mtn biking Black Rock Forest for a little workout." — Nimblefoot • Jul 8, 2021

"Fast and moderately steep rocky ascent up the west side of Butter Hill, then a nice walk along the ridge to the summit of Storm King Mountain. Beautiful day and beautiful views of the Hudson and surrounding mountains from all sides! Nice, easy descent through a less rocky forest path on the south east side of the mountain." — jessemdooley • Apr 20, 2021

"After visiting Sugarloaf Hill in Putnam Co., and enjoying the views down to the river, I headed over to the western side of the Hudson to visit Butter Hill and The Torne. Since there is a little bit of rock scrambling on the trail I left the poles in the car this time. Got some great views from the various rock ledges and the summit rock with three BMs. " — Nimblefoot • Oct 5, 2018

"Visiting Butter Hill for the month of August and Storm King mountain since it was right there in the neighborhood. Good day for views and not as hot and humid as it has been. Nice to see Rt 9W re-paved and the parking lot has been greatly improved with concrete parking spots off the paved access loop, no more stones, mud and pot holes. Took care of some blow downs on my way out Storm King." — Nimblefoot • Aug 21, 2018

"Finally a day that starts out cool and only goes up to the low 60's, more Fall-like, nice for a day of hiking. Bagging three peaks for my Hudson Valley grid, though later I realized I didn't need Butter Hill until next month. Oh well chalk it up for shits & giggles, still a nice scramble to a great view up and down the Hudson. Quite a few hikers out on a work day, I guess they are starting their weekend early.......cool!" — Nimblefoot • Sep 29, 2017

"Started my afternoon solo hike with a loop of Dunderberg and a Bald mountains in Bear Mountain state park. Next I tried to climb Bear mountain but the parking lot was full so plan B became a climb of Popolopen Torne from Mine road. Finished the day with a climb of Butter Hill. Temps were in the 50's, I was wearing a T-shirt and Shorts with the usual trail sneaks and it was December....woo hoo. " — Nimblefoot • Dec 27, 2015

"A quick romp up to Butter Hill and Storm King before flying out west. Too hazy to get views in the distance but down to the river was nice and clear. Enjoyed a chat with three ladies about Colorado on my way back then finished my morning with ripe blueberries and witnessing a praying mantis cruise the trail." — Nimblefoot • Jul 17, 2015