Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus) II: Full Loop

Scenery:
Difficulty: 9 out of 10 (long, steep haul over a big fat mountain)
Highlights: abandoned quarry, loopishness, ruins, steep climbs, sweeping views
Distance: 5.9 miles, Loop
Approximate roundtrip time: 4.5 Hours
Total ascent: 1,522 ft
Max elevation: 1,421 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You’re looking for a hard climb with several great views along the way. Also, you want to visit some ruins that will make you feel better about all the home improvement projects you’ve been putting off.

Lion’s Head

Scenery:
Difficulty: 5 out of 10 (short climb, steep in spots)
Highlights: no actual lions, rocky outcropping, sweeping views
Distance: 2.1 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 1.5 Hours
Total ascent: 541 ft
Max elevation: 670 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to take a short hike to an awesome view. Who doesn’t want to do that?

Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus)

Scenery:
Difficulty: 7 out of 10 (steep climb)
Highlights: abandoned quarry, steep climbs, sweeping views
Distance: 3.6 miles, Up-and-Back
Approximate roundtrip time: 3 Hours
Total ascent: 1,350 ft
Max elevation: 1,276 ft above sea level
This hike is for you if: You want to climb a mountain (don’t let the “Hill” part of the name fool you – this is a mountain) to see some of the best views in the Hudson Valley.