With Dyckman Hill and the Giant Stairs Closed, November in the Palisades Runs Through Alpine

Three park roads wind down the Palisades from Bergen County towns to the Hudson. The middle one, Dyckman Hill Road in Englewood Cliffs, has been closed to every kind of use since Hurricane Ida damaged it in 2021. At the north end, the Giant Stairs section of the Shore Trail near State Line Lookout has been closed since a rockfall and landslide on the morning of January 9, 2026. That leaves the Alpine end of the New Jersey Palisades doing most of the work this fall. Alpine Picnic Area, the Kearney House and State Line Lookout are carrying the season's events and open trails until Henry Hudson Drive closes to cars for the winter.

Here is the status of the park's main access points as of mid-October, based on the Palisades Interstate Park Commission's current advisory page:

The Middle of the Park Has Been Shut for Five Seasons

Dyckman Hill Road was first built in the 1920s as a scenic route down to the river. Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps crews added its dry-laid stone walls and trail connections in the 1930s. It sits near Exit 1 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and the state describes it as the central of the three entrances that lead down to river-level recreation areas serving more than 1 million visitors a year.

With the middle entrance closed, the river level can be reached by road only from the Edgewater entrance at the south end or the Alpine entrance at the north. Henry Hudson Drive runs about 8 miles between the two. It was built between 1912 and 1940, and it ends at Alpine Picnic Area.

On March 5, 2026, the commission posted an update saying it had "secured the funding necessary to move forward with repairs." It said work was "planned to begin next winter" and that construction was "not expected to affect the upcoming season." Written in March, "next winter" means the winter about to begin. The work is planned in two phases:

1. Stabilizing and repairing Dyckman Hill Road, which would reopen the Englewood Cliffs park entrance at PIP Exit 1.
2. A broader restoration of Henry Hudson Drive from Edgewater to Alpine, covering drainage, roadway rehabilitation and the eastern parapet walls.

The second phase ends at Alpine's own river entrance. The commission has not yet confirmed construction dates. It says it will share updates once they are set.

How the Repair Money Works

New Jersey's FY2027 capital plan, dated July 31, 2026, shows how the funding is set up. FEMA has approved a Public Assistance Project covering 90% of repair costs for both Dyckman Hill Road and Henry Hudson Drive. The commission's engineering consultant, Collier's Engineering, estimated that each road will cost about $25 million to bring back to a safe condition, and FEMA approved those estimates.

FEMA pays for construction as a reimbursement, so the money has to be spent before it comes back. The plan states that the commission "needs funding advanced by the State of New Jersey to allow the construction project to proceed." The commission's request lists $25.5 million in fiscal 2027 for the Dyckman Hill Road renovation, ranked as its top priority. It lists a separate $25.5 million for Henry Hudson Drive paving and drainage, ranked second. The plan's statewide recommendations table shows a dash on the commission's line.

For the Henry Hudson Drive phase, the plan describes rebuilding large sections of the retaining structures that hold the road against the cliffs and fully repaving the road. It also includes rebuilding the parapet safety wall along the downhill edge and replacing drainage structures so they can better handle storm runoff coming down the cliffs. The state puts the Drive's use at about half of the park's visitors, who treat it as a scenic drive and a place to hike and bike.

The next scheduled commission meeting is Monday, November 23, 2026, according to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission's meetings page.

The North End Lost Its Best-Known Scramble in January

The Giant Stairs is the boulder-field stretch of the Shore Trail below State Line Lookout. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference reported that the whole section was considered unsafe after the January 9 slide because more rock could fall. The park's advisory still lists it as closed to all use from Peanut Leap Cascade to Forest View.

On June 4, 2026, the commission issued a public statement on its assessment. It said it was working with geologists and rockfall mitigation specialists on field investigations and hazard assessments. It added:

"The Giant Stairs is one of the most beloved trails within the Palisades Interstate Park. While PIPC recognizes the importance of restoring public access as quickly as possible, public safety remains the primary consideration guiding all plans for reopening the trail."

The statement gives no reopening date. The commission says more updates will come as the assessment moves forward.

What the Alpine End Still Offers

The summit and the riverfront at Alpine's end of the park are both fully open, and each has routes that avoid the closed sections.

State Line Lookout sits at the highest point of the Palisades cliffs, about half a mile south of the New York line. Point Lookout, one of its three overlooks, is 520 feet above sea level. Walkers and cyclists can reach it on Old Route 9W, a 1.5-mile stretch of concrete highway that is closed to traffic. The park's Women's Federation Monument Hike starts there. It is about 2 miles round-trip, takes about an hour and stays on the summit, with one short, steep climb. Parking at the Lookout is metered year-round. The State Line Cafe kitchen is open every day but closes at 4:30 p.m., and the park warns that staff shortages can cause delayed openings or unexpected closures.

Alpine Picnic Area, at the river end of Henry Hudson Drive, is the starting point for three of the park's mapped hikes:

• Cape Fly Away Loop, about 3 miles and 1.5 hours round-trip. It is a riverfront loop with some rocky stretches along the shore, and it can be cut roughly in half.
• Huyler's Landing History Hike, about 5 miles and 3.5 hours, built around the site's role in the American Revolution. A Bergen County Historical Society marker stands at the base of the trail.
• Bombay Hook Loop, about 7 miles and 5 hours, with a steep climb and views from both the river and the summit.

The park's page says metered parking at Alpine Picnic Area runs from April through October. Restrooms are open for the season at Alpine Pavilion, the stone pavilion at the north end of the picnic area. The Alpine Boat Basin next door is run by Alpine Marina, LLC under a lease with the commission. Park areas are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Alpine Calendar Through December

The park's late-season programs are clustered at the Alpine riverfront, around the Kearney House. It was a 19th-century homestead and dockside tavern and now runs as a living-history museum. On weekends it is open from 1 to 4 p.m.

1. "Tales of the Macabre" at Mrs. Kearney's Tavern, October 23, 24, 30 and 31, 8 to 10 p.m. These are readings from Edgar Allan Poe, served with hot cider and donuts. Tickets are $13 in advance or $20 at the door if spaces remain, cash only.
2. Hallowe'en Hike, Sunday, November 1, Alpine Picnic Area. It is listed on the park's homepage.
3. "Punch & Pie" at Mrs. Kearney's Tavern, Saturday, November 7, 8 to 10:30 p.m. The evening includes music from Thaddeus MacGregor, fresh pies, punch and storytelling. Tickets are $22 in advance or $30 at the door if spaces remain, cash only.
4. Commission meeting, Monday, November 23. This is the commission's next scheduled meeting.
5. December. Henry Hudson Drive closes to cars from Dyckman Hill Road north to Alpine Approach Road for the cold season.

The park says the tavern programs "fill quickly," and reservations go through the Mrs. Kearney's Tavern Eventbrite page.

The car closure runs from December through April. Under the park's seasonal schedule, the riverfront section that leads down to Alpine Picnic Area stays closed to motor vehicles until spring. If the Dyckman Hill work begins this winter as the March update planned, the first phase would start during the months when the Drive north of Dyckman Hill Road is already closed to cars. The park notes that signs and staff instructions on site take precedence over its online advisories.

For Alpine owners who would rather spend November on the Bombay Hook Loop than lining up winter vendors, Luxe Home Concierge handles seasonal prep, contractor scheduling and on-site quality checks, all tracked in the Luxe Home Vault. Schedule your Luxe consultation.