Beacon Mountain, locally Mount Beacon, is the highest peak of the Hudson Highlands, located behind the City of Beacon, New York, in the Town of Fishkill. After a few minutes we noticed there are no trail blazes so we turned back, and saw the sliver of the blaze we missed and continued on. Also, I love your idea of payment by taking out a piece of garbage! So good. … It was established in 1851 as the initial point of the Mount Diablo Base Line and Meridian for land surveys … The beacon is located in Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County. Thanks again love your guides! That’s good to hear. Beautiful place but crowded on the weekends. It wasn’t over the winter, but I figure that might’ve just been because it was winter. Super easy to follow and we had an awesome hike this past weekend. 13 miles of walking.. yay! 21.  You’re still here?  You beast!  Okay, you asked for it. 24.  Just keep hoofing along, following the ample yellow blazes.  In less than ten minutes, more southerly views will open up to your right. It is worth noting that as soon as the two paths come back together, you have to take a HARD right (switchback) to stay on the red trail – if you take the left fork, it looks like the trail is straight ahead (except for the absence of blazes). Beacon a visit.  It’s one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Hudson Valley because it deserves to be. Does anyone know if Mount Beacon has reopened as of 7/2/2020? Beacon port-a-potty! Possible to run it ultra-style? And thanks for the thought on an update to make things clearer — I’ve updated Step 15 above accordingly. Watch the QSY Society's (see their FB page) Zoom meeting Thursday, 18 June, for info on participating in Field Day 2020! I really appreciate how thorough the info is and how everything is mapped out. However, public health remains our chief concern. Really appreciate the kind words, glad you had a great day out there! Check out the shops and eateries along Beacon’s vibrant Main Street and Dia:Beacon, a world-class museum featuring late-20th-century art housed in a former factory. I totally agree with Chris. It’s good karma to take the actual trail – they’re usually rerouted for a reason.  So, you know, whichever way you pick, hop on up to the tower!  See you there. Hello, I was thinking to try this hike on Tuesday 25th, it seems that the weather will be decent, in 50s, no rain. Luckily when I was there, we didn’t find any!! thank you in advance 🙂 we are going to complete this whole hike this sunday 7/29/2018. Has anyone ever hiked Mt. Beacon with friends this week. We skipped the fire tower so the hike was about 7.2 miles. Glad you enjoyed it – good luck if you tackle the whole loop next time! In comments above people mentioned that there might be snow there, very windy and also leaves on the ground (falls, slips worry me), I am in my 30s and in good shape, but wouldn’t want to do the hike now if in the spring it would be more enjoyable and less risky. That’s great to hear! I have done a few of your hikes now, & your jovial tone and detailed instructions are Botha pleasure & a tremendous help. I have never hiked one of your trails but from after reading a few of your guides, I cannot wait to do so! Lots of ice and snow so took some extra time to complete the loop but overall a great day. Did this hike (4.4 mile version) today, April 1, 2019. Yesterday… no snow, and barely any ice. Your email address will not be published. Great views. Yesterday, I was almost run over by a guy in full moto gear on his motocross bike as Casino ends and WMT begins. All credit to you for this excellent guide. I expect lots of mud, but do I need my spikes as well? Mt Beacon Calendar. However much of a hike you decide to tackle here, just be sure that you do pay Mt. I am a novice hiker, but I felt like an expert because of the information your site provides. But if you don’t want to walk, I don’t recall seeing any cabs at the station, but then again, I wasn’t looking for them. I hike all the time all over the east coast and I will be the first to tell you this is a tough loop. I very much look forward to deleting this warning someday.And also! I’m not sure if I’ve seen a better viewpoint, and I’ve been 10,000+ ft up in the swiss alps. Luckily, it put me out of the forest only a couple minutes walk from the parking lot, so for any other hikers that accidentally leave the red trail, you’ll probably be fine. You won’t regret that purchase, I promise. Highlights were the Fire Tower and the open rock faces on the yellow trail part of the larger loop. I just did the fire tower today, via the casino trail. The “casino” sign mentioned in step 15 *may* be down because of the winter weather – can’t say for sure though, since there was so much snow and ice, but we were looking for it and couldn’t find it. No description provided. I recommend only attempting this with waterproof hiking shoes/boots, ideally with micro-spikes attached or at least accessible in your pack. Really good and easy-to-follow directions. Can I ride out to the trailhead, or am I better off locking up my bike somewhere in Beacon? Much appreciated! The cab driver was awesome and let us in the van with our dog! Thanks so much for your very helpful reply, Mike! Thank you for sharing these! Thanks! Awesome descriptions. I am looking forward to doing it today!! After the tractor we made the mistake of going right on the white trail. Teresa — Sorry to hear it! Beacon to this site’s Facebook page. After about 10 min, I noticed I hadn’t seen a white marker, and I actually went off on another unmarked trail off the main unmarked I was currently on. Without your trail guide I probably wouldn’t have ventured out into the wilderness by myself… I will try another one soon before the winter cold completely freezes my motivation to remove myself from my snuggly nyc apartment…. Maybe it’s meant as a habitat for woodland creatures, like when they make an artificial reef by sinking a ship.  As far as local landmarks go, Discarded Woodland SUV pales in comparison to Dozer Junction, right? 26 reviews of Mt. I’ve only ever walked it, but if you know any people who are crazy enough to run up and down mountains, then I don’t see why this one would present any unusual difficulties. Supposed to top out at 65 tomorrow and I am itching to bang out a long hike. I would not have even known about it if it weren’t for you. Check this link for up-to-the-minute information on the Mt. Mt. This trail guide was awesome! **UPDATE** In the forum, EdC tells us that he reported the blazing issues along the Blue Trail, and that the always-awesome New York-New Jersey Trail promptly came out and improved it.  Sweet, and thank you both! It’s snowing here right now .Are running shoes sufficient ? The ascent to the first overlook was the hardest part— once you get to the first viewpoint (casino remains), the hike to the fire tower is not that bad. Fergal, my sincere apologies. Background you can feel free to skip:  When my old hiking group used to climb Mt. I am not sure what kind of bike lock you have, but hopefully you have something that will work. However, the Eco Lodges and Cottages are open all year round. I hope to return and show some friends next time! The photos are a great help. Mount Beacon Park, located in the City of Beacon and Town of Fishkill, was created by Scenic Hudson. 13.  When you can peel your eyes away from the view, take a look at the hills behind you.  There are some communications towers looming over the trees, marking North Beacon Mountain.  And there, off to the right, up on the hilltop (South Beacon Mountain), see that teeny-tiny tower?  If you’re going to the fire tower, that’s where you’re headed, one mile (one-way) and 500 vertical feet from here.  Up for it? Once we rejoined red trail at the end the afternoon crowd had joined in and the parking lot was full. Cuomo’s recent demand for New Yorkers to “act responsibly,” we strongly urge park visitors to wear masks at all times, while striving to maintain 6-foot social distancing guidelines. Even worse, the lesser traveled paths up to South Beacon have new graffiti. Sorry to hear about the problem uploading pics, too — not sure what the issue is, but you’re not the first to run into it. Hello. (Right after you turn, you may notice the nail that once tacked a very helpful yellow blaze to that tree on the right-hand side of the intersection.). There aren’t any rock scrambles or extremely difficult spots anywhere on this hike (though it is generally quite steep) to keep you from going as far as you’d like. We followed the white trail up to the tower and had a bit of difficulty – to me it was not very well marked once you were on the trail. Beacon Fire ~Tower Hike and reservoir hike~ "WORK UP YOUR APPETITE HIKE" Thanksgiving Morning We had a big turn out for my first hosting opportunity for HVH … And, as the only person there, I enjoyed these views so much more than the first ones. The list of hikes I wouldn’t recommend while carrying a kid is probably easier – Breakneck, Bonticou, Lemon Squeeze & Labyrinth, Indian Head & Twin Mountain, Surprise Lake I and II. If you show up early, you’ll have less company out there, and you won’t have to hurry to get around the whole loop before dark. Thank you so much for giving such great instructions with photos and landmarks. You’ll then walk past what can be a very nice cascading stream, perhaps worthy of being called a waterfall.  We visited in late summer, though, so it was more of an enthusiastic drip when we were here. Except for the fact that it is a mountain, I mean. Mount Beacon is beautiful but this hike is quite the challenge. We were happy to be wearing microspikes, as were most of the other hikers we met along the way. I’m planning to do the hike this weekend! 9.  From the unmarked (except by EVOL) fork, it took us about 15 minutes to reach the upper ruins of the Mt. On my way down I managed to get lost somewhere near the bottom (since it was night time), ending up on what might have been a service road. As for the photos, I just snap them as I stroll along. One question: do you happen to know if there’s anywhere to lock up a bike near the trailhead? To me, though, it’d be a shame to be this close to the Mt. Anyway, I’ve been eyeing this trail for the longest time since I’ve done Breakneck and Cornish trails already. A beacon of remembrance - the beacon atop Mount Diablo - will be lit Monday, Dec. 7, honoring those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor 89 years ago. Fortunately, Scenic Hudson and the Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society have made that old route obsolete, and you can now traverse a very well-maintained trail system all around Mt. Thanks again, Mike, and keep up the good work! All of the trails are extremely well marked and I had no issue route finding what so ever. On a clear day, you can apparently see New York City from up there.  I wasn’t here on a clear day. Observation platforms atop the stairs preview the treat rewarding all who reach the summit: a panoramic vista stretching from the Hudson Highlands to the Catskill Mountains. And written in a way that’s not boring. You want real boots; snowy/slushy trails are not the place for running shoes. I’ll always put a “Cheapskate Alert” in the info at the top of the trail guide if there’s a fee associated with a given hike. Found an amazing restaurant in Beacon that allowed dogs and ate sooooo much 🙂. Are those connecting trails uphill like the uphill starting at the stairs? Beacon) entry on the HiketheHudsonValley.com Google map. First time we ever had to cab it back to out car. 4.  Just past the ruins, you’ll arrive at an impressive staircase.  If you were able to forget about the whole steepest-railway-in-the-world thing, the 200 or so metal steps here will probably remind you. Led is back up towards the tower (I think) brought us to the red, which eventually led us to an unmarked trail that came out on 9d just passed the disc golf & Clearwater. In sum, if you have the time and the athletic capability, you are doing yourself a disservice not to do the full hike, it is incredible! It was pretty much on point with your notes above. Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society, Once a Fast Track, Now a Real Hike to the Top, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference homepage, https://hikethehudsonvalley.com/hudson-valley-trail-closures-and-parking-restrictions-due-to-covid-19/, https://hikethehudsonvalley.com/hiking-tips/, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=556795917791457&set=o.230042960363651&type=1&theater, http://nynjtc.org/product/east-hudson-trails. 8.  About ten minutes after that unmarked fork, you might notice that things have taken a turn for the rockier.  And, somehow, for the steeper.  Just keep on chugging. Our … The trails were well marked and the view was great . Maggie – my wife and I just hiked Mt Beacon and the fire tower today. Btw, your trail breakdown is very helpful for lone hikers like me. Home CALENDAR. If you want my two cents, I’d say the casino overlook would be a great final destination, the tower could be a nice stretch goal if you’re feeling up to it, and anything beyond that would be overkill (though still technically doable, it would probably be too much for you and for junior). While there isn’t an official bike stand, there are plenty of places to chain a bike to (like trees in the parking lot). The one area that I got off the trail was at the Dozer Junction transitioning to the White Trail. Unless you’re the guy we saw on the trail- passed us on the way up, & came back down before we had reached the top. Wish my husband and I read this more as we hiked because we totally went the wrong way on the long loop. 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