Mount Beacon Park

Mountaintop views worth all the huffing and puffing.

Please read our latest COVID-19 update and comply with latest guidelines when visiting our parks.

BEACON, Dutchess County (15 acres) — Yes, the trail up Mount Beacon is steep, but switchbacks keep the workout manageable. The hike actually begins on a staircase following the course of the Beacon Incline Railway, once the world’s steepest funicular. 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. A mile away, climb 60 feet up the South Mount Beacon fire tower for a view that’s even more spectacular — on a clear day, you can see from Manhattan to Albany.

Free and open year-round, dawn to dusk.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The safety of our park visitors is our top priority. We continue to require that all group visits be limited to ten people or fewer and we require all visitors must wear masks and practice social distancing. In addition, if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or not feeling well in any way, please stay home.

Activities

Dog walking on leash
Hiking
Wildlife watching
X-country skiing & snowshoeing
Bike rack

Single Park Map
Get Directions

Featured content and resource list – click pencil to add content

More to explore

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. Learn more about the remarkable life of Catheryna “Madam” Brett, Beacon’s first European settler, by visiting her 1709 house.