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Mount Beacon Park

Mountaintop views worth all the huffing and puffing.

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.

Note: There are two free electric vehicle charging stations here for park users.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The health and safety of park visitors remains one of our top priorities. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 endemic, all special events and group outings must be pre-approved. To coordinate one, please fill out this form and email Anthony Coneski.

Thanks for doing your part to protect yourself and others so we can continue to make Scenic Hudson parks and preserves available for all.

Activities

  • Bike rack
that allow Dog Walking on a Leash Hiking Wildlife Watching Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

“Share the Love” Community Scrapbook

We love when park visitors share their photos! EXPLORE what others have shared from Mount Beacon, and CLICK below to share your own!

Share Your Mount Beacon Photos (click here)

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.

Resources

Nearby Parks

Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead at Storm King Mountain
Fishkill Ridge
Fishkill Ridge
Foundry Dock Park
Foundry Dock Park
Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
Hudson Highlands Nature Center
Madam Brett Park
Madam Brett Park
Manitou Point Preserve
Manitou Point Preserve
Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park
Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park
West Point Foundry Preserve
West Point Foundry Preserve