A favorite hiking spot of mine is Mount Beacon, one of the highest peaks in the Hudson Highlands at 1,611 feet above sea level. There are two different levels to attempt with spectacular views on each. I access this hike by parking my vehicle at the Mount Beacon Parking Lot, located south of the village of Beacon (on the left hand side), on Route 9D. Once I climb the initial stair case, I am maneuvering through the twisty, rocky trails heading up a steep incline. Sturdy sneakers, plenty of water, and a snack are a must. Also, bringing a friend or two along is helpful for safety reasons or just to share this amazing journey with. It takes about one hour to reach the first level with the Casino Ruins and a beautiful view overlooking Beacon, Newburgh & parts the Hudson River. Although the view is amazing, I am disappointed to see graffiti all around & kept asking myself "Why would anyone want to deface such a wonderful view?" After staying there for a few minutes and breathing in the fresh mountain air; looking at the historical casino ruins; and taking in the overwhelmingly beautiful views- the site of the graffiti was overshadowed and I accepted the painted areas as part of my experience.
Peering up and to the left, sits the second level with the Fire Tower. Depending on the weather, and your ambition, I highly recommend you keep climbing! With a clear sky and a new burst of energy, I headed around the big boulder and followed the trail up to the very top. The trail narrows and becomes much more of a scramble. Keep an eye on the trail markers on the trees (RED). Eventually you will come to a tree with 3 WHITE trail markers shaped like an arrow pointing to the direction of the Fire Tower (on my right). My excitement to get to the top took over and I wanted to quicken my pace despite the more challenging trail; however, once I looked down and realized there is real danger here, I watched every step I took and placed my hands carefully down to pull myself up. This part is much more rugged. I finally reached the top peak and the panoramic view was totally worth it! Absolutely breathtaking!
I continued to climb the steps of the Fire Tower and took an enormous breath at the top and was in complete amazement at the wonderment of this view. I could see the winding Hudson River and majestic mountains for miles! There are no words to describe the beauty I was able to behold. GORGEOUS! TOTALLY worth the extra 30 minute hike from level one. It is definitely more windy and cooler at this level so a light weight jacket is recommended. Plan on spending some time at the top; you will definitely want to remember every second of it. The hike back down was challenging, requiring me to sit down and slide in some spots. I did encounter a small snake at the very top basking in the sun on a rock. FYI- the only other down fall besides the graffiti, is that there is only one port-a-potty available at the base of the mountain and was not well kept. All in all though, the hike is so worth your time. Plan about 3-4 hours to complete both levels and make sure the weather is clear.
If you are looking for a great workout and a fun way to spend it, climbing Mount Beacon is the way to go! read more