I was lucky enough to visit Mount Beacon’s beautiful peak,  located close to Beacon’s thriving downtown center in Fishkill, New York. My friend Sam was nice enough to drive a car-full of us there, which is definitely the most convenient way to visit the site as it is quite far from the nearest train station or bus stop. The mountain is close enough to New York City that it is a popular outdoor tourist destination, but more people from the area would likely visit if Metro North stops were closer. With a car, the trail is accessible and completely worth the sweat and heavy breathing!

View from atop the mountain

After some GPS confusion, we climbed straight up the steep trail on an insanely beautiful, crisp, fall day. My friends decided to wear poor hiking shoes, so we had lots of opportunities to stop and appreciate the beautiful valley panoramas. The leaves were just beginning to turn and the sky was clear.  Since it was Sunday, there were dozens of other hikers on the trail, many of whom were friendly and brought great dogs! Like my friend group, most visitors were white and appeared to be at least middle class, but since access to Mt. Beacon is free it is accessible to anyone. People of all age ranges were there but there were a noticeably large number college students and their parents.

Afterwards, we got gas and bought sandwiches from a local sandwich shop as I am sure many other hikers do as well. Though Mount Beacon itself does not generate profits for the region, its mere presence attracts visitors who may or may not spend money. Climbing the mountain would make a great day trip in combination with a visit to the shops of downtown beacon or possibly the Dia museum. It is surely an important and lovely asset to the area.

The lovely trail

Mount Beacon is a textbook example of the good that can come when locals value preservation of open space as well as outdoor recreation. With its ample trees and breathtaking views, Beacon draws in copious visitors looking to relax and enjoy the beauty that the Hudson Valley has to offer. It also shows the bourgeois history of the region; the mountain formerly had gondolas which brought in tourists to gamble at a now abandoned casino atop the mountain. The landmark invokes a sense of place that is unique and valuable. I highly recommend a visit to Mount Beacon whenever the chance arises.

Perhaps a little loopy from lack of oxygen