Beacon Overlook

"Challenging trail, make sure to bring good hiking shoes and water. This is a practically vertical hike on slippery dirt and rocks. Come prepared and you'll be rewarded with an amazing view of Beacon, Newburgh, the Hudson river, shawangunk ridge and Catskill Mountains."

"Came here in October & November of this year. Both times were on a Saturday but never too crowded. The path starts out with an inclined walk near the trailhead, followed by stairs and then a a very steep rocky path. The walk up to the Overlook is strenuous and definitely caused me to stop several times to catch my breath. I would not recommend for beginners but definitely can be done if you're in good shape. The view at the Overlook is pretty and on a clear day you can see for miles. If you have any energy left I recommend you continuing the walk to the Fire Tower. This path is no where as tough as the first climb but it'll take you about an extra 20 mins to get to the tower. The view at the tower is amazing and you'll probably have to wait a while to climb it because of the crowd. It's extremely windy up there and you may feel the tower moving. Yes, I chickened out and didn't make it to the top. There are many restaurants nearby in Beacon that you can walk in as you are and recharge. Definitely will be coming back to this area."

"Parking lot for the hiking trail leading up to the Beacon Overlook is at 788 Wolcott Avenue. The parking lot itself gets full by late morning during the summer and fall months. Best to get there before 10am. I got there at 11am on a nice fall Sunday and it was full, but luckily I was able to get a curbside spot right near the lot. The lot and curbside parking were both free. There are two port a potties in the lot, but as of 11 am on a Sunday, they were both pretty filthy. The hike to the Beacon Overlook was a lot more challenging as I expected...I wish I would have came a bit more prepared. More comfortable (hiking, if possible) shoes and definitely a water bottle. (I had a backpack of camera gear, but puma sneakers and no water) It took me about 45 minutes to get to the Overlook, which involved a large staircase earlier on, followed by lots of inclined and rocky paths to the top. I would be cautious taking older individuals or young children...though it really does depend on the person. The Overlook as epected offers some amazing views of the Hudson River and Hudson Valley area. During the fall when the leaves change colors, the views are particularly amazing. From there, you can proceed onto other areas further in the hike, such as the fire tower. The overlook was enough for me and I decided to return to the parking area. Though the descension is easier on the legs, you still have to be very careful as the rocks underneath can slide, taking you along with them. Also, if your legs are tired from the climb up...they can be a bit wobbly on the way back down, giving you a false sense of foot placement. Remember to follow the hiking path markers. (Red) Lucikly, google maps worked very well throughout my hike...so that can come in handy if you lose your way. Be safe, come prepared and enjoy!"

"Really enjoyed this challenging hike! Took about an hour up and about 20 mins down. Trail was well marked. I’m a pretty active person, but this was a very steep hike. Nice views once you’re at the top."

"One of my favorite hikes, but not for the unprepared! Wear spikes on boots in the winter. Poles are great to protect your knees - especially on the way down. You can see the Manhattan skyline on a clear day. Definitely worth the effort to get to the fire tower."