Mt. Beacon Fire Observation Tower

Hike up from Beacon past the old incline railway and climb the 60-foot fire tower on South Beacon Mountain for views from Manhattan to Albany.

South Beacon Mountain; trailhead at Mount Beacon Park, 788 Wolcott Ave, Beacon, NY 12508 · Beacon, NY

About Mt. Beacon Fire Observation Tower

This steel fire lookout tower went up in 1931 on the summit of South Beacon Mountain above the city of Beacon, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Most hikers start at Scenic Hudson's Mount Beacon Park on Wolcott Avenue, where a staircase follows the route of the old Beacon Incline Railway. Switchbacks lead to platforms with views over the Hudson Highlands toward the Catskills, and the tower stands about a mile farther on. Climbing its 60 feet of stairs opens a view that on a clear day runs from Manhattan to Albany. The trail is steep, so bring water and good shoes.

#fire tower
#hiking
#hudson valley
#mountain views
#historic site

What's around here?

The closest stops to Mt. Beacon Fire Observation Tower, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Museums
Rainy-Day Pick
Dia Beacon
$25–$50
Walk through a 1929 Nabisco box-printing plant filled with large installations by Warhol, Serra, Flavin and Heizer.
Transit: reachable by public transit
2.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums
Sightseeing
Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site
Under $25
Georgian-style 1754 Ellison house used as a Revolutionary War headquarters by Major General Henry Knox.
5.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Shopping
Poughkeepsie Galleria
Check prices
An enclosed shopping center in Poughkeepsie with stores, dining options, and a movie theater.
10 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping
Sports & Outdoors
Franny Reese State Park
No admission fee
A 251-acre Hudson Valley park with hiking and biking trails, ruins of a 19th-century mansion, and river views.
15 mi awayMore like this
Sports & Outdoors
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
No admission fee
A former railroad bridge over the Hudson River, now a long elevated pedestrian walkway linking Poughkeepsie and Highland.
16 mi awayMore like this
Sports & Outdoors
Local Gem
James Baird State Park
No admission fee
Play a Robert Trent Jones golf course, picnic under big trees and walk seven miles of wooded trails in a free Dutchess County park.
16 mi awayMore like this