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New York City, NY: South Beacon Mountain

Solitude. Fresh air. Big views. It all unfolds on this vigorous 5-miler along a lively mountain stream to the highest point in Hudson Highlands State Park.

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INFO: Hudson Highlands, (845) 225-7207; nysparks.com/parks/9/details.aspx

-Mapped by Ed Wheeler

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 8.1

Waypoints

SBM001

Location: 41.469615, -73.975496

Hike southeast from the trailhead.

SBM002

Location: 41.469212, -73.974876

L @ T onto blue-blazed Notch Trail, heading E

SBM003

Location: 41.47113, -73.972389

Stay L @ Y; traverse ridgeline

SBM004

Location: 41.473869, -73.967857

Go R @ unmarked trail

SBM005

Location: 41.473728, -73.965874

R onto unnamed black-blazed trail on N shore of Melzingah Reservoir

SBM006

Location: 41.472809, -73.964569

L onto fire road, stay above Squirrel Hollow Brook

SBM007

Location: 41.472622, -73.96112

L to unnamed red-blazed trail; cross brook into isolated woods–home to hawks, deer, foxes, and the eastern timber rattlesnake, a NY endangered species

SBM008

Location: 41.473763, -73.959424

L onto forest road then R, heading NNE above brook

SBM009

Location: 41.475194, -73.958437

R onto fire road; continue ascent

SBM010

Location: 41.476062, -73.955004

R onto Blue Trail for .1 mi., then L onto yellow-blazed Wilkinson Memorial Trail

SBM011

Location: 41.475708, -73.949447

L @ T

SBM012

Location: 41.476126, -73.947794

L on white-blazed Breakneck Ridge Trail; gear down for 600-foot ascent; over-the-shoulder views of Hudson River

SBM013

Location: 41.481499, -73.944641

South Beacon Mtn.; summit draped in scrub oak, mountain laurel. NYC skyline in distance; retrace steps to car

South Beacon North

Location: 41.481512, -73.944554

The meandering Hudson River. ©Ed Wheeler

South Beacon West

Location: 41.481488, -73.944538

Long views over the Hudson. ©Ed Wheeler

South Beacon South

Location: 41.481454, -73.944549

The view south unveils the rolling Hudson highlands. ©Ed Wheeler

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