Summary
According to the Scenic Hudson website: “The trek up Mount Beacon is strenuous, although switchbacks along the trail furnish occasional breathers. The hike begins on a staircase following the course of the Beacon Incline Railway, in the early 20th century the world's steepest funicular and one of the Hudson Valley's prime tourist attractions. Observation platforms atop the stairs preview the treat awaiting those who reach the summit — sublime vistas stretching from the Hudson Highlands to the Catskills.
After a rest, you can explore the ruins of the incline railway's powerhouse or follow a short trail leading to a monument commemorating a signal fire built atop the mountain during the Revolutionary War. It was one of many beacons, spanning from the Highlands into New Jersey, intended to warn of British troop movements. (This one gave the mountain and city their names.) The adventurous can hike to Scenic Hudson's adjacent Fishkill Ridge, whose rugged trails afford long-range glimpses of the Highlands and even Manhattan's skyline. And a mile from the summit is the newly restored Mount Beacon fire tower, where on a clear day you can see from the Big Apple to Albany.”