Review Date
July 25, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Cycle Nomad ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
For more info on this trail check out HHMTB.org for local rides and riders.

Catch a ride with some locals and you'll really see how excellent Mt Beacon is.

Closest shop to the mountain is Beacon Cyles on Main St. in Beacon.

There is nothing else like this type of riding in the area.

Recommended Route:
Begin at the Blue Trailhead further South on 9D from Scenic Hudson lot and ride up the mountain instead of hiking.

Review Date
September 23, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: sirreal187 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is a sick place to ride all around. I have lived out west and have rode in Idaho and Oregon but yet have I come to find such a diverse ride as Mt. Beacon. The views are amazing as well I have been to every point and basically on every trail. I grew up on the mountain whether it was on a bike, quad, or 4X4 I was there every week. Great place to ride but beware I have seen a lot of people bite it hard on these trails....

Recommended Route:
There are so many! For new riders I would say shoot up the reservoir road off of pocket lane through the gate. For people with experience try to go up the face near the trolley tracks!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Miniwaska if you want to bring the family...

Review Date
August 31, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: physicsfrac ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
We just started exploring this place this year and it is amazing! I prefer the steep hike up the red trail. 30 minutes from the parking lot across from the deli to the casino ruins if you hike fast. Most other people have said they prefer to ride up the access road which begins at Pocket Road. Either way the descents are technical, challenging but never crazy, we ride hard tails and don't have to get off at any point, but I do feel at my limit about half of the time. The best part is the hike to downhill ride ratio. 1-2 miles of hiking gets you 4-5 miles of descending.
The end of the blue trail is fast, banked, flowing, and seems to go on forever!

Recommended Route:

My favorite loop so far, hike red trail ride and hike to the top of the fire tower (great views!!!). Descend beautiful smooth rock, take a right staying on red until a junction with Yellow (three yellow markers on tree but easy to miss, if you do miss it you get 3/4 mile of great downhill to a big junction, then just hike back up) from here turn right onto single track(Y), follow yellow until it joins blue, follow blue back to the road. About 1/4 mile from the end at a left hand turn followed by a short uphill it is better to fork right on the better looking trail even though it is not blue. The road back to the parking lot is easy and fast. Get a copy of East Hudson Trails Map 102 NY/NJ Trail conference.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Stewart is fun but not really in the same arena as Beacon

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Review Date
October 2, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: lostent311 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I went there for the first time today after work and it was AWESOME! I took the Incline Railway Trail and had the pleasure of carrying my bike up the 300 stairs at the base. It was a mile from the parking lot to the Railway Engine House. I walked about 90% of the way because the rocks were just too lose on the steep grade, but it was worth it. It was getting dark so I didn't get to bomb the trail like I wanted.

Make sure you are wearing a backpack with tools, tubes, plenty of water, and a camera. The views at the top are amazing!

Make sure your bike is fully tuned, all bolts are tightened down, and your brakes are adjusted for maximum stopping power. You could seriously be putting your life a risk on these trails if you don't. The trail I rode was a steep single-track with three hair-pin turns towards the bottom half and lots of technical at the top. You can easily go off the edge of the trail and down the side of the mountain if you're not careful. This is not for first-timers and beginners.

I didn't get to investigate the mountain's full potential, but definitely will soon. I'm in love with the place already.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
The Stewart Buffer in Newburgh, which is only 15 minutes away from Mt. Beacon. It's 6,500 acres of technical single-track trails. You need to ride on the paved access roads to access the trails. You will see entry points all over the place. The options are infinite here and you could easily get lost in the woods.

Review Date
September 30, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: saucymonkey ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Now this is what MOUNTAIN biking is all about to me. I just moved to the area and was starting to think that all there was around here were rocky rolling trails that neither go up or down (sprain ridge, blue mt.) but here if your willing to do some work you will be rewared with some serious white knuckle, tears streaming out the sides of your eyes, smoking disc downhill! The potential here is enormous and it makes my head spin to think how untapped it is given the population density of this area. I saw lots of hikers but no other bikers. I'll admit I did alot of hike-a-bike today but I've just riden here once and I am dertermined to find a good loop where I can pedal to the top and bomb back down. If any one is very familiar with these trails please contact me.