BEACON HUDSON RIVER TRAIL:
DENNINGS POINT STATE PARK LOOP TRAIL:
FISHKILL CREEK GREENWAY:
BEACON, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: January 22, 2025
Length: Beacon Hudson River Trail; 1.8 miles
Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trails; 0.5 miles total
Dennings Point SP Loop Trail; 1.4 miles
Lower Fishkill Creek Greenway [Dave Miller Connector Trail]; 0.7 miles
Middle Fishkill Creek Greenway; 0.4 miles
Upper Fishkill Creek Greenway; 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Beacon Hudson River Trail; Easy. Flat, hard packed gravel, stone-dust and narrow paved trail with some short on-road sections.
Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trails; Easy. Stone-dust trails.
Dennings Point SP Loop Trail; Moderate. Relatively flat, hard packed dirt trail. Some sections contain tree roots. Mt. bike recommended.
Lower Fishkill Creek Greenway [ Dave Miller Connector Trail]; Easy. Slight hills along a paved & hard packed gravel trail.
Middle & Upper Fishkill Creek Greenway; Easy. Stone-dust trail.
Directions:
To Start from the Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park parking lot [Northern End]; From I-84 take exit 41 to Route 9D south and travel 0.7 miles. Turn right on Beekman St, then turn right, across a bridge over the RR tracks. Straight leads to the Scenic Hudson's Long Dock parking lot. Head right and the road north to the Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park parking lot.
To Start from the Dennings Ave parking lot [Central Section]; From I-84 take exit 41 to Route 9D south and travel 1.3 miles. Turn right on Hudson Ave, then bear right on Dennings Ave. Follow to the parking area next to the sewage treatment plant.
The town of Beacon has proposed a continues trail starting from the 2.1 mile Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Path (which crosses the Hudson River from Beacon West, to Newburgh) South, to the Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park and Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park, both located alongside the Hudson River. Beacon Train Station also located here. This 1 mile section has been referred to as the Beacon Hudson River Trail, as well as, the Newburgh-Beacon Regional Connector and would also be part of the regional HUDSON RIVER VALLEY GREENWAY . See; BEACON HUDSON RIVER TRAIL PLAN . See; Map Below.
Continuing South, on-road, from the Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park (short Loop Trail), the Beacon Hudson River Trail, also referred to as the Heritage Trail [Klara Sauer Trail & Beacon Riverside Trail], utilizes part of the Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trails in Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park. All the different trail names can get a bit confusing, so I will refer to this section as the Beacon Hudson River Trail. The Beacon Hudson River Trail then continues South, alongside the Hudson River to Dennings Ave. From here you can access the Dennings Point SP Loop Trail South, in Dennings Point State Park [Note; This trail is closed from Dec 1 -March 31], as well as, the Fishkill Creek Greenway to the East. The Fishkill Creek Greenway includes the short, paved Dave Miller Connector Trail, which gets you past two RR crossings and connects to the Madam Brett Park Trails, located at the confluence of Fishkill Bay/Creek. The Fishkill Creek Greenway continues Northeast, along Fishkill Creek up to Fishkill. This trail is still a work in progress with Gaps between the Lower, Middle & Upper Fishkill Creek Greenway.
The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is a planned 9 mile trail linking Cold Spring's Train Station to the Beacon Train Station. The Beacon Hudson River Trail is part of this larger trail system. For more information visit; HUDSON HIGHLANDS FJORD TRAIL .
The Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail is a planned trail that will follow the inactive Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Beacon Line, that splits off the active METRO NORTH RR tracks just South of the Beacon Train Station. It would start from the Beacon Train Station and follow the current Beacon Hudson River Trail, which travels alongside part of the old rail bed, South to Dennings Rd. Here the old rail bed separates from the Beacon Hudson River Trail and turns East, crossing over the active Metro North RR tracks, before turning Northeast, through Fishkill to the hamlet of Hopewell Junction in the Town of East Fishkill. Here it would connect to the both the Dutchess Rail Trail & Maybrook Trailway . See; Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail .
Beacon Hudson River Trail:
Starting from the Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park parking lot [Northern End]; Sports courts. Porto-Potty.
Note; The narrow, crushed gravel Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park circles this small park alongside the river. Good view of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to your North.
Travel South, on-road, along Red Flynn Dr (low traffic) and you'll come to a *brick lined path.
Note; Right leads to the NEWBURGH-BEACON FERRY dock. Left leads to the Beacon RR Station. See; METRO NORTH RR .
Continue straight, on-road, along Red Flynn Rd (sidewalk available). Too your right is a grassy area. Not sure if future plans call for constructing a trail to connect to the Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trail.
Follow Red Flynn Rd to an intersection. Head right, West, down Long Dock Rd into LONG DOCK PARK . Bear right down to the red Scenic Hudson's River Center. Continue left along the road and pick up the stone-dust Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trail on your right. Come to an intersection.
Note; Right, a stone-dust trail travels East, before quickly ending. Not sure if future plans will continue this trail back to the *brick lined path by the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry.
Continue straight to a promenade overlooking of the river. Travel back up Long Dock Rd to a picnic pavilion and travel South, along a boardwalk to a kayak pavilion, past which you'll come to a stone-dust trail intersection after 0.6 miles.
You have 2 Options from here:
Option 1: You can continue along the wide, stone-dust Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trail by continuing right, West, out to an overlook, paralleling a boardwalk. The narrow trail then travels East, re-joining the wide stone-dust trail, heading South. This trail then comes to the *Intersection of the paved Beacon Hudson River Trail [Klara Sauer Trail] after 1 mile.
Option 2: Travel left, East, along the wide, stone-dust Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trail, past fields to the paved Beacon Hudson River Trail [Klara Sauer Trail] after 0.75 miles. Head right, South, along the paved Beacon Hudson River Trail [Klara Sauer Trail]. Come to the *Intersection of the Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Trail after 1 mile.
Continuing South, along the Beacon Hudson River Trail [Klara Sauer Trail], you'll come alongside the inactive Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Beacon Line at 1.4 miles. The trail continues alongside the Hudson River, before leaving the river and old rail bed behind and coming to Dennings Ave and an **Intersection after 1.7 miles.
Note; Right, the old gravel Dennings Ave leads to the Dennings Point Loop Trail. See; Below.
Continue left, East, along the old gravel Dennings Ave, crossing a bridge over the inactive Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Beacon Line, followed by a bridge over the Metro North RR Line to an ***Intersection at 1.8 miles. Map Board.
Note; Left, the old gravel Dennings Ave travels North, bringing you to the Dennings Ave parking lot after 2 miles.
Fishkill Creek Greenway:
Lower Fishkill Creek Greenway:
The Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail is a planned trail that will follow the inactive Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Beacon Line, Northeast, through Fishkill to the hamlet of Hopewell Junction in the Town of East Fishkill. Here it would connect to the both the Dutchess Rail Trail & Maybrook Trailway . See; Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail . In Beacon, this trail would parallel parts of the Fishkill Creek Greenway.
From the Dennings Ave ***Intersection & Map Board; [Continuing Mileage] Continue South, along the paved Beacon Hudson River Trail [Dave Miller Connector Trail]. The trail travels down alongside the Metro North RR Line, taking you underneath a RR bridge, then heading up into the woods. After 2 miles, the trail turns to hard packed gravel as you enter Madam Brett Park. The Lower Fishkill Creek Greenway [Madam Brett Park Trail] takes you East, past an overlook of Fishkill Bay. Some small hills take you past an intersection on your left, to a boardwalk that travels above Fishkill Creek and alongside an old brick building. Cross South Ave to Madam Brett Park parking lot, where you'll find an Map Board overlooking the creek. A gravel trail continues North, alongside the creek, bringing you to an overlook of Sucker Falls Dam after 0.7 miles [2.5 miles]. A Gap exists from here, Northeast, to the next completed section, as of 2023.
To reach the next completed section follow South Ave from Madam Brett Park parking lot to Tioronda Ave and head right, North, on-road (low traffic). Turn right on Main St and a quick right on Churchhill St. Cross the old RR tracks and turn right on old Creek Dr (closed to vehicles). Come to the trailhead on your left for the Middle Fishkill Creek Greenway after 1.4 miles.
Middle Fishkill Creek Greenway:
Possibly stairs lead up to an apartment parking lot. A crosswalk takes you East, to the narrow, stone-dust Middle Fishkill Creek Greenway travels Northeast, behind the converted brick mill and apartment building, above the river before crossing Churchill Street. The trail is wider and open along this next section. Come to East Main Stand head right, across Sauers Bridge. Look upstream to view the Fishkill Overlook Falls. Turn left, after crossing the bridge and follow the cement sidewalk North, along the entrance for the Roundhouse. A narrow sidewalk bears left, bringing you to a spacious overlook of Fishkill Overlook Falls after 0.4 miles. I have not checked out this overlook.
Another Gap exists, as of 2023, between the final completed section. Return to the Roundhouse entrance road and continue left, past the converted old brick mill buildings. Turn right and travel out and across Leonard St to Amity St. This brings you to Liberty St. Head left, North, on-road (low traffic/sidewalk available) and follow to Bridge St. Head left along Bridge St back to Fishkill Creek at 1.1 miles. Cross the Historic cast iron bridge (no vehicles allowed) to an open area. Turn right and you'll find the start of the Upper Fishkill Creek Greenway on your right.
Upper Fishkill Creek Greenway:
The narrow, stone-dust Upper Fishkill Creek Greenway continues Northeast, alongside Fishkill Creek (very scenic) for a short distance, before turning left, North, inland. It then turns right, up to Front St, where it travels Northeast, past the Lofts at Beacon (converted old mill) on your right. It currently ends, as of 2021, after 0.4 miles next to Building 4.
Dennings Point SP Loop Trail:
Starting from the Dennings Ave parking lot; Travel South, past the black gate along the old gravel Dennings Ave and you'll come to an intersection at 0.2 miles. Heading right, West, you'll cross a bridge over the active Metro North RR tracks and then cross a set of inactive RR tracks. This brings you to an**Intersection with the Beacon Hudson River Trail [Klara Sauer Trail], at 0.3 miles. [Re-zeroing mileage] Continue straight to another intersection.
Note; Straight will bring you to the Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries Visitor Center. Restrooms available.
Head left, South, along the Dennings Point SP Loop Trail and you'll come to a Map Board. Head right along the narrow, hard packed dirt trail into the woods. Quickly come to an intersection and head right up a slight incline. Some rocks and tree roots but very ridable. You travel above the river, which is mostly blocked by the tree cover, along the Western Side of the park. After about 0.7 miles the trail Loops back North, alongside Fishkill Bay, via the Eastern Side of the park. This section of trail is less developed with many more tree roots and some muddy sections. You return to the intersection and head right back to the Map Board. Return to the intersection with the Beacon Hudson River Trail [Klara Sauer Trail] after a 1.4 mile Loop.
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CLICK HERE FOR BEACON RIVERFRONT TRAIL & DENNINGS POINT SP LOOP TRAIL 2019 MAP
CLICK HERE FOR FISHKILL GREENWAY MAP
CLICK HERE FOR FISHKILL GREENWAY & HERITAGE TRAIL 2018 MAP
CLICK HERE FOR FISHKILL GREENWAY & HERITAGE TRAIL 2013 MAP
CLICK HERE FOR MADAM BRETT PARK TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR HUDSON HIGHLANDS FJORD MAP
CLICK HERE FOR BEACON-HOPEWELL RAIL TRAIL MAP
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