Denning's Point/Hudson Highlands State Park
City of Beacon
Denning's Point in Beacon was home to the dwellings of pre-historic American Indians six thousand years ago. Henry Hudson's crew sailed to it in 1609, and George Washington also landed there in the Revolutionary War. It is believed that Alexander Hamilton penned letters from Denning's Point that formed the basis for his influential Federalist papers.
Beacon Institute's facilities are the twenty-first century's contribution to the site. From this historical standpoint, one can participate in a revolutionary model of scientific research. Beacon Institute's Center for Environmental Innovation and Education is both an educational facility and a Visitor Center for the Park.
Hudson Highlands State Park, a mostly undeveloped preserve of nearly 6,000 acres, consists of a series of separate parcels of land stretching north from Annsville Creek in Peekskill to Dennings Point in Beacon. The Hudson Highlands and Hudson River provide spectacular backdrops for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, hiking and birding.
The park's extensive hiking trail network includes terrain that varies from easy to challenging. Trail maps can be obtained at the Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park office. The park's most well known trail — Breakneck Ridge — was rated by Newsweek as one of the top 10 day hikes in America. The 5.5 mile Breakneck Ridge trail rises 1,250 feet in only a 3/4 mile stretch.
Please note that camping and use of fire are prohibited throughout the park.
