Hello, fellow hikers! Today we want to share with you one of our favorite hikes in the Hudson Valley: Madam Brett Park to Dennings Point. This hike is a great way to enjoy the beauty of nature and the history of Beacon, New York. It’s also relatively easy and suitable for beginners and families.

The hike starts at Madam Brett Park, which is named after Catheryna Rombout Brett, the first European settler in Beacon. She was a remarkable woman who befriended the local Native Americans and ran a successful trading post. The park has a parking lot, restrooms, and picnic tables. It also has a lovely trail that follows the Fishkill Creek and leads to the stunning Tioronda Falls. The falls are especially impressive after a heavy rain or snow melt.

The trail then crosses a bridge and joins the Klara Sauer Trail, which runs along the Hudson River. This trail offers some gorgeous views of the river and the mountains. You can also see some wildlife, such as birds, turtles, and fish. The trail is flat and paved, making it easy to walk or bike.

The trail ends at Dennings Point, which is a peninsula that juts out into the river. This is where the hike gets more interesting, as you can explore some of the ruins of the old industrial buildings that once operated here. The most notable ones are the Tioronda Hat Works and the Denning’s Point Brick Works, which produced hats and bricks respectively in the 19th century. You can still see some of the foundations, walls, chimneys, and machinery of these factories. They are a fascinating reminder of the past and a contrast to the natural surroundings.

Dennings Point also has some trails that loop around the peninsula and offer more views of the river and the wildlife. You can also find some benches and signs that provide some information about the history and ecology of the area. Dennings Point is also part of the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, which means it is protected from development and preserved for public enjoyment.

The hike from Madam Brett Park to Dennings Point is about 4 miles long and takes about 2 hours to complete. It is a wonderful way to spend a day in Beacon and experience some of its natural and historical attractions. We highly recommend it to anyone who loves hiking, nature, and history.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Also, if you have any suggestions for other hikes in the Hudson Valley or elsewhere, please let us know. We’re always looking for new places to explore.

Thanks for reading and happy hiking! 😊

-Chris & Ola