North Beacon Mountain Hike: A Trail Full of Surprises! 🦎🍄
📍 North Beacon Mountain & Reservoir Loop (Beacon, NY) 🚆 1.5hrs from NYC (Metro-North to Beacon station) This 3.5-mile loop served up steep climbs, wild critters, and quirky flora—here’s the play-by-play from my adventure: 🌿 Trailside Encounters 🦋 "Poison Mimic" Butterfly A glossy blue-black beauty (Red-spotted Purple) faking toxicity to scare predators. 🦎 Tiny Orange Daredevil A neon-red salamander (Red Eft!)—its color screams "Don’t eat me!" 🌸 Ghostly "Bell Flowers" Bladder Campion—delicate white blooms clinging to abandoned railroad walls. 🍄 Mossy Mushroom Surprise Ruby-red Russula mushrooms (likely non-deadly, but don’t test it). 🥾 Hike Deets Length: 3.5 miles (5.6km) Difficulty: Moderate-to-hard (slippery inclines—grippy shoes a must!) Post-hike reward: Beacon’s cute main street (shops > Cold Spring’s, IMO). 💡 Pro Tips ✔️ Go weekdays for solitude + critter sightings. ✔️ Pack snacks—no stores mid-hike. ✔️ Train hack: Metro-North’s $1 beers on weekend rides back! Ever spotted something wild on a hike? Share your trail tales below! 👇 #NYCHikes #HudsonValley #NatureWins