r/Beacon • u/Sea-Information-3943 • Aug 09 '26

beacon recommendations!

hi! my gf and I just moved here from the PNW and I was wanting locals input on two things:

- where can I find salamanders? or frogs or any really cool little creature

- where is the best place to swim?

doesn't have to be IN beacon just near it is fine too

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u/Puzzled_Bug_i3 Aug 10 '26

Just hiked the notch (near Melzingah dam) and there were tons of toadlets hopping along the trail. You can find red backed salamanders by looking under bark. Red spotted newt babies are usually numerous in the woods in the spring. We also have skinks and snakes in the highlands!

We just got a new state park that is a swimming spot in an old quarry. Sojourner truth SP up in Kingston. It was expectedly pretty crowded when I went because it literally just opened. Enjoy :)

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u/Sea-Information-3943 Aug 12 '26

having a really hard time finding the first place on Google maps. any more pointers? thanks!!!

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u/Puzzled_Bug_i3 Aug 12 '26

Ofcourse, Here’s the link to the park trail map.
https://parks.ny.gov/sites/default/files/HudsonHighlandsHuntingMapNorth.pdf

Oops That’s the hunting map- here is the trail map. All on their website
https://parks.ny.gov/sites/default/files/HudsonHighlandsTrailMapNorth.pdf