Brace Mountain Summit [Suggest Edits]

Description

One of the best views in the Hudson Valley and the highest point in Duchess County, the summit of Brace Mountain offers 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding hillside. The view is particularly majestic in the autumn when the bright colors of the foliage intermingle with the deep blues, dark greens, and dusty yellows of the farmland below.

Three states can be seen from this vantage point—New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, while the Catskills and Hunter Mountain are visible in the distance towards the west as well.

The summit itself is also of note. Marked by a very large cairn and American Flag, the terrain is rocky with wispy grass in all directions, and contains hundreds of scrub brushes just outside the summit perimeter.

Short Hike: Access is quickest from the Quarry Hill Trail to the South Taconic Trail, but this is very challenging and includes a difficult rock scramble. The South Taconic Trail is a 16 mile trail with various other access points as an alternative.

Gem Type: Viewpoint