Beacon Firefighters Rescue Injured Mount Beacon Hiker With Help from Drones and a UTV

Beacon Emergency Units Dispatched to Mount Beacon

On Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 as the sun was setting across the Hudson Valley, around 7:34 pm, Beacon Fire and EMS were dispatched to Mount Beacon hiking trail.

It was reported that a 45-year-old male had fallen and sustained an ankle injury. The hiker was said to be about 1/4 up the trail on the stairs.

READ MORE: Are These 5 of The Most Dangerous Hikes in the Hudson Valley?

For those who have never hiked Mount Beacon, before you get to the thick of the trail you must climb about 200 steps, according to Hiking The Hudson Valley, before the real fun begins.

Injured Mount Beacon Hiker Found 300 Yards Off Trail

When emergency teams arrived at Mount Beacon daylight conditions were fading and a a request made to the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office to dispatch their drone unit.

By 8:24 pm contact was made with the injured hiker. Thankfully, he was found conscious and alert with minor injuries. However, he was found about 300 yards off the marked Mount Beacon trail.

BFD and Beacon PBA "determined the best route of travel for evacuation was to ascend up towards the Casino."

READ MORE: Is New York State a Dangerous Destination for Novice Hikers?

According to the statement released to the Beacon Fire Department Facebook page they moved the patient up the mountain and waited for Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps to arrive with their off road utility vehicle. 

The hiker was "packaged and transported down the mountain" by an access road. The scene was cleared by 9:33 pm that same night.   

Beacon Fire Department adds "We would like to thank and commend all responders on scene for a great display of inter-agency cooperation and operability resulting in a positive outcome!"

The Unwritten Rules of Hiking Mountain Beacon

We're glad to hear the hiker is doing okay, but when it comes to hiking Mount Beacon there are definitely some unwritten rules.

Some of those rules include:

Giving yourself enough time to get up and down the mountain before the sun goes down.

Don't listen to your music loudly on the trail. Headphones are a thing.

Leave no trace. Bring all garbage you hit the trail with out with you and to the nearest trash can.

Here are some more, light hearted Mount Beacon commandments you should follow too: