Malouf’s Mountain Sunset Campground

GREAT place for an inexpensive last minute weekend getaway. Great hiking options with fantastic views and wonderful, attentive staff. We loved having the dryer in the bathhouse available after our sleeping bag/​soup mishap. The one thing that would improve the Malouf experience would be for Malouf to offer organic food options in addition to their current food options. We will definitely be back next season… possibly a bit earlier next time to avoid the frigid nights :)

This was our first time camping this past weekend. Malouf’s Mountain was a great experience and we will be back in the Spring!
Everyone was very kind and helpful to us from beginning to end including Tracey and Brian. We got lost on the way in to the camp site (because we can’t handle basic directions haha) and ended up back into Beacon, and just decided to walk in town via the main roads. Dick saw us walking on one of his runs and kindly picked us up. Later in the weekend we did have a successful and fun hide to a downed plane on the property. Having the covered platform was great, as was the VERY clean bathrooms. I loved the hike in/​hike out aspect of the site because it keeps it very quiet and peaceful. My favorite part of the experience was waking up in the tent and being in nature in the mornings. Thank you, Malouf’s for a beautiful, relaxing weekend!

Malouf was better than expected. Staff and camp grounds were great. I highly recommend visiting!

The BF and I have been hiking the Hudson Highlands all summer, so a camping trip was the natural next step. It might be safe to say it has been about two decades or so since either of us have been camping. This was our first grown up camping trip and we knew we’d needed to ease ourselves into the wilderness. For a couple of city slickers, coming to Malouf’s Mountain was the perfect choice!
There are two types of campsites on Malouf’s Mountain. We opted for the Platform Site (versus the primitive site), which is a wooden platform with a tarp cover. Picture pitching a tent on perfectly flat and even ground, covered with shade and rain protection. The platform site is equipped with a propane lamp, a propane stove with two burners, a chow box filled with some cookout basics (pot, pan, coffee/​water pot, cooking utensils, plates, silverware, matches, pot holders, paper towels, tin foil, salt and pepper and seasoning salts), a picnic table, a 5-​gallon jug filled with potable water, and a couple of fold-​out chairs. A few feet away, there’s a fire pit with a tarp cover. Firewood is available for purchase. Tents are available for rent. If you do rent a tent, it will be set up for you when you arrive and you won’t need to take it down when you leave. They’ve got you! Note: the kitchenware is only as clean as how the campers left it, so you may need to re-​wash a few items yourself.
We came from Manhattan and arrived at the Metro-​North Beacon station. They came to pick us and our things up. They dropped us off at the access point of our choice (see website for options) and took our stuff to our campsite while we hiked into camp. Note: There is a small fee per person, per trip for this shuttle. We opted to be picked up and dropped off by a shuttle. Prices may change, but as of summer 2015, it was $ 6 per person, one-​way, so we paid $ 24 total for the two of us. Worth it!
We chose Access Point 3 to hike into camp, which is the second longest trail into camp and the farthest that the shuttle will go to. You will need a map for this trail. You can purchase them on the shuttle (in a packet of maps) or see website for links to where you can buy maps. You WILL need to pay attention to the directions by the driver. Dick Malouf, himself, picked us up and he gave us clear, but tricky directions that intentionally took us off trail. As much as we’ve hiked throughout the summer, we have never been off trail, but this was worth it! His directions brought us to so many gorgeous places and scenic photo ops!
We spent the weekend up there and hiked all three days! The trails vary from easy to moderate. The trail suggested from Access Point 2 will take you across Dry Brook Falls (nothing dry about it) and take you up to the gorgeous peaks of the Overlook Trail on Fishkill Ridge. The trail from Access Point 3 will also take you up the same Overlook Trail on Fishkill Ridge, as well as the Casino Trail (where you can see a breathtaking view from the casino ruins), and by the Beacon Reservoir (where we had lunch while staring at the reflection of the mountains in the still waters).
The bathhouse on the campgrounds is where you’ll check in and out, well, in that general area. The bathhouse has individual toilets on one side, individual showers on the other. The center of the bathhouse is equipped with restroom sinks on one side, deep sinks for dish washing on the other, coin-​operated dryers in the back, and outlets for hair dryers (though everyone just charges their phones there, of course). Facilities are very clean! Staff stays below the bathhouse so they’re easily accessible if you need anything. The staff is great! Everyone is friendly, patient, and accommodating. Vending machines with sodas and snacks are just a few feet away. Ice can be purchased to keep your coolers cold. Yup, they’ve thought of everything!
There are specials if you come during the week, specials if you come via Metro-​North, and specials if you have a longer stay. Ask about it! Book it! Worth it!

It was our first time camping.
The staff are very friendly. Even before we got there, we called multiple times to ask questions and all were answered. We did the shortest hike in and for people who don’t exercise on a daily basis, we were able to do it without too much difficulty. On our hike in we saw 3 deer running. It made us question why they were running. Brian assured us that there are no animals that would do harm. There might be a black bear but hasn’t seen one.
We stayed two nights. Our site was W7 and it was a 10 minute walk to the bathhouse. It seemed pretty distant from other sites. When we asked to be closer, we were told that everything is already set up. They gave us too much privacy. It was inconvenient for bathroom reasons.
First night went by safely. On the second night, I did not get any sleep. Our site is right near the trails. At around 3:30am, we heard weird, indescribable pattern animal noises that got closer and closer. In the morning, Brian said it could have been an owl, turkey.
Overall, its a great place. But be aware that there are alot of wildlife. It was just a bit much for me.

This place was the absolute best for a trio of gearless NYC ladies. We got a platform site and rented pretty much everything and paid for their food supply. It was nice to roll up to an already-​made tent after our hike; which was about 3 hours via the Access Point 2 Trail. I would try Access Point 3 next time if with others of similar hiking prowess. Make sure to bring enough water in your pack!
With food purchased ahead of time from MM, we had a dinner of hot dogs and baked beans then made bacon and breakfast sandwiches in the morning with instant coffee and tea. We used our fire starter and got a small fire going and we made S’Mores, then snuffed it out before bed. It rained hard overnight and the noise on the tin roof was loud but also pretty cool. We didn’t hear any of our neighbors in other sites, only when they were coming and going up the trail between their spot and the bathhouse. The bathhouse was nicer than I expected. My friend woke up really early Sunday morning and ended up chatting with Dick for a while down there. I can’t wait to go back (where is my sleeping bag?).

My husband and I stayed at Malouf’s for two nights in August. The campsite is so clean and well-​appointed; we were so thankful to be able to spend a couple of nights outside but still have access to modern amenities. We highly recommend a stay at Malouf’s!

My husband and I came here for my birthday weekend, and we had such a great time. I’ve never been camping before, and am very much a city girl, so I was very worried. But, once I met the owner Dick, I immediately was at ease. He picked us up from the Beacon train station and was so friendly and reassuring. He’s drove us the trailhead and took our gear to our campsite so we wouldn’t have to carry anything. We took the shorter hike and it was a bit challenging– sneakers or hiking boots needed for sure. 30 minutes later we met Brian, the very friendly staff member and directed us to check in by the bathhouse. The bathhouse is very clean. Sinks, toilets and showers were all separated and had full cedar doors and seriously were immaculate. I loved the classic rock music playing where the sinks were. They also had plenty of outlets there too. We got the platform camp site and it was awesome — like a log cabin without walls. The workmanship is excellent, and they take a lot of pride in it. Tent already set up, our cooler stocked and cold, plenty of water and a spigot to get more, chow-​box set up with everything you need like cooking utensils, matches, etc. firewood was there for us and the firepit was placed perfectly so the smoke wouldn’t go through your sleeping area. Very well spaced out campsites too. Best part — for some reason, there were no Mosquitos! Since they knew it was my birthday, Brian who works there came up to our site with cold beers and we had a friendly chat. Beautiful waking up to birds chirping in the morning, and fresh air! We hiked out and Dick picked us from the trailhead and drove us back to Beacon, waving hello to practically the whole town along the way!
Great way to experience camping and the grounds were beautiful. Dick, Tracey and Brian welcome you like old friends, and will help you with whatever you need. Better than any hotel I’ve ever been to!
I loved it and will be going back!

What a wonderful family retreat from NYC! It doesn’t get much better than arriving at a campground and having a tent already set up for you. We did the easiest hike in since we were with children, and even though other reviewers complained about the difficulty of the hike, we had a 3 year-​old with us who handled it just fine. That said, it is indeed a climb and not just a simple walk in the woods.
Pros:
–As all other reviewers said, the grounds are immaculate and they really think of almost everything for a gearless New Yorker. The food, the fire pit, the bathhouse, the activities, the tarp — glamping at its finest! Plenty of outlets to charge your phone, etc. We were even able to order extra bacon and eggs and the kind staff delivered them to us.
Make sure you bring an air mattress or thick padding if you don’t want to sleep directly on a wooden platform.
–There is full cell service, even from the top of the mountain (although this might be a con if you want to be forced to disconnect from the world!)
–The hike to the summit, which several of us took on after a good night’s rest, was super challenging and super fun! I felt like a badass rock climber. It became less fun after we got lost, which I’ll detail in the next section.
Cons:
–They provide almost everything, but an important thing they leave out is a trail map. On our second day my husband and I asked a staffer how far it is to the top of the mountain, and whether a 7-​year-​old can do it. He said «45 minutes, and the kids will be running ahead of you.» It’s a good thing the small kids opted out, because there’s no way our 7-​year-​old could have done that very steep climb. Also, it was a actually a 1.5 hour climb for us and our 11YO (we’re all fit). We absolutely loved the hike to the top, but unfortunately only packed enough water for 1.5 hours total instead of the 3 hours it would actually take there and back. Even worse, that 3 hours turned into 5 hours because we got lost. The trails are marked well except for one pivotal point — they need to make a clearer marker for where the white trail turns back into red on the way back down from the summit. If you miss it, as we did, you’re screwed. Later, when we mentioned it to a staffer, he chuckled and said «Everyone gets lost at that spot. We should do something about that.» We didn’t find it very funny, since our 11YO was without water for more than half our hike.
–My other complaint is that there is a discount offered on the website that we weren’t offered when we called to make the reservation. When we asked them to honor the discount, we we were refused since we didn’t ask for it at the time of reservation. Customer service means offering the discount, not waiting for a customer to ask for it.
Our pros greatly outweighed the cons — it was a lovely family experience that we treasured. We’ll be recommending the place to all our friends, and we can’t wait to come back!

My fiancée and I just got back from Malouf’s on Monday and it was a great experience that I would recommend to any New Yorker who wants to camp but doesn’t have a car.
First thing that’s awesome, you get picked up from the train station and dropped off for the hike in — but Dick will drive all of your stuff to the site which is a lifesaver. I saw a couple of people write that the 30 minute hike in was just a walk — I don’t know what hike they did, it was hard! It’s doable but it’s certainly steep. The only thing that beat that was the hike from the site to the bathrooms! I certainly got a workout.
We stayed on a platform site and that is the way to go! It rained all Saturday night, hard — none of our stuff under the tarp got wet, and there’s a cabinet under the gas stove where you can store more stuff as well.
If you haven’t camped in awhile or ever, you can camp here without spending a lot of money on gear. We have our own tent so we brought that, but if not you can rent a tent for cheap, and it will be set up for you when you get there. We also brought our own food, but you can buy food from them as well. They also have ice, firewood for the fire pit, playing cards, matches, fire starter… and the list goes on. You could come with just a sleeping bag and a flashlight, and be just fine.
The bath house facilities are as nice and clean as everyone has written about — always well stocked and someone must clean all the time. There’s also washing machines, and sinks to wash dishes complete with dish soap.
Be sure to come down to the picnic area by check-​in to hang out and watch the sunset. We shared a few beers with them the 2 nights we were there and Dick, Tracy, and Brian are really friendly and fun to chat with. We’ll see you all next year!

Several reviews mention the difficulty of the hike in and I’d say there is validity to those concerns. It’s not a dangerous hike by any means, but it’s also not a simple walk in the woods. Very steep incline in rocky terrain with ample opportunity to twist an ankle or slip. If you maintain even a low level of fitness you should be able to complete it without issue, but if you’re legitimately out of shape you might struggle.
The hosts are extremely accommodating and have created the perfect camping experience for people from the city that aren’t used to the outdoor life. Our group of eight had a great time relaxing, playing cornhole (supplied by the hosts), yard yahtzee (supplied by the hosts), various card games, and eating good food.
The bathrooms are just as nice as everyone claims. There are chargers for your cell phone in the bath house, and cell service all over the mountain.
The only thing even approaching a complaint is that some of the camp sites are quite a hike a way from the bath house. We were in B7 and the steep hike back and forth was probably more taxing than the actual hike in and out.
Overall amazing two days at Malouf’s!

Beautiful campgrounds, easy access to and from the city. Super nice staff and clean facilities. I wish I could spend every weekend here.

We had the BEST time at Malouf! It is a perfect getaway from Manhattan for the weekend. They are so gracious and helpful, we will be back for sure! They pick you up at the Beacon train station and drop you off at the hike of your choice. We did the 2 ½ hour and it was pretty intense. Definitely a hike! You arrive at the camp ground and all of your stuff is waiting for you at your spot, it is amazing! We did the primitive site which was great but will consider the nicer one next time to avoid renting a tent like we did. Dick and all of his staff are so friendly and helpful, they have everything you could think of! Can’t wait to go back!

Recently visit Dick and Tracy from Malouf. Been going to malouf mountain campground for a while. Just like wine only gets better within time. Alway want to stay for extra day. By the way Brian. He is awesome dude. You won’t regret. Just be optimistic. Everyone is there to enjoy their time.

I don’t leave reviews very often but I had such a good, relaxing time at Malouf’s I had to.
First off, 5-​stars all the way.
–Everyone running the place and helping out was awesome, friendly and courteous (Dick, Tracy, Sheila and Brian, I’m looking at you.)
–It’s a perfect mix of the outdoors and comforts of the indoors.
–The wash areas, bathrooms and showers were all in immaculate condition.
–I bought food to cook and it was tasty.
THE HIKE IN:
They clearly write on their website and say when making a reservation that it’s a 30-​minute hike to the camp. I think the change in elevation might be a little much for some people but I’m not sure how they can be so surprised by this as I’ve seen in a few negative reviews. If you have difficulty getting up four flights of stairs it might not be for you.
AT THE SITE:
I stayed in a primitive site that comes with a picnic table, fire pit with grill and is covered with a fly tarp. The site was in perfect order when I got there and I was at least 40 yards from the closest site. This was really nice. I was looking at other camp sites in the area and on Long Island and it looked like you set up your tent in a parking lot.
THE CAMP:
I was only there for a day so all I got in was a 3.5 hour hike up to the top of a ridge… that I’m not sure exactly what it’s named. The trail was a bit challenging at times since it gets pretty rocky but I was able to get up to the top without much trouble. The view was awesome. Highly recommend.
If you visit you should come down to the picnic area for a beer and say hello to your fellow campers and the crew. I learned a lot about Revolutionary War-​era trails and muddin’ tires in a very short time. Good times.
Also, for those afraid of getting stranded on a trail, lost, attacked by woodchucks, there’s 4G cell service (I’m on T-​Mobile) covering the whole mountain. You can breath the fresh air and still go on the Internet to look at photos of cats who talk funny.
So, that’s it.
Awesome people. Great accommodations. Nice and secluded.

These guys and this camp site are just UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME… They thought about everything. You need nothing but a sleeping bag. Owners are extremely nice and friendly. You don’t have a tent? They do. You don’t have utensils? They do. No car? No problem, they pick you up. Perfect for the busy new yorker that needs a close getaway from the city without headaches. Totally recommended.

I can’t explain how much my friends and I enjoyed this amazing campsite. We visited the 3^rd Weekend in August. The weather was perfect.
WARNING: That hike in and out is a bitch!
Most of us aren’t native New Yorkers, yet somehow after living here for 5 years + we all kinda lost our instinct and connection with nature. This was the best experience possible.
For the hike in, we decided to go up and take the scenic route and it was absolutely breathtaking. Dick and his staff were amazing. So accommodating, friendly, reliable available, and informative. The sites are strategically arranged so you don’t receive a lot of noise form other sites. Our site was int he back, next time we will ask for a site closer to home base because the hike to our site, after arriving on site, was no joke.
The facilities blew the socks off of me. The showers and latrines were nicer than most LES establishments. Dick did a great job of providing just the right amount of convenience. We brought our food in a cooked every night thanks to a friend who is a culinary wiz. Make sure to bring Ice and coolers if you’re bringing your own food.
I do also recommend bringing heavily padded items to sleep on. I tossed and turned all night because Im just not that used to sleeping on a wooden platform. Next time we are bringing and air mattress.
Loved this place so much I have recommended it to otherss as well as made it a yearly tradition with my friends.

Great place for a weekend get away! Staff was very friendly and down to earth. Provided everything you needed to make your stay a positive experience (with cost). Would recommend for families or groups that like hiking together. Site has great access to different trails that provide great views. The price is well worth the visit.

This is really as good as it gets. Take as little gear as possible for your hike… it gets steep! But, if you like a challenge, it’s absolutely beautiful and a great experience. Best to go for a couple nights or more and get the discount but still worth it if you want to do just one night. The campground is really well-​maintained, and all the sites are secluded, unlike many drive-​in campsites in the region, which place you right next to other campers.
All the facilities are nice, and just about anytime of the day, you can buy a cold beer from the staff! If you forget anything, they probably have something there you can buy or rent.
The platform site is a really nice setup without feeling like you’re «glamping» (glorified camping) — it’s nice to have a bare-​bones gas stove and a 5 gallon jug of water at the site. As of 2013, If you’re going with a group, you can have one couple get the platform site and others get the primitive. The layout may change in the future though, when primitive and platform sites may be in different areas.
We liked it so much we came back a second time with friends with varying camp experience and everyone had a great time.

Malouf Mountain offers city dwellers an opportunity to spend some time with nature. It’s good for those who like the real deal experience (you can bring your own tent gear and get a fire pit) or for those who don’t like it too rough, they have spacious setups that include a tent, chairs, firewood, and a small stove. It’s easily accessible by train. Dick (a friendly man) picked us up in the green bus from the train station. It’s a short, 20 – 30 min hike from the bus drop off to the campground.
While all these perks are great, there’s not much to do while you’re actually at the campground. The trails are not very exciting. There are no destinations to hike to or hike by. And what made our experience worse, was that the people who run Malouf Mountain were having a birthday party all day on the camp site. We were really looking forward to a quiet weekend outdoors. I don’t want to intrude on someone’s birthday party so I wasn’t going to say anything. But I would have liked to be put at a site far away from the party or maybe they should have not rented out any campsite that day. There was a lot of loud shouting and kids running around. I escaped the city to avoid the party, not to be at another party.
I’m sure if I went on another weekend, my experience would have been more relaxing. It wasn’t terrible. But it wasn’t what my friends had hyped it up to be.