Clove Mountain is located in Union Vale, Dutchess County, New York, rising to an elevation of 1,398 ft (426 m).

[3] It marks the southern extent of the Taconic Mountains and its bedrock is metamorphic, composed of rocks like schist, phyllite, and metagraywacke.

[5] The installation of a fire tower on Clove Mountain, as well as on Mount Beacon to the southwest, was formally proposed in 1930, on the basis of inadequate early wildfire detection in Dutchess County.

"[3] Clove Valley is underlain by limestone and contains several natural springs, as well as the headwaters of Fishkill Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River.

[9][10] Several small hamlets cropped up in the valley in the 19th century, during which period extensive iron ore mining took place.