Big Indian, New York
Hike Giant Ledge
3.74 Miles Total - Out-and-Back Trail
Originally added by The Outbound Collective
A short hike with little effort to some of the best views in the Catskill Mountains.
The trail starts across the street from the parking area you will see a sign. After a short walk in you will cross a foot bridge. At approximately 0.75 mile you will reach a junction. You will turn left toward Giant Ledge.
The next half mile is fairly flat. At 1.5 miles you will reach a spur trail to your right that is your first lookout. 250 feet past Ledge 1 is the second lookout. At 1.67 miles is your third lookout. 1.76 miles is the fourth lookout and 1.87 is the fifth and last lookout. Here you can retrace your steps for a total roundtrip of 3.74 miles. If you choose you can drop to col between Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain. It is an additional 1.38 miles one-way to the treed summit of Panther.
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Reviews
Overall rating:
One of the best in the Catskills
This is one of my favorite hikes in the Catskills, you get amazing views for a relatively short hike. Hiking up before dawn offers amazing views of the sunrise from the view point near the top. The fall offers some of the best views, but on the weekends it can get crowded. If you hike up in the summer consider swimming at Peekamoose Blue Hole after to cool off, its just a quick drive over the mountain!
5.0
Great View At Giant Ledge
Im a amateur hiker, and this one was pretty tough for me. Wearing sneakers and jeans i was not prepared at all. There was ice pretty much throughout the trail making it very difficult. I found myself planning my steps very carefully, stepping on rocks that have no ice on them. But, i made it to Giant Ledge and it was an amazing view. Very photogenic. Coming down was a pain with all the ice. My quads were cramping, my weak knees were sore, i wasn't feeling it. It became all mental at this point. Again I'm an amateur hiker.
4.0
Nearby Adventures
Camp on Giant Ledge
1.5 miles
975 ft gain
Hike Mt. Wittenberg
Camp at Woodland Valley
Hike to Balsam Mountain in the Catskills
5.4 miles
2910 ft gain
