Giant Mountain is the twelfth highest peak in New York State at 4627 feet. The peak is also known as "Giant of the Valley," due to its stature looking over Keene Valley and St. Huberts to the west. The prominent rock slides on the mountain's steep western face and its location away from most other large peaks make it quite an imposing figure, leading to its name.  The mountain is located in Giant Mountain Wilderness.

There are three main routes to Giant Mountain, one from the east, and two from the west. The two most popular routes begin on trailheads along NY 73, one near Roaring Brook and the other near Chapel Pond, known as the Ridge Trail trailhead. The two trails climb the southern ridge of the mountain, meeting up about a mile south of the summit. Starting from the Roaring Brook trailhead includes passing by the Roaring Brook Falls.

The third ascent begins from the east, near the town of New Russia on US 9, and is not as commonly climbed due to the longer hike. The route climbs Bald Peak, a smaller mountain, then begins the ascent of Rocky Peak Ridge. After reaching Rocky Peak Ridge, hikers decent a small col before ascending to Giant Mountain. This route is more commonly used by those attempting to become Adirondack Forty-Sixers, since Rocky Peak (4420 feet) is a required peak. The GPS coordinates of the large parking area off US 9 is N44 08.987 W73 37.608. It is marked with a DEC sign.

The map below shows the 2.7 mile one way hike from the trailhead on NY 73 near Chapel Pond. This route does have an elevation gain of over 3000 feet. The GPS coordinates of the Roaring Brook parking area is N44 09.030 W73 46.070 and the Ridge Trail parking area GPS coordinates is N44 08.293 W73 44.626. There is a few pictures, a map plus a video below of this hike.

Sign at the start of the Ridge Trail for Giant Mountain

View south-west from Giant Mountain (picture courtesy of Andy Arthur)

Trail junction (picture courtesy of Andy Arthur)