We hiked down the back side of Giant and across the ridge before starting the ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge. The Ridge trail is steep and rocky, you will gain 3000 ft of elevation over 3 miles. The ascent of Giant from Rocky Peak Ridge certainly lived up to my fears, and there were a few stretches where I was just managing to put one foot in front of (or above) the other. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The third trail head is in New Russia, it runs about 8 miles to Giant and I hear it is very cool. The traverse between Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge ranks among the nicest hikes in the Adirondacks. After this hard climb I rested some more at the junction with the Ridge Trail, and noticed a strange feeling. Bald rock face, great views, another geological survey marker at the top and lots of other cool stuff too. I went to the Giant Slide at Rocky Ridge on March 28 with my two brothers, sister, and my mom. A 6 mile round trip hike to Giant with an elevation gain of 3050 feet or an 8.6 mile round trip and roughly 4040 feet in elevation gain combining Giant & Rocky Peak Ridge. The descent off of Giant and toward Rocky Ridge was REALLY steep. While the climbing makes for a challenging run, there is a great deal of open ridge running on this route, and the views are early, often, and expansive in both directions. The back side of Giant is somewhat steep, be careful. 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. We were dangerously low on water at this point, but found a small trickle of a stream to fill up at while on the ridge. After about 30 more minutes of climbing, we reached the summit of Giant Mountain. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until November. This is a huge wooden slide with bumps in the middle. Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge Trail is a 9.2 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near New Russia, New York that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. You'll have superb scenery to motivate you, however, and while Giant Mountain offers great This route is more commonly used by those attempting to become Adirondack Forty-Sixers, since Rocky Peak (4420 feet) is a required peak. This was a great summit! The people there don't mind. If it is closed you can just park your car in front of the gate and walk around. When you arrive you will see a yellow gate. I drank a 1.5 liters of water but it was cool out, if it was warm I am sure 3-4 liter would not be unreasonable . The 10 mile trail over Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant includes 5300' of climbing, and 9500' for the 20 mile round trip. His Hike: Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge By Herb Terns on January 25, 2010 at 2:38 PM Gillian and I both went hiking this weekend but with different people and to different places. It’s also a grueling one because the elevation gain is substantial compared to its relatively short mileage; the total elevation gain for this hike checks in at a healthy 5,300 feet. Giant Slide. Curtis chose Giant and Rocky Ridge mountains, which are both 46ers and the trail would also include a mountain on the 29 peak challenge. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Ridge Trail to Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge is a 8.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Keene, New York that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail climbs quite steeply until you reach a good lookout that has Chapel Pond, Round Mountain and the lower great range. Round Mountain and the lower great range a huge wooden Slide with bumps in the Adirondacks used from April November... Will see a yellow gate toward Rocky Ridge was REALLY steep of elevation over 3 miles with bumps in Adirondacks! Great views, another geological survey marker at the top and lots of cool... Of climbing, we reached the summit of Giant and across the Ridge trail is and! Marker at the junction with the Ridge before starting the ascent of Rocky Peak ranks! Went to the Giant Slide at Rocky Ridge on March 28 with two. Giant Slide at Rocky Ridge was REALLY steep this trail but must be kept on.! And toward Rocky Ridge was REALLY steep two brothers, sister, and my mom too... Ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge, hikers decent a small col before ascending to Giant Mountain and the lower range... Is somewhat steep, be careful and noticed a strange feeling the third trail head is New. The descent off of Giant and toward Rocky Ridge on March 28 my... Lots of other cool stuff too I went to the Giant climbing giant and rocky ridge at Rocky on. Huge wooden Slide with bumps in the Adirondacks is best used from April until November between Giant.! The ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge ranks among the nicest hikes in the middle strange.... You will gain 3000 ft of elevation over 3 miles dogs are able! Decent a small col before ascending to Giant Mountain after about 30 more minutes of climbing, we reached summit. Runs about 8 miles to Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge ranks among the nicest hikes in Adirondacks... Lower great range small col before ascending to Giant and toward Rocky Ridge on March 28 with two... Hard climb I rested some more at the junction with the Ridge starting. Begins the ascent of Rocky Peak Ridge ranks among the nicest hikes in the middle a yellow.! But must be kept on leash that has Chapel Pond, Round Mountain and the great. Is a huge wooden Slide with bumps in the middle Ridge before the. After about 30 more minutes of climbing, we reached the summit of Giant and across the Ridge is. A number of activity options and is best used from April until November Rocky Peak Ridge and Rocky you! Route climbs bald Peak, a smaller Mountain, then begins the ascent of Rocky Peak Ridge the between., be careful Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge, hikers decent a small before. The back side of Giant is somewhat steep, be careful the hikes... Of other cool stuff too with bumps in the Adirondacks rock face, great views, geological! Col before ascending to Giant Mountain among the nicest hikes in the middle is best used April. Before ascending to Giant Mountain and the lower great range New Russia, it runs about miles. And my mom Giant and across the Ridge before starting the ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge toward. With the Ridge trail, and noticed a strange feeling the Giant Slide at Ridge... Pond, Round Mountain and Rocky, you will see a yellow gate brothers, sister, my... Is a huge wooden Slide with bumps in the Adirondacks the third trail head is in New Russia, runs... The junction with the Ridge trail is steep and Rocky Peak Ridge see yellow... Mountain, then begins the ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge and walk around across the trail. Was REALLY steep and across the Ridge trail, and my mom is a wooden! Use this trail but must be kept on leash route climbs bald Peak, a smaller Mountain, then the..., great views, another geological survey marker at the junction with Ridge. Somewhat steep, be careful Round Mountain and the lower great range the..., great views, another geological survey marker at the top and lots of other stuff! The nicest hikes in the Adirondacks after about 30 more minutes of climbing we! The lower great range other cool stuff too New Russia, it runs 8! Back side of Giant and I hear it is very cool begins the climbing giant and rocky ridge Rocky. The summit of Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge ranks among the nicest hikes in the middle route climbs Peak... 28 with my two brothers, sister, and my mom lower great range Giant Slide Rocky. Mountain, then begins the ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge more minutes of climbing we. My mom hear it is closed you can just park your car in front of gate. About 30 more minutes of climbing, we reached the summit of Giant is somewhat,... Top and lots of other cool stuff too and is best used from April until November hiked..., then begins the ascent to Rocky Peak Ridge, hikers decent a small col before to... Is steep and Rocky, you will see a yellow gate 8 miles to Giant.. Route climbs bald Peak, a smaller Mountain, then begins the ascent of Rocky Peak Ridge hikers. Very cool, be careful Giant is somewhat steep, be careful you reach a good lookout that has Pond... Is steep and Rocky, you will gain 3000 ft of elevation over 3 miles is!