Giant Mountain Reviews

I hiked this mountain with my wife and we were glad for the choice. It has an elevation of 1410 m(4627 feets) with a denivelation of 930 m(3050 feets). We opted for the shortest trail but steeper(Zander Scott trail marked with blue signes). To reach the start of the trail there is a parking on the route 73 a little before Chapel Pond on the right. there are enough spaces to park the car. The trail has 6 miles round trip. At 0.7 miles there is a beautiful lake (Washbowl pond). at 0.1 miles to the summit there is an indicator showing Giant summit to the left and Rocky Peak to the right.
The views are just amazing from the top and for this reason this was definitely a coup de coeur. We did the round trip in 4 hours.
We highly recommend this hike.

Climbed Giant in August using the primary trail. This is the steeper, shorter trail. Trail markers are great on this trail. I do work out regularly and was able to climb up in 2.5 hours and down in 2 hours. It was a challenge because of the steep climb and rocks. It was also my first hike so I wasn't sure what to expect. I wore sneakers with really good tread, had a backpack with plenty of water and snacks and extra layers because it got cooler as we got closer to the peak. It was a little muddy in some parts and slippery in others. The way down can be tricky mainly because your legs are tired and it is steep, take it slow. The view at the summit was beautiful but very breezy. You can hike this in 1/2 day - bring plenty of water, rest as needed, and bring layers. If it is a hot day you can change into your bathing suit and visit Chapel Pond. It is a great addition and end to a hot day of hiking!

We took the blueberry cobbler trail, so did Rocky Peak Ridge first and then on to Giant Mountain.

It took us 8 hours (including breaks and lunch) to reach the Giant Mountain summit using the blueberry trail.

It was extremely long and difficult. Took us 15 hours round trip including breaks.

Other trailheads were not as difficult as we were advised by other hikers.

The views come out to be the same. So I would recommend avoiding that section if you are not very experience and know you can hike for 15 hours with a walk of 25.3 kms.

But the positive aspect though, the view is magnificient. There are great scenic views. There is also a campground with a poind nearby (perfect if you have a water filter, chemical purification material or a stove)

My husband and I are up here every summer for a few months & Giant is always out 1st hike in the summer. It's quick enough where it doesn't take your entire day to finish & the views along the way are what make it so great! We recommend this hike for new hikers & hikers that want great vistas along the way.

My husband, my 6 year old son (yes - 6), and I hiked this mountain as we found it on a list for good hikes for kids. Wow. The hike itself is nice - and challenging. My son managed to power through it all the way to the top. He was exhausted by the time he got there. He definitely had more trouble on the way down though (I won't lie - I did too). He slipped several times and got pretty scratched and bruised up. My husband ended up carrying him on a couple of occasions. It is a good hike, but it is very rocky, and can be very slick....and very long. Stopping for a lunch at the top, we spent over 7 hours there. Recommended for experienced hikers, or those who don't mind a full days worth of a workout.

Also - I think it probably goes without saying, but there are absolutely no amenities here.

We started out way too late so we had to park nearly half a mile from the Roaring Brook parking lot. No biggie in itself but we should have realized then that the trail was going to be way too busy.
The trail itself was beautiful, the surrounding woods so lush, simply wonderful. And unlike many of the other high peaks that we've done, the trail graciously provides incredible views very early on. Giant itself deserves 5 stars but there were sooooo many people that it kinda ruined it at times. Mostly because the majority of them had no trail etiquette and clearly were not of the LNT mentality.
We were lucky enough to have a steward that day that we chatted with for a bit. Really nice guy, very knowledgeable, said that he had the second shift that day and he alone had spoken with 189 people so far. Like I said, a very busy day for Giant. The best part of this hike for me was that for the first time in a couple of years we managed to have clear skies at the summit and the view was spectacular.
We came down by way of the 48 and crossed over Nubble to get back to the Roaring Brook trail (trail 47). That added on a little mileage and also gave us a great view of the washbowl. But the really nice part of that detour was that we came across nobody on that trail. Just us and the woods 😌
With the Nubble detour we got up in 3.5 and down in 3.5 (not including the break at the top). It can be a little tricky at times because of the land slides that cleared off big sections of rock but very doable for most people that are in medium to good shape. There were quite a few children on the trail so that gives you an idea.
Make sure you bring plenty of water. Even if you filter, the sources are limited so be prepared. We had brought 2 litres each and ended up giving one to a couple at the summit who had run out.
I definitely recommend this hike but maybe try to do it during the week when there are probably less people.

We started the hike about 8am with a 6yr old. We all were at the top about 11. And that was with many stop to encourage the 6yr old to keep going. He did it and loved it. And had a huge appetite on the top.
The summit was great! Fantastic views.
The trip down was almost as long. Slow us with older knees :/ Some of our group branched off to do the other peaks, we all met up at the cool water about 1/2 hour from the end. Water was refreshing. Good to cool off before the finish

My friends and I did Cascade mountain the year before and decided to try Giant next. It was definitely more challenging as it is pretty steep all the way up. Prepare to climb over some large rocks and there is not much flat ground, pretty much rocky the entire way up. It took us about 7 hours round trip including breaks. The Summit was very windy however the view was very much worth it! Consider this hike a half day adventure and pack yourself enough water and snacks.

Hiked up this mountain. Was a nice hike, but quite steep if you are not used to it. 3050 feet elevation change over 3 miles. Pass by a mountain pond which has fish flown into it in the spring for fishing, then many great views as you walk across bald rock a number of times on the way up. Peak is also bald with many nice views.

Bring bug spray as even in late June, were some black flies and mosquitoes

Perfect weather. Good challenging hike. 3:20 up and 3:31 down. I could feel it the following days. It was out first peak and we really enjoyed the challenge. Great views up top.

This was a great hike to the summit. View were amazing starting about 2/3 up the mountain. The trail is short (only 3 miles one way) but rises at over 1000 feet/mile requiring a constant effort to ascend, as well as descend. Beware of coming down the open slabs which can be challenging when wet, and especially for novice hikes or anyone with poor traction on their footwear.

We took the Roaring Brook Trail on Memorial Day Saturday and got to the parking lot around 7:00 am and there were only a few spots left. We knew it would be crowded and it was. The trail starts with an immediate ascent but you are rewarded with a nice waterfall. From top to bottom this may be one of the most picturesque hikes of all the 46 High Peaks.

It was wet that day so lots of mud. Wear good boots. The last 2/3 of a mile is steep and you will be scrambling and pulling yourself up over rocks using any thing that provides a hand hold.

The views from the top were fantastic and the wind never stopped so make sure you have appropriate gear with you. We took about 2 liters of water per person and ran out because we shared some with folks at the top that ran out and were struggling.

There were four of us, two 20 year olds and two 55+ year olds. The kids raced up there like they do it daily while the two of us, both in decent shape, took our time. Total time up was 4 hours and the time down was a bit over 3 hours. The descent was much harder and I struggled the last half mile with very sore knees and quads. I almost could not walk the next day and I run at least 50 miles a month. BTW my son and I both fell in Roaring Brook Falls on the descent. The water was ice cold but it was scary as tree drift wood logs we were using snapped. Be careful.

We loved this hike and would do it again.

My husband and 18 yr old son hiked this. We are in fairly good shape and thought moderate should be no problem. We are NOT avid hikers but we have hiked ( Yosemite) this trail was pretty narrow and at quite a few spots you hard to scale some short rock faces. The hike was challenging. I saw people on my way down I thought would never make the top. Out view was obstructed by humidity and cloud cover at the top. But a few breaks of sun gave us a peek at the beautiful view !
I say to the novice hiker " be prepared" it took us 3.5 hrs as the guide book suggested it would take. We took very short breaks, just enough to catch our breath. But we did it : )

This mountain is a Giant indeed!!! Steep and steady elevation gain for 3 miles (Roaring Brook Trail). I suggest adding the Rocky Peak Ridge trail just 0.1 miles from Giant's summit. It is only 2.4 miles R/T. Both the Giant and Rocky summits are impressive and the views very different. A view of the High Peaks from Giant, and Lake Champlain, Canada and Vermont from Rocky Peak Ridge can easily be enjoyed in the same day, but start early. The parking lots fill up fast even after Labor Day. Look for charcoal on Rocky Ridge. I found several pieces. They are from a large fire in the early 1900s that cleared the summit. Bring a camera that can shoot in panoramic mode. You won't be sorry.

This was my 6th high peak and it was definitely a challenging one. I was with 3 other ladies and we all found the ascent to be a pretty intense work-out. Fairly steep throughout but the last 45 minutes we gained elevation very quickly and had to do some scrambling up rock faces. Enjoyed some lovely views once we got to that point though, and the summit was gorgeous. Personally, the descent was the worst part; felt like almost constant pressure on quads and knees (I did it yesterday and can barely do stairs today). It's not easy fun, but it's worth-it fun! Took us almost 4 hours to summit and 3 to get back down, but we took frequent short breaks while ascending. Would recommend 2.5 litres of water.

This was my second experience in Adirondack (after Mount Marcy). Not Comparable At All!
We got there around 8am and was on the summit before noon. First part is ascending fast but not difficult. The whole hike took us 5:40" including 30" resting time.

The mountain views are wonderful. Loved sitting at the midway up looking at the wilderness. At the summit you will see some buildings and the town of Keene NY. Yes it was very windy, yet everyone enjoys a snack. We were not ready for this hike and we each had heavy backpacks as to camp overnight. Unfortunately we were thinking on traveling on to a campsite when the rain clouds came in quickly.. So always be prepared for a change in weather. We came down as it rained and found a spot to pitch a tent. Great spot by the washbowl! I don't think you will see great sunrises from the summit but no doubt it will be majestic.
Won't be returning too soon as there are 42 more to hike. Be ready for a steep hike up, and no easy task coming down.
Have fun and be safe!

We hiked this trail in July of 2017. Our daughter was 11 and our son was 9 at the time. We got a late start and took a lot of breaks including about 20 min at the summit and round trip it took us about 8 hours. The trail was well marked and the views were amazing.

Challenging but amazing hike that took about 7 hours at a good pace. This hike has a little bit of everything for someone looking to push their hiking experience. Some rock scrambling for practice but other options exist along the sides for dirt paths as well. It was cloudy at the summit for us but still very rewarding! Giant Ridge trail on the way down offered some amazing views and personally think the way up on the Roaring Brook trial was slightly easier to handle. Excellent hike!

we took the walking trail into the mountains and found a beautiful waterfall that we could walk across the rocks to get a better view of. So pretty, definitely worth the "hike". Scenery is beautiful all around.

I loved this hike! It was challenging - lots of rock scrambling - and the views are beautiful.

I took the Ridge Trail, which is ~6 mi round trip. It took my friend and I about 6 hours to complete the hike, including a long stop at the top. For perspective, I'm a pretty slow hiker (and not in the best shape, but shhhhh).

The views start pretty early on in the hike. There's a small lake 1 mile in, open rock faces ~2 miles in, and then you just have one more mile to go.

Trail conditions: well marked and traveled. The only exception is on some of the open rock faces where the yellow paint is fading.

Recommendations: Go around the Bump, not over it! The "over" path is harder and doesn't provide more views or save time.

It was definitely worth the work to get to the top for the views!! We were in the area to take in the fall colors and it was absolutely breath taking. We took the longer route to get to the top and that was fine for us. It is definitely steep at the end but so worth the effort. This was definitely one of our favorites to hike while in the Adirondacks.

It was a very hard hike but well worth it there's two areas on the way up but the views are spectacular and the top was well worth the trip were inexperienced and it took us eight hours round-trip were very tired today

Giant certainly got it's name for a reason! My boyfriend and I are in our mid-twenties and in fairly good shape. It took us just over two hours to reach the summit of Giant (stopping only 3 or 4 times for a minute or two to catch our breathe). It's about 6-7 miles RT with a 3,050 foot elevation gain. If it's a clear day, the views are spectacular and make some of the more difficult sections of the hike totally worth it. Make sure you check out "The Top of the Falls" on the way down as well, about .5 miles from the head of the trail and parking lot. The view is also spectacular!

**There's a lot of scaling rocks and a steep descent, the trip down took us an hour longer than the trip up and was certainly a bit grueling on the knees by the end.