The Giant Ledge Trailhead is a trailhead and parking area in the Slide Mountain Wilderness of the Catskill Mountains in New York. It is used to access some of the most popular hikes in the area. it is located directly on rt. 47 in the town of Oliverea.
Parking and Considerations
Because of the popularity of the Giant Ledge hike, this parking area can fill up early on a busy day in good weather. The parking area is atypical for the Catskills in that it is just a small gravel lot directly on the main road. There is not a great capacity for cars, and in peak seasons hikers resort to parking along the main road which is a hazard. Hiking to giant ledge requires the hiker to cross rt. 47 which is on a rather steep hill and turn, and can be slightly dangerous during a time of high traffic.
Popular Routes
By far the most popular hiking destination from this area is Giant Ledge, which is a series of a dozen or more rocky outcroppings that offer spectacular views of the Woodland Valley and the Burroughs Range. This viewpoint destination is only about 1.5 miles from the trailhead and only requires about 1,000 ft. of vertical elevation gain, making this a very achievable destination for a novice or casual hiker. Because the views are so spectacular and the effort required to reach them is minimal, this creates a recipe for an extremely popular destination. This is only added to by the fact that there are plenty of designated camping sites at Giant Ledge, which make for great sunrise vistas. This is a solid choice for any first time backpacker.
A common addition to Giant Ledge would be Panther Mountain, which is one of the required peaks to join the Catskill 3500 club. This trailhead is the most direct access to Panther, and as such, most who seek this peak will do it from this trailhead. It's possible to continue past the summit of Panther Mountain and finish the hike at the Fox Hollow Trailhead, which is at the most northern section of the Slide Mountain Wilderness.
Hikers could also choose to take the Phoenicia East Branch Trail and end at the Woodland Valley Campground for a short, though uneventful hike.
Bathroom
There is a porta potty at the trailhead for hikers to use.
Water
After hiking only a few tenths of a mile along the Phoenicia East Branch trail hikers will be able to find a creek that is a feeder to the larger Esopus Creek.
