Giant Ledge Primitive Camp

Best site in Catskills, sunrise and sunset

I love hiking and camping. However the descriptions of this place in reviews here and elsewhere provided very little info and once I got out to the trail realized how different it was to what I expected. It is a near vertical hike the first mile with 90% or more being over rock gardens. Not some rocks littering the trail. I think the trail used to be a stream or creek. It doesn't wind it's way up the mountain, someone picked a side and said "we go up from here, straight up". There are campsites but the first campsite was over a mile in. We watched the top of a tree fall through the forest, cool to see but worth being on the lookout as it seemed quite a few trees had tops that were dead or dying. We had a great time once we were through the crucible that is the first mile. I just want to let anyone know what to expect. I carried 30lbs in my pack, it was exhausting; I haven't climbed something like this in a few years so I wasn't ready for what this trail had. If you're like me just expect it to suck for a while. If your experienced in mountainous hiking you should have no problem.

Even the rain couldn't ruin this weekend getaway. The spring water source is a short hike back from the campsite, relatively convenient to restock from camp. Thought I heard bears come through overnight, but may have been a lucid dream. Bear can was undisturbed in the morning. First trip to the catskills but will definitely be back!