Hike Giant Slide Loop
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The ravine scramble involves exposed iron rungs and steep rock faces with significant fall potential — this is not a trail where you can zone out with earbuds. Hands-free is essential; use a pack, not a handheld water bottle.
The trail crosses private land at the start. Wandering off-trail here risks losing access for everyone — stick to the blazes and keep noise down.
Despite the wheelchair-accessible tag at the trailhead area, the Giant Slide route itself involves Class 3 scrambling and is absolutely not accessible beyond the first few hundred yards.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start early from Route 198 — the small roadside pulloff fills fast and there's no overflow. If it's full by 8 AM on a summer weekend, you waited too long.
The boulder scramble in Giant Slide ravine is significantly harder when wet. Check the forecast and skip this route after rain — the lichen-covered granite becomes genuinely slippery.
Run the loop clockwise (up Giant Slide, down via Parkman) so you tackle the technical scrambling on the ascent when your legs are fresh. Descending those boulders is harder on the knees and riskier.
Photos
NPS
