After a moderate climb, you will encounter a sign for a natural spring, about 1.3 miles into the hike. A clear path leads to the spring a few hundred feet off the trail. The Catskills are famous for their pure groundwater; just ask New York City if you don't believe me. On your walk to the spring, you will pass next to some of the dozens of large boulders that encroach upon the path. These boulders, or erratics, were left behind by retreating glaciers during the four Ice Ages that blanketed this area. The first began 1.6 million years ago and the last ended around 15,000 years ago.
	Two-tenths of a mile after the spring, you reach Giant Ledge. The first lookout offers the same reward as the other half-dozen along the eastern side of the ledge, a complete 180-degree view from north to south. On a clear day, the Berkshires and Taconics of Massachusetts and Connecticut are visible, as are the firetowers on Hunter and Overlook Mountains. The intimidating size of Slide Mountain obstructs everything else to the south.
The name Giant Ledge was derived from these east-facing open rock ledges with steep drops. In the summer, the forest floor is covered with many ferns and flowers. However, this time of year the most notable vegetation is the balanced mixture of various hardwoods and balsam fir. The cliff-face is home to numerous species of delicate lichens and mosses. The view to the north is blocked by the summit of Panther Mountain. From the ledge, the dense evergreens that crowd its summit can easily be seen, especially in winter.