The mountain is named for its towering appearance from the nearby Pleasant Valley to the east, which sits at a low elevation.

[4] A large portion of the forest on Giant and nearby Rocky Peak Ridge was destroyed by a wildfire in 1903.

Due to their popularity with hikers and the number of cars exceeding available space in the summer months, parking on the shoulder of Route 73 was banned in 2019.

[6] The two trails climb the southern ridge of the mountain, merging 0.8 miles (1.3 km) south of the summit.

The North Trail to Giant begins from a parking lot on New York State Route 9N and proceeds 7.6 miles (12.2 km) to the summit with an ascent of 3,327 feet (1,014 m).

This route passes through the areas burned by the 1913 wildfire, much of which are still open land today, offering views of the surrounding valleys.