The most commonly used approach to the summit, since it takes place entirely on public land, starts at the rough parking area on the west side of Route 42 south of Deep Notch, right next to the waterfall on the northern tributary of Bushnellsville Creek, at an elevation of roughly . From here hikers generally follow the ridge to the west, trending a bit southward. Upon gaining the ridge at , they follow it south up mostly gentle slopes to the mountain's summit, where a rough use path runs north-south to the canister, mounted on a cherry tree at the southern end. It is a ascent via this route, with the round trip covering approximately six miles (9.6 km).