Several have asked me to do a write up of Old Rag Mountain, and for some reason it’s taken me until now. I think perhaps it’s because it seems difficult to capture the hike – its beauty and its challenges – and how to prepare for it.

This past weekend I hiked Old Rag for the 6th or 7th time. It never gets old and it never gets easy! I had with me four family members – who are all in pretty good shape, but don’t hike often or at all. I tried to prepare them over and over for the intensity of the Old Rag hike, but, much like childbirth lol, until one actually does the hike it’s impossible to have a sense of what’s ahead.

The Old Rag Circuit Hike is a 9.2 mile strenuous hike, which according to the Shenandoah National Park Old Rag pamphlet, takes people about 7 and 1/2 hours to hike. This does not include time for lunch and time to take in the views along the hike and at the summit. You should plan for 8+ hours, just to be on the safe side. You may finish more quickly, but you may not.

Eight+ hours to finish a 9.2 mile hike?! Really?! Yep…really. This is not a beginner hike – this is a strenuous test of endurance and stamina and your ability to overcome challenges you likely have never faced. Sounds dramatic, I know. But it’s true.

Old Rag is ranked the #1 hike (out of 117) in the Shenandoah National Park by Alltrails.com. It is one of the most well-known hikes, if not the most well-known, in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is also the most challenging. HERE’S WHY: about 3/4 of the way up the mountain, after a couple of miles of steep inclines and switchbacks, you will find yourself coming face to face with boulders on the trail. As my cousin Maddy said to me this past weekend, as she led our group along the trail, “Wait, I don’t think this is the right way…”

Maddy was in fact going the right way – she just didn’t expect to be staring at large boulders in front of her, seemingly blocking our path. “Yep! That’s the right way,” I said. “Welcome to the reason why so many people love Old Rag. Let’s start climbing!”

The Old Rag “rock scramble” is a maze of massive granite boulders. You will see the blue blazes (trail markings) painted directly on the rocks, much as you would typically see painted on trees along a hiking trail. You will climb on rocks, sometimes shimmying on all fours, go over the rocks, underneath the rocks, through the rocks, around the rocks, jump across crevasses, and challenge yourself to keep going even when it seems impossible.

Then, just when you think you’ve reached the summit, you’ll look up and realize you have a long way to go. There are several false summits on Old Rag – they will fool you into thinking “We made it!” But you haven’t made it until you see the “Old Rag Summit – Elevation 3,291” sign – the only way to know for sure you’ve reached the top.

So how does one prepare for Old Rag? If you’re a beginner, and reasonably fit, perhaps try the Bearfence Mountain rock scramble in Shenandoah National Park to get a feel for rock scrambling. You will need to have some upper body strength, using caution on the Bearfence trail much in the same way you will on Old Rag. However, Bearfence is only a small fraction of the challenge you’ll find on Old Rag. A good introduction!

From a practical standpoint, here are some tips/things to know before attempting the Old Rag hike (I’ve taken much of this from the Old Rag SNP pamphlet, making some additions):

1. Do not attempt this hike unless you are reasonably fit. Be prepared: bring sturdy footwear (preferably good hiking shoes – but good sneakers are ok too), a lightweight flashlight, an extra layer of clothing, food and plenty of water. SNP recommends 3 liters of water per hiker when attempting Old Rag. That’s a lot of water! We probably brought about 2 and a half liters per hiker.
2. Be sure you know what time it gets dark and plan for extra time. Try to arrive at the trailhead early – the earlier the better. You do NOT want to risk hiking down the mountain in the dark.
3. Do NOT attempt to hike Old Rag when rocks are wet or icy. If it rains, pick a different trail or a different day. The rocks get very slippery and it is WAY too risky.
4. Young children should NOT hike Old Rag. Tweens and teens MAY be ok if they are in very good shape and mentally prepared for a long day. Pets are NOT allowed on Old Rag.
5. Cell phone service is unreliable. Plan to NOT have a signal for most of the day. Once we reach Sperryville our cell service is gone. That’s about a half hour before we reach the mountain.
6. PRINT directions or screen shot them so when you lose cell phone service you’ll still be able to find your way. You will be far from civilization. This is NOT in the typical part of SNP – this is NOT along Skyline Drive. The trailhead is at the bottom of the mountain.
7. You must pay an entrance fee or have an annual SNP pass. They DO take credit cards but you may want to bring cash just in case.
8. Weekends at Old Rag can be crowded and the parking lot can fill up. Try to hike Old Rag during the week to avoid crowds, or arrive early on the weekends. Early means between 7:00-8:00am on the weekends.
9. I’m repeating this for emphasis: bring plenty of food and water. We typically pack a couple of lunch boxes with ice packs to keep sandwiches cold, along with fruit, nuts, seeds, hummus, pretzels, etc. Energy bars are good to have on hand too.
10. A hiking backpack is better than a regular backpack because it has a chest strap and a strap at the hip/waist area to take pressure off of your back. If you don’t have one maybe you could borrow one from a friend. Only pack what you absolutely need!

Below is a link to more information about Old Rag. It is truly one of the most rewarding hikes on the East Coast. Prepare yourself and go for it 🙂

Click to access OldRag_Road-Trail_Web_2016.pdf