Old Rag is deservedly considered one of the best hikes in Virginia (and the world). It’s a 9.8 mile lollipop style hike in Shenandoah National Park with over 2,300 feet of elevation gain. With its famed rock scramble and incredible mountain top views, it is a must do hike while in Central Virginia. Follow these tips for hiking Old Rag in order to have the best experience possible.
Avoid weekends and holidays
The parking lots can fill up early on busy days so aim for weekdays and off season. There are also a few places in the rock scramble that can cause 60-90 min delays when there are lines of people heading to the summit.
Bring a friend
This is not a good solo hike. The rock scramble is serious business, and it’s helpful to have a friend to help you along. Many hikers are injured on this hike each year, so it’s also a good idea for safety.
Leave your dogs and young children at home.
Dogs are not allowed on this hike. Baby backpacks would be a really bad idea. Athletic and coordinated children aged 8+ would be a good fit for this hike. They will need assistance to get up and down the trickier sections.
Bring plenty of food and water
Plan on a 2 quart minimum for fluids. It takes about 6 hours to complete the hike, so bring lunch to enjoy on the summit.
But…pack light
There are some very tight spaces on this hike so small backpacks or Fanny packs are preferable to large frame packs.
Follow the map
This trail is lined with blue blazes and arrows, which must be followed (especially during the rock scramble section). There are several false summits, where you feel like you are at the top, but you are not! Keep going until you see signs for the summit. You take a different trail down the mountain (so you don’t repeat the rock scramble) so pay attention to trail signs as you are heading down from the summit.
Check out this official trail map from the National Park service!
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/OldRag_RoadTrail.pdf
Have fun!
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