So you want to hike Old Rag? But you’ve seen mixed reviews about the hike all over the internet and not sure what to trust? Well, I am going to take you on a deep dive through everything you need to know before hiking this hard hike in Shenandoah National Park. Old Rag is on the list of one of the most challenging hikes on the east coast of the United States. It is a 9.3 mile loop with 2,608 foot elevation gain (according to AllTrails) and is located on the northeast side of Shenandoah National Park. There are multiple reviews and questions regarding this hike, so it can sometimes be hard to get a clear picture of if it is the right hike for you. My goal is to share everything you need to know for this hike, in hopes that it will give you a better idea of what you are walking (or hiking) into, so you are better equipped for the challenge of Old Rag.
Getting to Old Rag Trailhead
Alright, first things first how to get to the trailhead. As I mentioned, Old Rag is located in Shenandoah National Park, however, the trailhead starts slightly outside of the park boundary. The closest town is Nethers, VA which is on the northeast side of the park. If you are using AllTrails, you can access the directions feature to map you to the parking lot of the trailhead. I would be sure to download the trail map ahead of time, and also starting the driving directions while you have service. Even a good 15-20 minutes before arriving to the parking lot, our service was very spotty. If you do not have AllTrails to access driving directions, you can use Google Maps and search “Old Rag Parking” and that should also direct you to the correct spot. There are two relatively large parking lots, so if you arrive early or are visiting during non-peak times, you shouldn’t have a problem with parking.
The other important thing to note before arriving to the trailhead, is making sure you have purchased a Day Use Pass. Although, Old Rag is difficult, it still attracts many hikers and in order to keep people safe, the NPS limits the amount of hikers on the trial each day. Generally, you shouldn’t have a problem securing a pass, especially if you plan ahead, but I would double check availability in the summer months when it is most popular. Tickets are only $2 (kids & adults) and you do need one for EACH person. When you arrive at the trailhead, you should be able to present your park pass AND your day use passes to the ranger. I will note, when we arrived early, there was not a ranger present, so I am unsure what times they are there. You can purchase day use passes here.
Alright, now that you are parked and ready to go, we can start talking about the actual hike. I am going to break this up into 3 parts because I feel like that is the best way to mentally tackle this hike. After I explain the parts of the hike, I will discuss which direction I recommend hiking.
First Part of Old Rag
The first 2-3 miles of this hike are mostly uphill on a dirt trail through the trees. Very doable, you just might need to take some breaks to catch your breath, especially if you are not used to higher elevation. This first part of the hike does not have much views other than the trees around you, however, they do provide nice shade. You will reach a point, a little under the 3 mile mark, that is considered to be a false summit. There is a large rock slab that offers a great view and is a perfect spot to snap a few Pixel Perfect photos and take a quick rest before beginning the rock scramble.
Middle Section aka Rock Scramble
Once, you have had a little snack and hike a little more, you get to the first boulders. It will be very obvious that you are starting the rock scramble portion of this hike as you will start to see markings on the rocks. At first when reading reviews about the hike I was not entirely sure what kind of rock scramble we would be encountering, because everyone has different ideas of what a rock scramble might entail. But let me tell you, this is 100% a rock scramble, maybe more of a boulder scramble, for a solid mile or so. You might be on your hands and knees crawling, you will be lowering yourself or pulling yourself up. It is definitely tiring, but also what makes this hike fun and unique.
A few things to consider. Your height does make a bit of a difference but should not deter you from doing this hike, especially if you are doing it with someone. There were a few spots where it would have been a little easier if I was taller, but I was still able to figure out how to get myself up or around. Sometimes, it was like a puzzle navigating the best route for yourself and your abilities. Remember to be patient and kind on this section of the trail. Some areas can get backed up because people are trying to safely navigate their way. Sometimes you might be able to offer someone a hand or you might find yourself looking for a little boost from a fellow hiker.
This section of the hike is the main reason it is important to download the trail map as there are some areas it may not be blatantly clear which way the path goes. You are navigating over boulders, have I mentioned that yet?! The NPS does have the trail marked with white hash marks painted on the rocks. If you find yourself unsure where to go, just look around and you should be able to spot a white mark nearby. You will notice other markings along this section as well, something like R22, these markings are in case there needs to be an emergency rescue, medical teams can locate where you are on the trail. Now, this is not to scare you into thinking rescues happen all the time, but accidents can happen and it is really easy to roll an ankle or injure yourself if you are not careful.
There were not really any areas that leave you exposed on the ledge, but you could venture over a few boulders to get a closer view from the edge. I was honestly a little more uneasy in some places where you had to go over some big cracks, with the possibility of falling through spaces between the boulders, than I was over the edge of the mountain. So if you are paying attention where you are walking, you should be just fine. If you are hiking this with younger children, I would definitely make sure they are comfortable with completing a long hike and climbing up and down boulders, but also just aware of staying on the right path as it can be easy to get turned around.
Once you reach the end of the rock scramble, you will see a sign that says “Old Rag Summit” which means YOU MADE IT! There are multiple areas at the summit for you to sit and enjoy the view. You can even climb up a few more boulders (if you aren’t tired of that yet) and get an even higher view. This is the perfect spot to enjoy your PB & J with a view and any other trail snacks you brought along. But be sure to save some for the trek down as you still have a little bit of work to do.
Descent of Old Rag
When you are ready to start your way down, you technically have two options. You can keep following the trail and complete the loop, or you can go back the way you came. I would suggest completing the loop, as going back the way you came, means doing the rock scramble again, just backwards. And if you are like me, that just sounds exhausting. We did not pass anyone going back this way, however, I did just want to mention it as an option because it is technically shorter mileage wise.
If you continue the trail down as a loop, you will have about 5.5 miles of the hike left. This first part of the descent is a lot of steps made from the rocks for about 1.5 miles. Eventually, you will come to the Old Rag shelter and the terrain changes a little bit. You will now start walking on the fire road. This part is not difficult, it is a gravel road through the trees, but it feels like you are on it forever. Once the fire road ends, you are brought back onto trail terrain. You will walk across a few short bridges and you will know you have almost completed Old Rag. The unfortunate part is, as you are nearing the end and your legs are probably tired, there is a little bit of uphill still left to do but it is not as steep as the beginning of the hike. I think it just feels hard because you are tired.
Once you reach the end of the short uphill section, the trail merges back to where you started and you will repeat a short amount of the path you did at beginning. Pretty soon, you will see glimpses of cars and there is a chance you will never be so happy in your life than to see a parking lot after a long day. Once, you reach the parking lot, you know you did it and you survived! Yay!!
Some Tips to Consider
- If you are someone (or hiking with someone) who has really bad knees or not able to bend their knees very well, I would be a little hesitant to complete this hike. At least the rock scramble part, as there are many times where you need the full motion of your knees to bend in order to get up or down. A few places you might even decide that crawling on your knees is the best option.
- If you have bad knees, but still want to reach the summit, you can consider doing the loop counterclockwise and hike to the top and then turn around and come back the way you came. This allows you to avoid the rock scramble but still get the view. This is also an option to consider if you want to hike to the top but you’re unsure about completing the rock scramble. This will change the mileage of the hike.
- Taking some sort of work or gardening gloves could be helpful for your hands during the rock scramble. As I mentioned you are having to lower and pull yourself up multiple times, so the gloves can help protect your hands. They can also be helpful if you are hiking after it has rained and the rocks are slick.
- Take PLENTY of water and snacks. Some people complete this hike in 4 hours, some complete it in 8 hours. I would definitely plan on this taking up most of your day. So be sure to be prepared to stay hydrated and fuel yourself as it is tiring. Especially, if you are doing this hike in the summer months.
Where to Stay Near Old Rag
If you are looking to stay somewhere specifically for this hike, I recommend looking in towns on the east side of the park, as you would have a shorter drive. Here are some of my favorite options on the east side of the park:
Old Rag Mountain Getaway
Old Rag A-Frame
Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges
Ridgetop Hideaway
If you are looking for places to explore Shenandoah National Park in general, I think the town of Luray, on the west side of the park, is your best option. It has many options for accommodations and restaurants and it is not too far from many of the popular hikes in the park. These are some great places to consider:
Hotel Laurance
The Legacy Inn
Home with fenced in yard
Peaceful Mountain Hideout
Zen Dome (unique stay)
If you choose to stay in Luray, I also highly recommend visiting the Luray Caverns, the largest cavern in the eastern United States. You can buy tickets ahead of time.
Gear Essentials
Park Pass– You will need a park pass to enter Shenandoah National Park. There are multiple options when purchasing a pass, so be sure to choose the one that is best for you and your travel. You will also need a Day Pass for EACH person when hiking Old Rag.
Hiking boots or trail runners– Pay attention to the time of year you are visiting and possible hiking conditions, as that might help you better determine the appropriate shoe. I definitely think trail runners are perfectly acceptable for this hike as long as they have good traction. If you are traveling during the winter months, be sure to look into spikes or snow cleats for your shoes.
Camelbak or Nalgene– You should always be prepared and hike with plenty of water. This hike especially during the summer months can be tiring. Camelbaks are a great option to keep your hands free and you are likely to drink more water.
Camera– Of course you won’t be able to capture your pixel perfect memories without a camera. Camera preference is your own, DSLR, GoPro, smart phone, etc. Just be sure you are able to go hands free and have a safe place for your camera during the rock scramble.
Hat & Sunglasses– Since you are hiking up in elevation, you are more prone to sunburn. Be sure to protect your skin! Check out Amazon for some great deals!
Hiking Poles– I would say only bring these if you absolutely need them for the descent or hike up. They can possibly be an annoyance during the rock scramble if you aren’t able to fold them and put them in a backpack. If you are unfamiliar with what hiking poles are best for you, I recommend checking out REI and seeing all of their great outdoor gear.
Snacks- You can’t forget the snacks! With all of the hiking and exploring, you will also want snacks to fuel your body so you can keep up with your adventures. You use and burn more energy than you think hiking, so be sure to pack some high energy and salty snacks.
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Remember to always respect our wonderful planet and national parks and leave no trace. Happy hiking!
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