With numerous panoramic viewpoints and one of the most challenging rock scrambles in the park, Old Rag Mountain Hike is one of the most popular and most dangerous hikes in the region due to its length and the difficulty of the terrain. The most common route to the top is a 14 km (9 mi) loop trail that starts at the parking area. Note that even experienced hikers often struggle to scramble across the giant granite boulders that make up some parts of the trail. To avoid the crowds, go during the week. Plan to visit Old Rag Mountain Hike and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Shenandoah National Park attractions using our Shenandoah National Park trip planner.
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Old Rag Mountain Hike reviews
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I hiked Old Rag on a Sunday in late August. Unfortunately, it had stormed pretty hard the night before, but I was in from Ohio, so I had no choice but to do the best I could in the circumstances... more »
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This hike was amazing! We arrived at the Old Rag Parking lot at 8 AM to give us enough time to get up the mountain. We thought that the beginning of the hike was pretty hard because it was an... more »
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This is a great hike...about 2miles of rock climbing at the top which makes this challenging. The view from the top is breathtaking. Recommend doing it in fall when the temperatures are cooler and leaves are changing colors.
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One of the best hikes in this area and therefore has become crowded. Arrive early as in before 0700 to beat the crowds on the weekends. Bring water and fuel packed snacks. Allow 6 hours or longer to take in the vistas.
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