Old Rag may be the most popular hike in Virginia. It’s certainly on more than a few bucket lists, as hikers from near and far flock to Shenandoah National Park for Old Rag’s rock scrambles and 360-degree panoramas. This 9.8-mile hike, which may take anywhere from five to eight hours to complete, is wildly Insta-worthy, but it’s also undeniably strenuous.
That’s not to say that you should remove this hike from your bucket list. However, you will want to wear the right shoes (no flip-flops), bring plenty of water, and most importantly, know your limits. There is absolutely no shame in turning back at any point on this hike.
Be Prepared
First things first, you can’t just show up and hike Old Rag. At least, not anymore. A day-use ticket is required to hike Old Rag between March and November. Tickets cost $2 each and can only be purchased from Recreation.gov, either online or through the mobile app.
Given cell service is nearly non-existent at the base of Old Rag, you’ll want to either print out your ticket or take a screenshot of the QR code ticket on your phone. The day-use ticket program started in 2022 to help combat over-crowding on this popular hiking route. Note that the day-use ticket fee is in addition to the $30 per car fee to enter the park.
It’s also important to note that the Old Rag hike is not accessible from Skyline Drive. Instead, set your GPS for 3577 Nethers Rd. in Etlan. There are three parking lots, including an overflow lot. The lots will fill up, but not like they did before the day-use ticket program started.
Get Hiking
At the front of lot one, you’ll see the ranger station, as well as a couple of vault toilets. The trailhead is on the left when you’re ready to start this loop hike, which is typically tackled clockwise. The infamous rock scramble, which requires hikers to navigate tight spaces, slide down granite surfaces, and dig deep to climb up onto rocks and boulders, can be exhilarating.
If the scramble isn’t for you, however, there’s a rocky outcrop at the 2.6-mile mark that wows with seriously eye-pleasing views. Soak them in, then turn around for a 5.2-mile hike. Or tackle this hike counterclockwise, which lets you skip the scramble but still summit the mountain. Re-trace your steps for a 10.2-mile hike. Post-hike, celebrate with a glass of wine on an outdoor patio at Sharp Rock Vineyards or DuCard Vineyards.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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