Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, and part of the Appalachians and the Appalachian Trail, we find Shenandoah National Park. Home of the Shenandoah River, the park is long and narrow with its famous Skyline Drive that runs the length of the park and is particularly spectacular in the fall when the leaves are changing. Creation of the park was originally proposed in 1901, but the park did not become a reality until 1935, following the creation of National Parks in the western United States and in Alaska. I go more in depth into the history and hikes in the park on my blog on Shenandoah National Park, which you can find here (coming soon!) and you can find out more on the history of National Parks in the US here (coming soon!).
One of the most popular in day hikes in Shenandoah National Park is Old Rag Mountain, it draws thousands of hikers every year. Topping out at just over 1000 meters (3,284 feet) and with a 9 mile loop trail that gives hikers spectacular views of the park, it's easy to see why this challenging hike is so popular. Unlike most of the mountains in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, Old Rag has an exposed peak where you can clearly see the Old Rag granite, which was formed over a billion years ago during what is known as Grenville Orogeny (aka a mountain building event). Old Rag is also a popular destination for rock climbers as it boasts large granite exposures reminiscent of those found in the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite, North Carolina and New Hampshire. There are climbs that are both beginner friendly and suitable for experts. There is bouldering on Old Rag as well, however it is less developed than the climbs.
The mountain is accessible via Virginia State Route 600 and there are 2 (they may have
added more) parking lots. the farther lot being about .08 miles from the trailhead, so during high season try to get there early. The lots are monitored by park rangers and there is a small fee to access the mountain. Camping is not allowed on the peak or along the ridge line, it is allowed below the Byrds Nest Shelter on the far side of the mountain, it's often used by those hiking the length of the park or the Appalachian Trail. It is considered back country camping, so make sure you know proper etiquette and are prepared. The forest on Old Rag is mostly hardwood and is comprised of oaks, hickories and maples, in some areas of the mountain the forest has only been growing since 1953, prior to that the land had been cleared to grow corn.
Unlike hikes in Korea, which tend to go straight up the mountain, most hiking courses in
America have switchbacks, and Old Rag is no exception. This makes the hike up the mountain a bit more leisurely (although potentially more time consuming) when compared to charging straight up it. There are a number of areas that involve scrambling over, under, or between rocks as you climb the mountain. Some of the most notable scrambles include the natural staircase formed from diabase, there is also a crevice formed from the same type of rock. There is also a "cave" formed from diabase and charnockite, for those that don't enjoy smaller spaces (raises hand) don't worry too much as it's a pretty quick journey to the other side.
From the summit you can take the Saddle Trail down the mountain to the Weakley Hallow Fire Road, this bit reminds me a lot of the descent from Mt Batur on Bali, sandy and seeming to go on forever. The views on this part of the hike stay mostly the same and you don't have the geological features and scrambles that make the climb so interesting.
The Hike
My last adventure to Old Rag was in September with a friend of mine who had moved from Texas to Virginia. We set out early (it's about a 2 and 1/2 hour drive from Baltimore) with the goal of starting our hike around 9am (it's still pretty hot in September) to avoid the worst of the heat and complete the 9 hour route and make the drive back to Baltimore before dark. Even though it was a weekend, there was plenty of parking in the lot closest to the trailhead off of route 600 (there is another way to access Old Rag off Skyline Drive), the entrance fee to the park is $25, entrance is covered if you have a National Park pass (which I do). While many blogs say that you should train and prepare to hike Old Rag, I don't think that's necessary. Many of the people we encountered on the trail were not regular hikers and even though I am, my friend is not and had certainly never hiked anything with the altitude gain of Old Rag...he was fine. We took plenty of water, lunch for the peak and several snacks, just in case
(I get hungry). While we did see a number of people on the hike up the mountain, but there were never any traffic jams, although, we did stop a lot to indulge in my urges for picture taking. As the summit of Old Rag is open, there was plenty of space to spread out, enjoy the view, and eat lunch, I've heard that when it is really crowded this can be harder to do. The hike down the mountain is quite boring (in my opinion) and I felt like it took forever to hike down in comparison to hiking up. The whole hike took us around 8 hours to complete the whole hike, with about an hour spent on the summit.
There is a plethora of wildlife in the Blue Ridge mountains, while you're most likely to see chipmunks, squirrels and birds...bears and bobcats do live in the area and have been seen on Old Rag. There is a way to access Old Rag from Skyline Drive, but it is a much longer hike as it includes Robertson Mountain, Old Rag is also part of the Appalachian Trail hike (you can do it in sections, I've done the Shenandoah section and another section in Maryland), if you're attempting either of these hikes you'll want a more detailed
What's the best season to hike Old Rag? Every season! It really depends what scenery you want to take in on the peak; the barrenness of winter, the stunning colors of fall foliage, the greenery of summer or the new blooms of spring. Winter is when the mountain is least busy, so if you're seeking some solitude at the peak, this will be the best option for you. Late spring through mid-autumn is when the mountain is busiest and during these months you may want to plan for an early arrival. If you're hiking in the Virginia area, Shenandoah National Park and Old Rag Mountain are some spectacular areas to enjoy hiking and nature.
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