Old Rag mountain is probably on of the most popular destinations when hikers travel to Virginia, The mountain boasts 3,284 feet in elevation! The trail also is littered with various rock scrambles which require hand and foot work.

From fellow hikers and locals it was passed on that in the summer months it actually gets very crowded and there are actually lines that from in some parts of the trail! We decided to go in October and that appeared to be the best time to go. The parking lot at the base of the mountain was not to crowded, in order to get a spot you must purchase a state park pass, in this case we had ours. (they are good for seven days.)

After loading up or backs locking our car, we headed down the paved road toward the trail head. The road begins to turn to gravel as you approach and you can see ATTENTION: BEARS IN THIS AREA signs as you go up. There are two ways you can go up, the one is a easier trail without scrambles and the false summits, while the other one features scrambles and false summits, guess which one we picked? The fun one.

Going up you feel a gradual incline which is welcomed with switchbacks, as you make towards the top the scramble come as a pleasant surprise, but with patience can be overcome. Reaching many false summits we took our time to the top.

The trail had blazes all in blue which at one point had an arrow pointing down into a seven foot hole! While hiking this Kelly told me that nine year old kids do this hike all the time, crazy! There was also a section where a rock fell and became wedged into the rock walkway between two hug rock walls.

The trail does feature two shelter for day use and a privy on the last shelter. So if you need to use the shelter or privy be sure to start the other way

The hike took us a total of 6 hours and 17 minutes, this included completing the whole loop of 9.8 miles stopping and staring out at all of the summits, eating lunch, and meeting great fellow hikers from all over, this trail has a lot to offer and many people come back from all over to do it over again.

Definitely made the trip worthwhile!

safe travels,

mike