There are lots of great hikes around Frederick that are only a short distance away. The Annapolis Rock Trail hike is less than 30 minutes from Frederick. Cunningham Falls and High Rock Lookout are other great hikes close to Frederick. But if you are willing to drive a little further, you can experience a truly epic experience: the Old Rag Hike in Shenandoah National Park.
The Old Rag Mountain Hike is the best hike in Virginia and is consistently ranked as one of the best anywhere. It’s a grueling, physical, and breathtaking experience that is not for everyone. But ask anyone who finishes this hike and they will tell you how rewarding it can be.
Contents: Guide to the Old Rag Hike
Overview of The Old Rag Hike in Shenandoah National Park
This article describes the Old Rag Mountain Loop Trail (Old Rag Circuit Trail), which is the most popular Old Rag hike. This hike begins at the main parking lot and combines the Ridge Trail, Saddle Trail, and Weakley Hollow Fire Road to create a loop.
- Trailhead Location: Old Rag Parking and Ranger Station
- Distance From Frederick: ~99 miles, ~2 hours 10 minutes (depending on route)
- Fee and Passes: $2 Pass Required, plus National Park Pass ($30 for 7 Days), read below
- Parking: Multiple Lots (read below)
- Total Distance: 9.5 miles, Loop
- Duration: ~5 Hours Minimum, 6-8 Possible
- Elevation Gain: 2,348 feet
- Difficulty: Very Difficult
- Dog Friendly: No
This National Park Service map provides detailed route information on this Old Rag Circuit Hike, along with several alternate hikes in the area.
Old Rag Hike: Know Before You Go
The Old Rag Hike is spectacular for many reasons. It takes you deep into the woods of Shenandoah National Park. The summit, at 3,284 feet, has spectacular 360-degree views, and the rock scrambles to get there are fun.
But this is no ordinary hike. Here are things to know before you make plans to tackle the Old Rag Mountain Hike:
- This is a long, grueling hike. The total distance is close to 10 miles, and the elevation gain is ~2,400 feet.
- The hike takes at least 5 hours and 6-8 hours for some.
- Climbing the last mile to the summit involves significant rock scrambling. Climbing, scaling, squeezing between rocks. Super fun, but requiring some athleticism.
- You need quality footwear. Hiking shoes or boots are preferable. Sneakers are okay, but sandals or flip-flops won’t work.
- Take plenty of water (i.e. more than 1 small bottle), especially on a warm day. A hiking backpack with a water bladder works best.
- Avoid this hike during rain or inclement weather. Wet rocks make the scrambling treacherous.
- Do not do this hike with your dog or small children. (Pets are not allowed).
- This hike requires a permit and a National Park Pass (read more below).
- Parking lots fill up very early, especially in summer and on weekends. Arrive early.
Permits, Passes, and Preparation before Heading to Old Rag
It’s important to plan ahead for the Old Rag hike, as it is very popular and has had a permit system since 2022. You also need a National Park Service Pass since this hike is technically in Shenandoah National Park, even though you’ll be approaching from the east and not from the central throughway in the park—Skyline Drive.
Old Rag Day-Use Pass
You must get an Old Rag Day-Use pass on Recreation.gov.
- Passes are $2
- 800 passes are issued per day. The Park Services releases 400 passes 30 days in advance and the other 400 5 days in advance.
- DON’T try to skip this, as the ranger station at the trailhead will check your pass.
National Park Service Pass
You also need a Park Entrance Pass, the cost of which depends on how you enter.
- Entering by Car: $30
- Entering by Motorcycle: $25
- Entering on Foot: $15
- This pass is good for 7 days
- Alternatively, you can use
- Shenandoah Annual Pass ($55) – good for 1 year
- America The Beautiful Pass ($80) – good for 1 year for all National Parks
Getting to Old Rag in Shenandoah
The Old Rag hike trailhead is located just outside Shenandoah National Park, slightly over two hours from Frederick. For directions, plug-in ‘Old Rag Parking (Ranger Station)‘ into your favorite maps app.
There are multiple routes to get there from Frederick, and Google Maps offers alternatives. You can drive down I-270 to I-495 to I-66. This is often the fastest but the least interesting route.
Alternatively, you can drive down US 340 through Brunswick, straight down through Loudoun County, Virginia, through backroads, and eventually through Sperryville, VA. Traveling through US-340 through Front Royal is another route.
We usually take the fast route on our way to the Old Rag Hike, then the more scenic route on the way back.
Parking at the Old Rag Hike Trailhead
Parking is a serious consideration when planning the Old Rag Hike. The main parking lot at the trailhead is quite large. But given the popularity of the Old Rag Mountain Hike, it fills up fast, especially during the summer and on weekends.
When heading to the trailhead, you’ll approach the main parking lot (lot 1) first. This is where the ranger station and trailhead are located. If this lot is full, you’ll see signs directing you further onto the overflow lot (lot 2).
If you have to park in lot 2, don’t fret. It’s very adjacent, a short walk down to the trailhead. In fact, the end of the Old Rag Circuit hike spills out into lot 2.
It’s possible that both lots 1 and 2 will be full. In this case, there is a second overflow lot (lot 3). However, this lot is a few hundred meters back down the inbound road.
You’ll likely see local property owners offering parking on their private lots. However, you still must pay for a National Park Service Pass regardless of where you park.
Overview of the Old Rag Mountain Loop Route
You arrived, parked, and checked in with your passes, so you are ready for the hike! You’ll be embarking on quite an experience.
You’ll start on the Ridge Trail and immediately head into the Shenandoah forest. Note that you’ll want to follow the blue blazes throughout the hike (and this is especially important during the scramble).
The climbing up also starts immediately, so be ready for switchbacks that take you to higher elevations. Wildlife, mushrooms, and various trees and flowers are notable during this section.
The Fun Old Rag Rock Scramble Near the Summit
After just over 2 miles of climbing, you’ll reach the epic part of Old Rag, the rock scramble area. While climbing over occasional rocks is not unusual on many Appalachian hikes, Old Rag takes it to another level. On this hike, you’ll scramble for over an hour until you reach the summit.
The rock scramble is strenuous. You must climb several mini walls, maneuver crevices, and inch your way up and down boulders. The route is not always obvious, so constantly looking for blue blazes is important.
Some rock passages are extra difficult and can cause traffic jams on crowded days. At times, I’ve had to assist other hikers in getting past difficult areas.
The rock scramble will push you, but it’s rewarding and fun. Solid hiking shoes become a must in this area. You’ll also reach what looks like the summit (great views) several times, only to look on and see more mountain and rocks beyond.
Signage will indicate when you’ve truly reached the Old Rag Summit, likely exhausted but exhilarated. The summit area is fabulous, with rocky viewpoints in multiple directions.
Despite being there with many other hikers, it’s almost always possible to find a place of solitude to enjoy the view and experience.
Finishing the Old Rag Hike via Saddle Trail
At the Old Rag Summit, we usually enjoy a snack and plenty of solitude. But don’t linger too long; the trek down is a 5.2-mile descent.
Follow signs for the Saddle Trail, which descends gradually through thick forest for 1.5 miles until you reach the Old Rag Day Use Shelter. After another almost 0.5 miles, you reach the intersection with the Weakley Hollow Fire Road.
The last 3.5 miles of the Old Rag loop follow the fire road and are generally considered the least exciting part of the hike. Try to enjoy this section; it’s mostly flat, heavily wooded, very green in summer and a gradual way to end this epic journey.
The fire road eventually leads you back to the parking lots.
Suggested After Hike Meal: Rappahannock Pizza and Francis Sperryville
You will end this hike tired, and HUNGRY, just as Nicole, Alyssa, and I were when we finished it recently. You deserve to reward yourself with a satisfying meal and few drinks…you’ve earned it!
We discovered the PERFECT place a short way away on the route back to Frederick.
Sperryville is a small, picturesque Virginia mountain town 20 minutes away from the Old Rag parking lot. On our way into the hike, we noticed Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen and decided to stop by afterward.
RPK is a craft brick-oven pizza place that shares a venue with a country store (Sperryville Corner Store) and a small but elegant bar called Francis Sperryville (which serves RPK food).
We were lucky enough to grab one of the few tables in the Francis bar and ordered drinks, an insane amount of appetizers, and pizza as a reward for our 10 miles of trekking.
We highly recommend you build RPK and Francis into your Old Rag itinerary!
