Old Rag Mountain Hike
Old Rag Mountain Hike
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5.0
387 reviews
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Gabrielle
3 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
This hike was awesome!!! Super rewarding, excellent views, and really fun. Would definitely recommend going as early as possible. Me and my sister got there at 4:30am on a Saturday and half of the main parking lot was full. 4:30am-5:00am is most likely the best time to go because there were no lines, and comfortable room between hikers. We got passed a couple times as well as passing others but it was nothing crazy. Bring AT LEAST 2 liters of water. It’s a long hike so you are 100% going to need it. Me and my sister aren’t particularly in shape and completed the rock scramble w no problem (just lots of breaks). There are LOTS of narrow sections while bouldering so things will get increasingly harder for you the wider you are and you may have to be creative to finish.
The walk down from the peak is harsh on the knees and ankles because of how steep it is. The walk back to the parking lot feels longer than what you’d expect so make sure you bring a positive attitude. It’s a great hike though and would definitely recommend if ur a nature lover in the DMV area.
ALSO!! The views are much better than what they look like in pictures, so you are most likely going to be pleasantly surprised.
The walk down from the peak is harsh on the knees and ankles because of how steep it is. The walk back to the parking lot feels longer than what you’d expect so make sure you bring a positive attitude. It’s a great hike though and would definitely recommend if ur a nature lover in the DMV area.
ALSO!! The views are much better than what they look like in pictures, so you are most likely going to be pleasantly surprised.
Written November 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert M
2 contributions
May 2021
Having hiked Old Rag more than 30 times in the last 7-8 years, I can tell you this is a phenomenal hike. It will test your endurance and strength, but is very doable for someone in moderately good shape. Like any National Park, the pictures don't do it Justice. If you choose to do the loop, the Rock scramble is so much fun.
I have come up with a couple of terms to describe the ascent and the Decent:
Ascent: Brutally Awesome
Decent: The Punishing Reward
Two words of advice:
1. Wear GOOD and Grippy shoes. Trial runners and hiking shoes/boots work best. regular sneakers can work, but don't provide the best grip. Trust me on this one. Good shoes are your friend
2. Bring plenty of water (and some snacks). You will need it. ESPECIALLY if it is hot.
I can't recommend this hike enough. The people you meet on the trail are there on purpose, so they are in a better mood and enjoying themselves. You can't say that about most places you go to today..
I have come up with a couple of terms to describe the ascent and the Decent:
Ascent: Brutally Awesome
Decent: The Punishing Reward
Two words of advice:
1. Wear GOOD and Grippy shoes. Trial runners and hiking shoes/boots work best. regular sneakers can work, but don't provide the best grip. Trust me on this one. Good shoes are your friend
2. Bring plenty of water (and some snacks). You will need it. ESPECIALLY if it is hot.
I can't recommend this hike enough. The people you meet on the trail are there on purpose, so they are in a better mood and enjoying themselves. You can't say that about most places you go to today..
Written May 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
luv4phood
Marietta, GA850 contributions
Apr 2022
This is a fun hike only a 2 hour drive from DC. There is a reservation system in place for this hike. Unfortunately, there were people in line ahead of us who made the drive and were unaware that reservations were required. It is a nominal charge for the advance reservation. From the trailhead, the hike climbed quickly which definitely earned it the rating of strenuous. A lot of reviews discussed the danger of the rock scramble that hikers reach at about the 2.5 mile mark. This is not a climb, but a scramble. It is a little adventure around each corner. Take your time and enjoy the scenery!
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim
70 contributions
Jul 2021
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 incline up over small rocks. When we reached the rock scramble we took our time and had a lot of fun! I think that the rocks scramble and the summit were everyone's favorite parts of the hike. We made it to the top at around 12:30 PM since we took a lot of breaks. We stayed at the top for a while and enjoyed the splendid view, then made our way down the other side. For us the trip down was the hardest, since it was the longest stretch and there were more gravel and rocks than on the way up. We ended the trail at around 4 PM.
I would recommend that people go early to give themselves enough time to summit, bring good shoes, lots of water and snacks, and a map (which they hand out at the ranger station at the parking lot). Keep an eye out for blue markers to stay on the trail and watch the weather. As the rocks are already worn and some are a bit slippery, finding good conditions are ideal so you don't fall.
If you are in decent shape, this hike should be good for you. We saw a family with young kids (ages 5-7) that climbed to the top. For those birdwatchers we did not see as many birds as we heard, but we did see an Eastern Towhee, swallows, and red-headed and black vultures.
Have fun hiking!
I would recommend that people go early to give themselves enough time to summit, bring good shoes, lots of water and snacks, and a map (which they hand out at the ranger station at the parking lot). Keep an eye out for blue markers to stay on the trail and watch the weather. As the rocks are already worn and some are a bit slippery, finding good conditions are ideal so you don't fall.
If you are in decent shape, this hike should be good for you. We saw a family with young kids (ages 5-7) that climbed to the top. For those birdwatchers we did not see as many birds as we heard, but we did see an Eastern Towhee, swallows, and red-headed and black vultures.
Have fun hiking!
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ka
Montvale, NJ4 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
We hiked the loop from the Berry Hollow Parking Lot because we followed our vehicle GPS (oops) but it worked out just fine meaning we got a spot (mid-week around 10:30). I left my Old Rag passes on my dashboard and the NP pass hanging from my rear view mirror because the lot didn’t have anyone there to check for the passes. There was a Park Ranger checking for our Old Rag passes at the start of the loop about 0.8 miles from the parking area. We had two kids ages 9 & 10 with us. We packed lots of water, sandwiches, snacks. It was a great hike for all of us. It wasn’t crowded, only 1 short holdup to wait for someone to figure out how to get up one section of scramble. The kids were just big enough (tall & strong enough) to handle the scrambling with almost no assistance. Doing the loop from Berry Hollow allowed us to start & end on a woods road. The water sources were not really where we might have needed them, early and late in the hike (we always carry a water filter).
Written April 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chip1953
Norfolk, VA93 contributions
May 2021 • Solo
I googled Old Rag, and found a staged pic of craziness showing the “Leap of Faith” along the Ridge Trail. Given that I’m 68 and was hiking solo, I took the backside Berry Hollow Trail. It’s a beautiful trail in itself, winding through the forest and boulders with switchbacks and vistas. And everyone ends up at the same summit. The summit itself and its vistas on a clear day can’t be matched on the East Coast. The NPS description said to plan for 7 hrs but even with lunch and taking lots of photos, it only took only 5. Having now seen the Ridge Trail pics on this site, I’m game for going back solo and tackling it. This was flat out wonderful.
Written May 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fatalinda
Washington DC, DC71 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
We parked at the Berry Hollow Parking hoping to do the loop in reverse. We soon learned that the mile long lines to pass through the Rock Scramble are only passable in one direction with the amount of foot traffic. It was so crowded!!
A lot of posts mention footwear, and while hiking boots are certainly a great help, they are not necessary on a dry day. The most important advice I would share is BRING GLOVES! Climbing through the rocks is very uncomfortable and rough on your hands. The views are beautiful. Can't wait to return again.
A lot of posts mention footwear, and while hiking boots are certainly a great help, they are not necessary on a dry day. The most important advice I would share is BRING GLOVES! Climbing through the rocks is very uncomfortable and rough on your hands. The views are beautiful. Can't wait to return again.
Written November 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam V
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Friends
I hiked Old Rag the Monday before Thanksgiving and had an incredible experience.
Some takeaways from my trip:
Driving: I left DC at 6am and pulled up just after 8am. It would’ve been sooner but I got turned around because my GPS stopped working. Plan ahead for that if you’re going for the first time.
Parking: The Old Rag parking lot was pretty empty when we arrived. Because we arrived fairly early on a Monday, we had no problem pulling right up and finding a space near the front.
Weather: When we arrived the temperature was below freezing. We noticed frozen-over creeks and icicles throughout the the trail. Given how cold it was, in hindsight I should’ve packed hand warmers. Even though I had gloves and quickly worked up a sweat bouldering, my hands were cold for half the hike. By the time we finished the hike the temps had climbed to 55 degrees
Trail: From the trailhead, I underestimated how long the ascent along switchbacks would take. Based on other reviews I read it said ~2 miles but really it seemed like 3 miles before reaching the boulders. Prepare to workout your glutes, quads, and hamstrings! I found the bouldering section to be my favorite part because of how challenging it was. You definitely need good upper body strength for some parts. The summit is breathtaking but so are several of the false summits — don’t forget to stop and snap photos on the way up. My least favorite leg of the hike was the descent. Walking downhill and then trekking over rocky roadways for several miles killed my feet.
Food/Beverage: I packed some energy gummies, seasoned nuts, and jerky. I also had a 3L hydration pack of water but only drank maybe 32 oz.
Overall: I’m glad I did this bucket list hike with two other people. While you can go it alone, I’d recommend at least one other person. Aldo, don’t try this hike if you haven’t done a difficult-but-smaller hike first as it might push your limits. My group was pretty conditioned and finished in 5.5 hours, which included a few stops along the way to the summit and a nice break at the top.
Some takeaways from my trip:
Driving: I left DC at 6am and pulled up just after 8am. It would’ve been sooner but I got turned around because my GPS stopped working. Plan ahead for that if you’re going for the first time.
Parking: The Old Rag parking lot was pretty empty when we arrived. Because we arrived fairly early on a Monday, we had no problem pulling right up and finding a space near the front.
Weather: When we arrived the temperature was below freezing. We noticed frozen-over creeks and icicles throughout the the trail. Given how cold it was, in hindsight I should’ve packed hand warmers. Even though I had gloves and quickly worked up a sweat bouldering, my hands were cold for half the hike. By the time we finished the hike the temps had climbed to 55 degrees
Trail: From the trailhead, I underestimated how long the ascent along switchbacks would take. Based on other reviews I read it said ~2 miles but really it seemed like 3 miles before reaching the boulders. Prepare to workout your glutes, quads, and hamstrings! I found the bouldering section to be my favorite part because of how challenging it was. You definitely need good upper body strength for some parts. The summit is breathtaking but so are several of the false summits — don’t forget to stop and snap photos on the way up. My least favorite leg of the hike was the descent. Walking downhill and then trekking over rocky roadways for several miles killed my feet.
Food/Beverage: I packed some energy gummies, seasoned nuts, and jerky. I also had a 3L hydration pack of water but only drank maybe 32 oz.
Overall: I’m glad I did this bucket list hike with two other people. While you can go it alone, I’d recommend at least one other person. Aldo, don’t try this hike if you haven’t done a difficult-but-smaller hike first as it might push your limits. My group was pretty conditioned and finished in 5.5 hours, which included a few stops along the way to the summit and a nice break at the top.
Written November 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jess
Ferndale, MI309 contributions
May 2021
Old Rag is one of the harder hikes I have done thus far in my life. I was expecting it and was so proud of making it happen! We arrived to the parking lot a little before 8am on a Friday and had no trouble parking. We ran into people on the trail, but no issues with delays at all on the scramble. It was the weekend of the gas shortage, so that might have had an effect as well.
The hike up to the rock scramble isn't too bad, just a consistent incline. The rock scramble is physically taxing, but just know you can make it. I am only 5'2" so some parts with reach were harder for me, but with the help of my hiking buddies in two/three spots, I made it! Also note, there are a lot of false summits on the hike. The last false summit really feels like the top, so just remember, you aren't at the top until you see the brown summit sign.
The hike down is longer then the hike up, but once you hit Fire road, its a pretty smooth (never ending) walk. Beware: the signs letting you know you are 2.5 miles from the parking lot are incorrect. That is an outdated sign only getting you to the old parking lot that is no longer in use. Once you reach that parking lot there is another 1.2 miles to go. Which makes the hike more like 10.5 miles then the 9ish listed in all the books and stuff.
PS: this is the illegal way to go, but if you do walk down the paved road that connects the old parking lot, you will pop out on a side street for a minute and be right near the new parking lot. Its more like a .3 mile walk then the new 1.2 mile up hill trail.
The hike up to the rock scramble isn't too bad, just a consistent incline. The rock scramble is physically taxing, but just know you can make it. I am only 5'2" so some parts with reach were harder for me, but with the help of my hiking buddies in two/three spots, I made it! Also note, there are a lot of false summits on the hike. The last false summit really feels like the top, so just remember, you aren't at the top until you see the brown summit sign.
The hike down is longer then the hike up, but once you hit Fire road, its a pretty smooth (never ending) walk. Beware: the signs letting you know you are 2.5 miles from the parking lot are incorrect. That is an outdated sign only getting you to the old parking lot that is no longer in use. Once you reach that parking lot there is another 1.2 miles to go. Which makes the hike more like 10.5 miles then the 9ish listed in all the books and stuff.
PS: this is the illegal way to go, but if you do walk down the paved road that connects the old parking lot, you will pop out on a side street for a minute and be right near the new parking lot. Its more like a .3 mile walk then the new 1.2 mile up hill trail.
Written May 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joshua60713
San Francisco, CA25 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
The hike is great. There are a lot of hikes in the DMV where you get warned that it's not easy, this is the only one I've been on where it's true. The only problem is the Park Service.
We showed up to hike and the ranger said we need to have made a reservation online ahead of time. How were we supposed to know that? That is not common for Park Service hikes, and I've hiked Old Rag before and it didn't used to be necessary. So we can make the reservation right now, right? Except there is no cell service here, and the ranger knew that. So we had to waste 45 minutes driving to the nearest town and back just get a phone signal. The ranger said about 1/3 of everyone who comes to hike have to go through this. So they know this is a problem, but they don't put up road signs while you still have a signal, or let you use wi-fi to do it. Very aggravating.
We showed up to hike and the ranger said we need to have made a reservation online ahead of time. How were we supposed to know that? That is not common for Park Service hikes, and I've hiked Old Rag before and it didn't used to be necessary. So we can make the reservation right now, right? Except there is no cell service here, and the ranger knew that. So we had to waste 45 minutes driving to the nearest town and back just get a phone signal. The ranger said about 1/3 of everyone who comes to hike have to go through this. So they know this is a problem, but they don't put up road signs while you still have a signal, or let you use wi-fi to do it. Very aggravating.
Written July 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any restrooms along the hike?
Written October 30, 2020
I believe there was one along Old Rag if I am remembering correctly.
Written January 11, 2021
I have read that there is a lot of rock scramble. Can anyone tell me how this compares to Billy Goat Trail Hike near Potomac? Also, is the parking actually $30.00 and is there also a fee to enter the trail. Thanks!
Written August 3, 2020
The 30$ is the entrance fee to the national park the trial is essentially included in this fee. You can pay at the trial head and the receipt is good for 7 days.
I’ve completed the bully goat trial a couple times and this is much more challenging than that trial. You need at least a little upper body stench for this trial and it’s all up or down there’s no flat portion expect a small short portion of the fire trial you end up on for a couple of miles. If I were to rate difficulty I’d say billy goat is 6.5 out of 10 and this was 9.3 out of 10. If you can do it it’s worth it though!
Written October 10, 2020
I'm going to Macchu Picchu next month...for those that made the hike to MP...is Old Rag's hike more difficult than MP?
Written June 21, 2019
What is the address to put on my GPS? Does anyone have the longitude and latitude of the parking lot?
Written August 8, 2018
From Sperryville, Route 211: Take Route 522 south for .8 mile. Turn right onto Route 231 and go 8 miles. Turn right onto Route 601 and follow the signs to the parking area (approximately 3 miles).
From Madison, Route 29 Business: TakeRoute 231 for 12.8 miles. Turn left onto Route 602 and follow the signs to the parking area (approximately 3 miles).
Written September 17, 2018
If you do the whole circuit loop it is 9 miles!! Go with good hiking shoes, sticks, and plenty of water. Be safe and have fun. It is a hard trail but worth it.
Written January 17, 2018
jmacaco4
Alexandria, Virginia
I'm going this Sunday. Will I encounter bears, snakes, or bees? Sneakers or hiking boots?
Written October 31, 2017
Hiking boots. You will probably be okay up to the top, but once you get there, there is a lot of places to twist an ankle. I doubt you would see snakes this time of year, or many bears.
Written November 14, 2017
Hello, I have done this hike a few times and would love to do it at night and get to the top for sunrise. My only concern is that I may get lost during the rock scramble. I know during the day, you can see which direction you need to go but I don't know if it will be as obvious during the dark. What was your experience with this?
Written September 21, 2017
Don't do it at night; it's not safe. Actually, since it is a national park I think they close the trail at night.
Written September 22, 2017
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