Round Trip Distance: 5.6 miles (to summit and back by the Ridge Trail) 7.2 miles using Weakley Hollow Fire Road as a loop).
Trail Rating: Difficult in Places -- Rock Scramble and some climbing --Moderate difficulty on non-rocky portions of the trail. Easy return walk on Weakley Hollow Fire Road, well maintained trail. about 2000' elevation change.
Reference: PATC Map 10 (available at entrance stations)
Reference: Heatwole's Guide.

The trail begins with a mile and a half of moderate uphill walking through pleasant forest. Trail blazes are blue. You will soon find yourself on the rocky ridge where you will encounter a series of boulders, rock shelves and other interesting formations (see below). There are places where you will climb and pull yourself up over rocks. On a hot day you will drink a fair amount of water. The mile or so of rocky challenges is why you came here! It will probably take you longer than you think - particularly on a busy weekend when there is a wait at the places you have to climb.

You will think you have arrived at the summit only to follow the blue marks to another climb. there is a place where you will follow a crevasse into the mountain where a delightful breeze is often present to cool you off. You will soon see why this hike is so unique and so popular. We consider the trail well marked. Follow the blue blazes and you will be fine. At the summit a sign warns that you need to be responsible for your group since the Park Service must devote many hours and resources every year to searching for lost hikers. As a fairly competent back-country person, I find the idea of getting lost in Shenandoah Park somewhat hard to believe, but BELIEVE IT! Most people who get lost do so by trying to 'shortcut' where the trail switches back. They mess up by missing the trail when it switches back again and wander into deep brush where they become disoriented.

If you like to hike off trail, this is not the place for it, as the delicate vegetation is easily damaged by foot traffic. No camping is permitted and care must be taken by day visitors to preserve the beauty of the Old Rag area.

This trail is really worth an off-season trip or taking a day off during the week. It's popularity has lead the Park Service to use the present fee-management system where you pay to hike and a remote parking lot is provided. If you have a season pass ($30.00) it allows you and your immediate family to hike Old Rag as well. DO NOT PARK on roadsides or on private land.

Try to arrive early to avoid the crowds. We have enjoyed great hikes without the madding crowds even on weekends by arriving before 9:00am at the trailhead. My favorite hike was right after a major storm swept through one fall. The runs were full of churning water (we worried about the road washing out) and we saw only a few hikers. On the summit we stopped for lunch and a little black bear crept close to watch. Of course we scanned the area for a mother! We never saw the mother bear though and the little fellow did find a nest in the rocks where I last saw him resting while seeming to gaze out over the vastness of Weakley Hollow.

It seemed odd to see such a small bear on his own but we learned later that 'dog training' days had just occurred and the little guy probably had been separated from it's mother by such a chase. Usually cubs spend the winter after the one they are born with their mother and then go off on their own.

If the climb is a challenge to body and spirit, the descent by the way you came can be even more so. We enjoy looping back on the Weakley Hollow fire road, particularly on crowded days. It is an easy walk and the slightly longer distance is not really much of a factor. Previous Page