Old Rag Circuit
Old Rag Circuit
If you have time for only one hike in this lush green NP, then it has to be The Old Rag. This is an adventurous, challenging, strenuous, yet a very rewarding hike that has it all! From forest hiking to rock scrambling to amazing vistas capped by stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains.
Although the Old Rag Mountain is located in the central district of this park, the trailhead itself is located outside the park at a parking lot at the end of Route 600 (click to request map). This is a loop hike, the trail to the top of the Old Rag is called Ridge Trail and the total length of the entire loop is 8.8mi which will roughly require 7 hours of hiking to go to the top & back. One piece of advice before embarking on this hike is to try to avoid weekends as it can get very crowded since this is a popular trail in a popular NP. So, in order to be able to marvel at the amazing views and enjoy the serenity of this hike, it is recommended to hike during the week and start your hike early. Having said that, now let us start our amazing hike:)
The first part of the trail is deep into the forest as you’ll start your hike below the tree line.
Of course, the entire first half of the hike is uphill, but the part in the forest is the easiest, yet you’ll gain some elevation along the way. Slowly, you’ll start to approach the tree line; hence, the landscape will change, and the stunning views of the surrounding mountains will start to creep in.
As you approach the 2nd part of the hike, the trees will get fewer and fewer, and the fun part will start…The rock scrambling part!! It is not at all a technical climb, but you’ll have to be careful in this part as there might be some loose rocks. At some parts you’ll have to scramble on top of rocks, while at other parts, you’ll have to go under some of them…it is really fun:)
The good thing about this part is that it allows you to gain a lot of elevation over a short distance and soon after this part, you’ll have the entire mountain range at full display in front of you! It is an amazing sight, and in the summer, it is an extremely lush green landscape, so prepare your camera as the opportunities for amazing pictures for the entire surrounding area with 360 panorama views are endless here.
At this 3rd part, the trail will start to flatten out a bit till you reach the Old Rag top and here you’ll reap the true rewards for your efforts. Stunning views all around with great solitude and serenity that will make you feel as if you are a million miles away from civilization despite the proximity of this park to DC!! So, pick your perfect spot, soak in the views, have lunch, relax as much as you want as you deserve it after this strenuous hike.
Unfortunately, the not so good news is that at some point you’ll have to take the tough decision and start heading down to where you started! From here, you’ll continue onto the Saddle trail till you reach the Old Rag shelter after which you’ll continue hiking down to the parking lot along the Weakley Hollow Fire Road.
