Old Rag Mountain
Grab your hiking shoes and trekking poles and come climb Old Rag Mountain with me. A granite faced mountain found in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Well-known for its boulder scramble that is traversed to reach the summit Old Rag Mountain beckons hikers from near and far. Not for the faint hearted, hiking the nine-mile circuit hike is of great personal and physical challenge that requires team work and full body effort.
Driving through the countryside of Sperryville, Virginia beautiful farms paint the landscape. We’ll arrive at the base of the mountain and begin our hike on a paved road. After mile, we reach the Ridge Trail and begin our ascent. Beautiful autumn colors offer serenity while our heart rate goes up.
If you get out of breath like I do, you can always stop to look up and pretend you’re admiring the trees. While what you’re really doing is trying to catch your breath.
Continuing on switchbacks we will begin ascending at least 1,000 feet before arriving to the beginning of the boulder scramble. It is an arduous three-mile hike straight up the mountain, where the only way to get there is with one foot in front of the other.
Eastern White Pine
Each step on the boulders need to be sure and steady. One minor slip and we can easily tumble-down the mountain. Old Rag is ruthless and many have fallen.
Watch your step!
Incredible granite features are guaranteed to take your breath away. The magically carved stairs makes us ponder just how mother nature created them.
We have to squish down with our packs on our back so that we can get underneath that stuck boulder. Although I noticed a growing gap between the rock and the wall. I wonder how long it’ll be before it falls on the staircase.
And then the mysterious granite boulder literally hanging on by a thread.
Can I get a little help here? This boulder is in the way.
I think we’re getting to the top – oh darn..it’s just another false summit. Although there’s another cool rock.
And look at the view of Shenandoah National Park in autumn. Truly spectacular!
Woo Hoo ! We have reached the top and have successfully climbed over 2,500 feet and the view is our reward. Time for a lunch break before we start our descent.
The Summit!
Heading down on the back of Old Rag Mountain on the Saddle Trail, we finally reach the fire road and prepare ourselves for the long walk on a hidden lane back to the parking lot.
Thank you for taking a hike with me today. So happy that all returned home safely. Happy Trails ! Bella
Additional Information and Links:
Old Rag Mountain Trail Post by Bella Remy
Everytrail guide by Bella Remy with downloadable trail map
Hiking Upward Old Rag Hiker Reviews
Categories: Foot Prints, Maryland Area Hikes, Nature, Shenandoah, travel
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
An excellent post as always! I have one question though, are you sure the tree that you captioned as an eastern white pine is really a white pine? From the cones and growth pattern, it looks much more like a jack pine to me, but I can’t see how long or soft the needles are in the photo. 😉
I was using this link for the tree reference:
Click to access of00-263.pdf
The other possibility would be the table pine. Remember they are quite windswept, causing a different shape. I pretty sure it’s not a Jack Pine though.
You were the one to see it in person, and we don’t have windswept, rocky mountains in Michigan for me to see how a white pine would grow under such conditions, so I will defer to your ID of the tree.
Hey, don’t take my word for it. I’m terrible at identifying trees. Your guess is as good as mine ! I was just using that link reference. 🙂 Thanks!
Beautiful photos. I especially like the upward angle of the trees and the bonsai looking pine. Very nice.
Thank you so much ! From one tree lover to another.
Thank you for taking me out hiking, Bella. I did visit Shenandoah for a couple of nights but didn’t get a chance to walk even on the trails. Hot days, then. Just stayed in the air conditioned car looking at the view from afar.
Awww..here’s hoping you’ll return when it’s cooler and you can enjoy the trails. Happy New Year!
See this is another thing I like about you. I get to view all your wonderful photos, and read about these adventures you are having with these hikes, without actually having to do any of the hiking and climbing myself! Super!
Now this is enjoyable! Great post Emily!
What a minute..I’ve got this all wrong ! Why don’t you climb a mountain for me Phil?
BTW, Hoodies are back ! Of course, overcast skies but I did get some cool shots. Happy New Year’s Day!
I might be convinced to climb a mountain (well, a very low one) if there are snacks available along the way and beer at the top. 😀
Great news about the hoodies showing back up. Sometimes hoodies need to be herded. If they are in a small pond you set up quietly at one side while you send someone around to the other to herd them back to your direction. Sometimes this even works. heh heh
Overcast here too, but I had a little luck this morning.
Enjoy your NYD also!
That’s a brilliant idea as they were indeed trolling on the other side of the pond. I wondered what would happen if I walked towards them. I’ll try another day when there is better light.
Humm..beer at the top of a mountain. Sounds like a brilliant idea!
Thank you for the hike. I haven’t been there in 4 years. Love it.
Your pictures are breathtaking! I watched a portion of the video; spectacular! What a trek 🙂
You’ve been to Old Rag? That is incredible ! Watching that video again last night makes me want to get back there as soon as possible. I’m missing the woods and the mountains. Hope to get back on the trail soon. Happy New Year.
Yes, I have hiked for years in different places. Beautiful area!!
Shenandoah in the fall is one of my favorite places in the world. Thank you for the reminder.
It is truly my pleasure. Shenandoah is an enchanted forest to me. Happy New Year!
Thank you for the photo trip up Old Rag Mountain because it’s NOT something I could handle on my own. Those rock formations are wonderous and the view, stupendous.
Hi Lynne ! I’m so happy that I was able to take you on this virtual hike up Old Rag mountain. I’m sure if it was something you really wanted to do, you could do it ! There are some parts where team work is required. We all can use a hand or a push up and over. 🙂
A lot of it for me is vertigo – I get a real whim-whammy feeling … ;(
Amazing shots!!!
Looks a superb walk – and excellent photos and narrative…I really enjoyed reading this post!
Wonderful video and wonderful photos… 🙂
Don’t push the “little” rock down… 🙂 😉
GORGEOUS. I must go here. Seriously.
If you come, we will go to the mountain together.
That looks like a great trip Emily, I love your photos. I love the one of you pushing the rock,haha