Old Rag Mountain Trailhead

Old Rag’s reputation precedes it: a 9-mile circuit that includes a genuine rock scramble requiring hands and feet to navigate granite slabs and narrow passages. The trailhead sits on Route 600 with a large parking area that fills early on weekends. This isn’t a casual walk — the granite dome section demands scrambling through boulder fields and tight squeezes that can intimidate even experienced hikers. Views from the 3,291-foot summit stretch across the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley.

Parking fills by 8 AM on summer weekends, forcing late arrivals to park miles away on roadside shoulders. Winter and early spring offer fewer crowds but icy conditions on exposed granite. The access road is paved but narrow with limited turnaround space for large rigs. Consider this a full-day commitment — most hikers take 6-8 hours to complete the circuit including time for the technical sections.

Granite dome scramble — Virginia's toughest day hike