This photo of Old Rag Mountain was taken from the trail up Robertson Mountain towards the end of last fall.  The tulip poplars were still in fall colors, but the leaves had turned brown or already fallen at higher elevations.

An Alternative to Old Rag

Old Rag is a spectacular hike, but it can be quite crowded.  It is common to have to wait several minutes for hikers to make their way through some of the trickier rock scrambling sections.

Robertson Mountain is a nice alternative if you are trying to avoid some crowds on the mountain.  The peak of Robertson Mountain is actually higher than Old Rag.  The trail lacks rock scrambling sections, but is very steep, challenging and rewarding.

Getting There

Old Rag Mountain is located near Sperryville, Virginia (U.S. Route 211). From Sperryville, take Route 231 South, make a right on Route 601, make another right on Route 602 and continue to the large parking lot on your left.  Note:  The road changes numbers a couple of times.

From the lower Old Rag Parking Area (fee charged), hikers continue walking 0.8 miles along State Road 600 to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road trailhead.  In Shenandoah National Park, trailheads are marked with concrete signposts containing trail name and distance information.  After about 1.5 miles of walking up the Weakley Hollow Fire Road, the Robertson Mountain trailhead is on the right.  Once the Robertson Mountain Trail climbs near the top of the mountain, there are some sidetrails that lead to nice views.

You can return the same way you came or make a longer circuit by continuing on the Robertson Mountain Trail, making a right on the Old Rag Fire Road, making a right on the Corbin Hollow Trail, and a left on the Weakley Hollow Fire Road.

Resources

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club offers a detailed guide to the trails in Shenandoah National Park, which includes three maps covering the entire park.  These trails are contained in the Central District of SNP, PATC Map 10.

See Also: Hiking Old Rag Mountain

Old Rag Mountain, in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, is one of the most spectacular hikes in the United States. Popular for its challenging rock scramble up to the 3200 foot summit on the Ridge Trail, thousands of people every year enjoy both the journey and the views.

From the lower Old Rag Parking Area (fee charged), hikers continue walking 0.8 miles along State Road 600 to the trailhead. The Ridge Trail, marked by light blue blazes, is 2.7 miles long and gains approximately 2300 feet in elevation on its way to the summit. The last mile is a very challenging rock scramble, requiring hikers to use their hands and arms to navigate through the crevices and up over boulders. Views of mountains and farmland along the way and from the summit are breathtaking. While no special equipment is necessary, the trail should not to be underestimated. Hikers should start early in the day, carry an adequate supply of food and water, and be physically fit enough to hike for five or more hours over steep terrain.

After relaxing at the top of Old Rag, most hikers opt for the longer, but easier, trip back down the mountain via the Saddle Trail, Old Rag Fire Road, and Weakley Hollow Fire Road. This 4.5-mile route is much less technically challenging and is therefore recommended to weary hikers.

Wildlife

In addition to pine trees atop Old Rag, I also noticed a good amount of mountain laurel which should bloom around May through July. Bloodroot were out in April, as were violets (including yellow violets). I also saw a couple of trillium open already at the lower elevations, many more should be blooming in May. A few hawks were gliding near the summit. On the way down, the fire roads present good opportunities for spotting black bear since you can see pretty far ahead; you might get lucky.

Getting There

Old Rag Mountain is located near Sperryville, Virginia (U.S. Route 211). From Sperryville, take Route 231 South, make a right on Route 601, make another right on Route 602 and continue to the large parking lot on your left.

Resources

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains hundreds of miles of hiking trails in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the Ridge and Saddle Trails on Old Rag Mountain. The club also publishes maps and guidebooks available online for purchase. The Old Rag Mountain area is shown on their map #10.