DAY HIKER: Old Rag, Va.

Seeing Old Rag's summit requires a boulder scramble. (Compass Points Media / flickr)

Reach Shenandoah National Park, Va.’s most recognizable peak — Old Rag — on this 9.3-mile loop that includes a mile-long boulder scramble. The pay off is around-the-world views of the Virginia piedmont and Blue Ridge mountains.

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LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park, Central District, Va.

LENGTH: 9.3 miles

ELEVATION GAIN: 2,500 feet

DIFFICULTY: Strenuous due to length, elevation gain and boulder scramble.

MAP: Potomac Appalachian Mountain Club. Shenandoah National Park Central District. $7.

DIRECTIONS: U.S. Route 522 intersects at a T with U.S. 211 at Sperryville, east of Shenandoah National Park. Turn onto U.S. 522, and follow that through Sperryville to Fort Valley Road (VA Route 231), where you turn right. Follow Fort Valley Road southward for 7.3 miles until you turn right onto Sharp Rock Road (County Route 707). About 1.7 miles later, continue onto State Route 600 and find the Old Rag parking lot to the left after 1.5 miles. Cost to park there is $15 per car from March to November, $10 for the rest of the year, which includes a 7-day permit for the entire park.

HIKE ON:

OR 001: Start from Old Rag parking lot along VA Route 601. Walk the road uphill toward the mountain. (N38 34.216 W78 17.201)
OR 002 : Arrive at upper parking lot (now closed). Ridge Trail begins from sign post. Follow blue blazes (N38 34.224 W78 18.018).
OR 003: Patch of azaleas. Change in forest. More short and long-needle pines (N38 33.594 W78 18.271).
OR 004: View northward toward Robertson and Corbin mountains (N38 33.345 W78 18.128).
OR 005: Emerge from the woods. View northward. Begin rock scramble to the summit (N38 33.246 W78 18.228).

Old Rag rises above Shenandoah National Park, Va. (Compass Points Media / flickr)

OR 006: View eastward and southward of Virginia farmland (N38 33.224 W78 18.251).
OR 007: Narrow slot leads to rock ledge (N38 33.222 W78 18.297).
OR 008: Pass into a small cave. Go left once inside (N38 33.173 W78 18.361).
OR 009: The “Guillotine.” A stone staircase with a rock wedged just above. Must crawl beneath the wedged rock (N38 33.170 W78 18.373).
OR 010: Arrive at the “Balancing Egg,” a large egg-shaped boulder (N38 33.082 W78 18.635).
OR 011: Arrive at a trail junction near the summit. Turn right to walk to the summit area. Left is the Saddle Trail off Old Rag (N38 33.101 W78 18.872).
OR 012: Old Rag’s Summit. Four spires of near equal size. The one to the east is the highest (N38 33.117 W78 18.880).
OR 013: Byrd’s Nest Shelter. Day use only but camping spots around lean-to (N38 33.014 W78 19.244).
OR 014: View west and of Robertson Mountain (N38 33.137 W78 19.227).
OR 015: Old Rag Shelter. Day use only. Privy, spring and campsites around the lean-to (N38 33.225 W78 19.796).
OR 016: Junction with several fire roads. Turn right with Weakley Hollow Fire Road. Follow yellow blazes. To left is Berry Hollow Fire Road and a parking lot in 0.8 miles (N38 33.410 W78 19.935).
OR 017: Junction with the Robertson Mountain Trail to the left. Stay straight (N38 34.142 W78 19.268).
OR 018: Junction with the Corbin Hollow Trail to the left. Stay straight (N38 34.100 W78 19.204).
OR 019: Cross river on series of three bridges. Upper parking lot nearby (N38 34.230 W78 18.170).
OR 020: Old Rag Parking Lot and end of hike (N38 34.216 W78 17.201).