Old Rag Mountain

Old Rag Mountain is the crown jewel of Virginia hiking, a challenging circuit that includes one of the most exciting rock scrambles on the East Coast. The route climbs through hardwood forest before emerging onto exposed granite where hikers navigate through tight passages, over boulders, and along cliff edges with spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. The summit rewards the effort with 360-degree panoramas that on clear days extend for miles in every direction. The trail’s popularity means crowds on weekends, but the quality of the experience justifies the attention. The full circuit combines the Ridge Trail ascent with the Saddle Trail descent for a varied loop through diverse habitats and terrain.