Old rag climbing. See full list on gohikevirginia.

Old rag climbing From March 1 to November 30, visitors to Old Rag Mountain, including hikers on the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails, will need to obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance, in addition to a Park entrance pass. Old Rag is a granite mountain in the Shenandoah National Park offering good hiking and challenging trad climbing on a number of mostly one pitch cliffs. View closure at: This is episode 3 in the series of training to climb the Nose on El Cap. Old Rag is the traditional climbing crown of Virginia, offering over 250 routes on Joshua Tree-like granite. Oct 10, 2017 · Abby Vesoulis Climbing Old Rag Trail gave me confidence and empowered me to take on new challenges. Climbers interested in such details should consult Eric Horst’s Rock Climbing Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, the first chapter of which is devoted to the climbing on Old Rag; climbers can also read this page on rockclimbing. Although this bypasses the rock scramble, hiking Old Rag Mountain is no easy feat, and you can still expect rocky sections with significant incline and just under 1,800 feet in elevation gain. I plan to get there really early to beat the crowds. Entrance passes and Old Rag day-use tickets are separate transactions. Apr 18, 2025 · No. After reaching the true summit (which satisfyingly is a boulder with beautiful, 360-degree views) a round of photos and celebratory Yuenglings ensued, capping off this memorable climb. 9 range, head to the Summit Crags near the top of the peak. Details of this pilot program include: Apr 19, 2019 · Some of the best climbs at Old Rag begin with Strawberry Fields, a 5. For those willing to brave the somewhat lengthy approach with a full rack and rope, gorgeous single pitch, Joshua Tree-esque granite awaits you. We looped down the back of the mountain on the Saddle Trail, passing two day-use shelters and eventually joining up with the Weakley Hollow Fire Road for a long, gradual descent back to our car. Old Rag, with a climbing heritage dating to the 1930s, is distinguished by the splitter cracks, hair-raising slabs, and superb faces scattered across one of the most beautiful deciduous forests in America. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Jan 4, 2020 · Old Rag: the iconic mountain nestled on the eastern outskirts of Shenandoah National Park. 9+ trad climb located in Reflector Oven. Sep 22, 2021 · The Weakley Hollow Fire Road Route to Old Rag. Route info. Old Rag Mountain, November 2013. Sep 5, 2008 · The closest climbing crag to a trailhead at Old Rag (that is, if you're coming from the Berry Hollow side). Feb 10, 2022 · The easiest option to hike Old Rag Mountain, but it does not include the rock scrambles. An entrance pass is $30 and valid for 7 days.  Getting to the summit of Old Rag is an adventure Day: 10 Miles: 1,535 The first part Old Rag: A Climber's Guide: By Will Alford. ) Old Rag Mountain Hike The Old Rag Mountain hike in the Shenandoah National Park is one of the most popular hikes in the mid-Atlantic region. I hiked one of Virginia's most difficult and sought-after trails with little experience. Many a Virginian has gotten his or her first real taste of mountaineering on Old Rag, a great mass of exposed granite east of the Blue Ridge crest in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. what to bring on old rag mountain. Next week I plan to hike Old Rag in Shenandoah. The climbing in Shenandoah is less than two hours from the DC area! Old Rag is a unique destination for rock climbing in the mid-Atlantic region. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys rock scrambling and has some hiking experience. To find the trailhead in Apple Maps, enter “Old Rag Trailhead”; for Google Maps, enter “Old Rag Mountain Fee and Information Station” as the destination. Image Source: Pixabay. How long would you say… Mar 2, 2023 · From March 1 - November 30, visitors to Old Rag Mountain, including hikers on the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails, will need to obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance, in addition to a Park entrance pass. gov and the entrance pass can be purchased at the Old Rag Ranger Station. Oct 12, 2022 · Follow Old Rag Fire Road up past the Old Rag shelter and turn left onto the Saddle Trail. Old Rag is the traditional climbing crown of Virginia. Old Rag: a Climber's Guide includes a FREE 3-month trial to the digital edition. Entrance passes may be purchased online (up to one year in advance) or at the Old Rag Entrance Station The most common route to the top of Old Rag Mountain is a 9-mile loop that begins at the Old Rag parking area at the end of Route 601. Begin by climbing the start of Chasm Crack Direct through its low crux. Photos from this route Old Rag is a granite mountain in the Shenandoah National Park offering good hiking and challenging trad climbing on a number of mostly one pitch cliffs. The Old Rag ticket can be purchased online at Recreation. With many spectacular panoramic views, and one of the most challenging rock scrambles in the park, this circuit hike is a favorite of many hikers. Purchase this book. Jan 29, 2025 · The guy was clearly talking himself up by over-selling the difficulty of Old Rag. Dec 11, 2024 · The Old Rag Mountain hike in Shenandoah National Park is a challenging 9. , Old Rag features some of the best hiking in the Mid-Atlantic region. Old Rag: Virginia’s Trad-Climbing Mecca For trad climbers, Old Rag is an East Coast heaven, but with long hikes, bushwhacking, and hard rock, you've got to want it. It is the only major granite climbing area in the mid-Atlantic region, and has over 100 established routes. Time of Year to Climb: Year-round, but best climbed May through November Route: Old Rag Circuit Hike Trail distance (estimate): 9 miles roundtrip Elevation change (estimate): 2,500 ft . 146 votes, 106 comments. Old Rag itself is formed of Old Rag Granite, one of the oldest rocks in the park. . Old Rag, with a climbing heritage dating to the 1930s, is distinguished by the splitter cracks, hair-rai Mar 28, 2012 · Old Rag has some of Virginia's more interesting geology. This route seemed like a fitting “welcome route”. 11- located in Lower Sunset Wall. Old Rag: A Climber’s Guide Will Alford, Sharp End Publishing, 2023. In addition to the Old Rag day-use ticket, you are still required to purchase an entrance pass to hike in the Old Rag area (Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails). com Feb 21, 2025 · From March 1 to November 30, visitors to Old Rag Mountain, including hikers on the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails, will need to obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance, in addition to a Park entrance pass. We climbed Report to Sickbay, Strawberry Fi Old Rag Mountain is probably the most challenging hike in Shenandoah National Park, so there's a lot you should know to prepare for the Old Rag Circuit Hike. A portion of • Old Rag Western Summit . Known for its strenuous rock scrambles and breathtaking 360-degree views, this hike offers a unique blend of physical challenge and natural beauty. . Located near Luray, Virginia, Old Rag Mountain is a 3,300-foot-high mountain that is popular with hikers and rock climbers. the northern and northwest face of the mountain is also closed to visitor use. Feb 24, 2024 · Old Rag has an oddly high amount of routes in the 5. Yes, we needed to be cautious, but the route was a scramble, not a big wall climb. This week I'm crack climbing at Old Rag. Classic splitters, corners and faces on very old and bomber rock define this area. Dec 29, 2023 · Erosion since the breakup of Pangea approximately 200 million years ago has carried away most of the Himalayan-scale mountains that existed in the region at one time, but continued crustal rebound eventually resulted in the second exposure of the Old Rag Granite for our climbing enjoyment. You’ll follow the fire road for about 4 miles of fairly steady terrain and then turn onto Saddle Trail to start gaining more elevation as you climb to the Old Rag Summit. Old Rag 169 / 24 / 12 / 66 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 If you prefer climbing outdoors rather than in, a trip to the mountains of Shenandoah National Park is a must. Aug 5, 2019 · The Old Rag Circuit in Shenandoah National Park is a loop trail that connects the Ridge Trail (the trail with the fun rock scramble) that goes to the Old Rag summit, to the Saddle Trail, which comes back down the other side and eventually connects to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road. Here, you’ll find over a hundred routes—mostly single-pitch trad—and several dozen boulders. com, which includes ratings, climbing logs, and a few photographs of climbers on the routes. 12- range, and a fair amount of the routes in the area are an exciting mix of runout slab or crack climbing. Planning your hike in advance is necessary because they now use a permit system to gain access to Old Rag. May 30, 2017 · Located near Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Virginia, only 90 miles west of Washington, D. Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park is quite simply one of the coolest adventure hikes on the East Coast! This route winds through the Virgina hardwood fores Mar 28, 2012 · Old Rag has some of Virginia's more interesting geology. Rock climb and rappel in Shenandoah National Park, VA. to all climbing activity. 11+ to 5. Follow the trail over the footbridge and begin your nearly three-mile ascent along switchbacks before reaching the boulder scramble section. Old Rag Granite was formed in the Grenville Orogeny around 1. An easier, but longer route to Old Rag is to take the Weakley Hollow Fire Road trail. Although there are many bolted and mixed routes on Old Rag, they are not sport climbs. Jan 3, 2025 · Packed with over 300 meticulously documented routes, detailed climbing topos, hand-drawn maps, entertaining insights, and photographs spanning decades, this guide offers everything you need to enjoy one of the Southeast’s premier climbing areas. Old Rag Mountain in Under 3 Minutes, Shenandoah National ParkOld Rag is Shenandoah's most popular and most dangerous hike. As such, it is one of the better options for climbing at Old Rag in the summertime. It's about 800ft less elevation gain and over a mile shorter than the Old Rag/Ridge Trail approach. The trailhead is located near Sperryville on the eastern border of the park. We did the Old Rag trail today with our 8-year-old son, and it was an absolute blast. 4-mile circuit trail with 2,348 feet of elevation gain. We offer climbing trips and courses at Little Stony Man Cliff and on Old Rag Mountain. 5 hours. 2 billion years ago as a pluton, a molten mass of igneous rock that cools below the surface of the earth. Sep 26, 2017 · The hike down Old Rag was much easier than the climb. Nov 2, 2024 · Old Rag is a granite mountain in the Shenandoah National Park offering good hiking and challenging trad climbing on a number of mostly one pitch cliffs. This northwest facing cliff is out of the sun for a good share of the day. It is a noteworthy class 3 climb towards the top which can be either heavenly or hellish depending on your feelings towards exposed hands-and-feet scrambling. This will take you to the top of Old Rag Mountain. There are literally hundreds of blog posts about this popular and slightly dangerous hike – a trek laden with switchbacks, rock scrambles, and incredible panoramic views. 4 to 5. Lastly, it is also recommended that in order to complete the hike, hikers should return down the Saddle Trail, pass the Old Rag Shelter continuing to Weakley Hollow Fire Road, and the final stretch is back to the Old Rag parking area. Mar 27, 2012 · If you're going to Old Rag specifically to climb, the shorter, easier approach to the summit is on the western side of the mountain via the Berry Hollow trailhead/Saddle Trail. Old Rag is a relatively tough hike, I've done it twice and both times inclement weather popped up. Feb 21, 2025 · Old Rag Mountain Hiking Info. Be sure to check the forecast. The first time was a group hike and it was on the climb down that the weather turned a little sour and a mixture of hail and snow started falling. Second, we have Oh My God Dihedral, a 5. May 12, 2023 · H iking Old Rag is one of the most unforgettable experiences you’ll ever have on a trail. For starters, any visitors wanting to hike or climb Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah NP Awesome loop with a good amount of climbing and a tough scramble at top, very technical terrain in spots. It boasts splitter cracks, dihedrals, and crystal pinching slabs. (The fee is $30 per car or free with Annual Pass. General. The climbs are found on a number of cliffs and dome-like formations, mostly on the east side of Old Rag. Getting to Old Rag’s trailhead can be time-consuming to get to unless you are staying east of Skyline Drive. Find out more information on our Old Rag day-use ticket FAQ page. Its large granite exposures offer rock climbers an experience similar to that provided by the granite rocks of the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. While you definitely have to dedicate your day to this more strenuous, approx 9 mile hike, it was 100% worth it. Good quality trad, sport, and toprope. This route typically takes seven or eight hours to complete, and involves ascending to the summit on the Ridge Trail and utilizing the Saddle Trail and Weakley Hollow Fire Road to return to the trailhead. Shenandoah National Park has announced and implemented a pilot ticket program at Old Rag Mountain. Still, he’d sowed enough doubts for me to toss in my backpack a short rope that never got used. We came to Shenandoah National Park solely to climb Old Rag Mountain. There is a recently published (November 2023) climbing guide available from Sharp End Publishing. 9) From the trailhead, the only thing left to do was follow the road back to the parking lot and visit the Old Rag hot dog guy for some refueling. Old Rag Mountain. Having done Old Rag maybe 20 times, I have definitely seen people completely fail at the one main crux of the hike but with just a little careful survey of available places for feet and hands, it is super easy. Jul 14, 2021 · Practical Info to Know Before Hiking Old Rag Driving to Old Rag. May 12, 2019 · Part VI: Visit the Old Rag Hot Dog Guy (Mile 8. 10c trad climb located in Middle God's Area Left. Once you get to the gully, stay low and avoid the temptation to head up hill. It is considered one of the best h Old Rag: A Climber’s Guide, is a comprehensive guidebook to over 300 meticulously documented routes, detailed climbing topos, hand-drawn maps, entertaining insights, and photographs spanning decades. While the views at the top of Old Rag are beautiful, there are many other beautiful hikes in Shenandoah that offer similar (and probably even better) views and in our opinion, what makes Old Rag fun is the challenging journey to the top. Located in Shenandoah National Park, this trek is brutal in the very best way. It's about a 2 mile hike. With its clean corners, textured granite, and splitter cracks, Old Rag Mountain has a well-earned reputation as the crown jewel of Virginia crags. Old Rag’s extensive scrambling sections and multiple false summits made this climb much more enjoyable (and challenging) than I was expecting. -The Horst guide, "Rock Climbing Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland" is a great reference for popular VA destinations. Approach is like going to the Project (aka Sunset Walls) but when you would normally turn right and start heading up hill to access the Projects, stay straight to head towards the Old Rag Pinnacle. This program, effective March 2022, requires all visitors of Old Rag reserve a ticket prior to visiting. Certainly have to earn the summit in this one, unlike the short mountains on Skyline drive. We then hobbled back to the Jeep and began our journey back to basecamp where campfire-cooked steaks and beer awaited us later for dinner. After a quick rest, my wife and I reached our first real “move” on Old Rag. C. Even from Sperryville, there is still about a 15-minute drive to get to the trail. Third is Sunset Crack, a 5. See full list on gohikevirginia. By Will Alford. Feb 21, 2025 · From March 1 to November 30, visitors to Old Rag Mountain, including hikers on the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails, will need to obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance, in addition to a Park entrance pass. However, it could be longer or shorter depending on ability, pace, and the stops you make along the way. For leads in the 5. Jun 4, 2022 · Even though the parking area for Old Rag sits outside of the central part of Shenandoah National Park, you have to pay the Park entrance fee to hike Old Rag. Many Mar 5, 2025 · To hike Old Rag Mountain, you must have both an Old Rag day-use ticket and a Shenandoah National Park entrance pass. Feb 13, 2023 · The Old Rag Circuit, the most popular route to the top of Old Rag can take 6-8 hours to hike. There’s a manned pay station at the trailhead, so take cash or your National Park pass with you. Nov 27, 2013 · My trip reports from this route on Old Rag Mountain. You’ll have to climb over boulders and slide through crevices, but at the top there are spectacular 360 panoramas 🤩 over the Blue Ridge Mountains. The National Park Service lists the hiking time at 7. Sep 12, 2014 · Old Rag Mountain is one of the harder climbs/hikes in Shenandoah National Park. kuogo dyorn ylr geypw pydj xbdnx djvhg oqsm lfsczv hnrepe