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Virginia Trailfinder
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Trailhead view · Etlan

Old Rag Mountain

Distance
9.4mi
Climb
2,482ft
Hiking time
5h–8h
Difficulty
Strenuous

Start: 38.57096, -78.28694 open in a map app

2,482 ft up, 2,485 ft down · 853–3,260 ft

1,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5000 mi2468+1,404 ft · 13%+600 ft · 17.7%Start
9.07 miles measured, 2,482 ft of climbing and 2,485 ft of descent, between 853 and 3,260 ft. The hardest part is a 2.0-mile climb of 1,404 ft starting at mile 1.14, averaging 13%. A second climb of 600 ft begins at mile 3.23. The climbing continues after mile 3.23. The steepest sustained quarter mile averages 26.3%.9.07 miles measured, 2,482 ft of climbing and 2,485 ft of descent, between 853 and 3,260 ft. The hardest part is a 2.0-mile climb of 1,404 ft starting at mile 1.14, averaging 13%. A second climb of 600 ft begins at mile 3.23. The climbing continues after mile 3.23. The steepest sustained quarter mile averages 26.3%.Trailfinder reading Measured from an OpenStreetMap line and the USGS 10 m elevation model, fetched 2026-09-05. Sampled terrain, not a GPS track.

9.07 miles measured, 2,482 ft of climbing and 2,485 ft of descent, between 853 and 3,260 ft. The hardest part is a 2.0-mile climb of 1,404 ft starting at mile 1.14, averaging 13%. A second climb of 600 ft begins at mile 3.23. The climbing continues after mile 3.23. The steepest sustained quarter mile averages 26.3%.

Official notes

Parking
The Old Rag trailhead main parking lot is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic for infrastructure work that began 4 May 2026, with the Park Service expecting completion by November 2026 — use the existing overflow lots until then, and re-check the park page, since that date may move. Parking at Park Service lots is free and shoulder parking is prohibited. Approach via Route 601 from Sperryville or Route 602 from Madison. An Old Rag day-use ticket is required 1 March to 30 November in addition to the park entrance fee, and holding one does not guarantee a parking space.
Water
No reliable water on the mountain. Carry at least three liters in summer.
Dogs
Dogs not allowed
Cell
Not yet verified.
Emergency
Call 911 or Shenandoah National Park dispatch. Rescues on the scramble are slow and difficult.
  • Rock scrambling with fall potential
  • Lightning on the exposed summit
  • Ice in winter
  • Congestion causing delays
Check current alerts and closures

This view is a reference, not navigation. The line is sampled from OpenStreetMap and USGS data; carry an offline map and treat cell coverage as unreliable.