This hike is often called the most popular one in the Mid-Atlantic region. I first heard of it from my son-in-law when he urged us to come down and do it with him.  What an excellent day hike, however you must take seriously the designations: strenuous and very challenging.  Before the experience I was skeptical, but now after having scrambled over and under and through the clustered boulder area, I am definitely a believer.



My son, son-in-law and I began our trek from the second and largest parking area at 8:05am, May 26, 2007.  The distance is said to be 8.8 miles.  Once you get to the trail head, it's best to take the left path (Ridge Trail) and do the hike clockwise.  That way you will cover the most strenuous part first.

A misty spring morning is a great time to get out on a mountain.  For about two miles we hiked up hill as the dirt trail became increasingly rocky.  Soon we were able to see something of the ragged side of what awaited us (below).



     


  Because we had read that over 100,000 hikers do this loop each year, I was surprised that on this Memorial Day weekend the trail was not crowded.

Soon the path became steeper and large boulders were seen more often.  Then before we knew it we were at the top of the first ridge and could see the top of the next craggy ridge (below).




  
  
 
After about 2 1/2 miles the boulder clusters were everywhere and so the scrambling began in earnest (left: My son Mike).  Boulder maneuvering is a slow go and so the next mile is the most "interesting" of the hike.

You quickly learn that by following the blue blazes you will make your way through this maze much easier, though not altogether easy. Maneuvering down about eight feet into one crag and then through it was tricky (below).




  





Stopping along the way to enjoy the vista is always a good excuse to catch a breather.  Then there is always more strenuous scrambling ahead.









OK, some pictures are just obligatory (left, Hercules is my son-in-law).

Then you find yourself at the 3,291 foot summit (right: Mike & Mike).
It was 11:50am.



     

  
   

Here on the top of Old Rag there were people, primarily young people everywhere eating, sleeping, but certainly resting and just enjoying the view.  It has been estimated that we had climbed 2,260 feet in altitude to get here.

Old Rag got it's name from the ragged appearance of this extended cluster of mammoth granite boulders we were all so determined to get to.




We climbed around for about 20 minutes, getting a view of the valley all round, then decided to push off once more.  We had achieved our goal.

The Virginia woods with it's verdant undergrowth always seems to have something blooming.  Our trek down was easy though the old guy's legs were feeling the strain from the scrambling.



At the bottom of the mountain we trekked along the Weakley Hollow Fire Road for quite a distance, eventually crossing the Brokenback Run (right).

It was 2:30pm at trail's end.



We were hoping to see more wildlife.  Deer were expected.  A bear would have been fine, but all we encountered were some small critters: Several millipedes, some unusual butterflies and a water snake (right). 

Over all, our expectations of the Old Rag Circuit Hike were fully satisfied.  We highly recommend it as a challenge.



   


                                                    I lift up my eyes to the hills -
                                                      where does my help come from?
                                                    My help comes from the Lord,
                                                      the Maker of heaven and earth.
    
                                                                         Psalm 121:1 & 2

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                               The Shenandoah National Park official website: www.nps.gov/shen/ 


                                                      Other Shenandoah trails                       
    
                 ► Near Old Rag on the Skyline Drive is Whiteoak Falls.
                      It has six waterfalls and cascades.
    
                 ► Dark Hollow Falls is one of the most popular hikes in the Shenandoah.
                      It is just over a mile to the falls and back.
   
                 ► The 3 mile Lewis Falls Trail is just across from Dark Hollow.  A great hike.               

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                                                 Some other hiking adventures

                 ► Go on a 16.4 mile hike up Half Dome in the breathtaking Yosemite Valley
   
                 ► Hiking the big island of Hawai'i allows you to see it's unique beauty up close
  
                 ► Try hiking Ricketts Glen in Pennsylvania where there are 22 waterfalls

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Hiking old Rag Shenandoah Valley National Park Virginia
                 Visits:       Hiking Half Done, Yosemite Valley
                      Photographs © 2007, Elton D. Hannaman
                      Contact: ehannaman@pa.net
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