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Hanging Boulder – Old Rag Summit loop from Nethers

Routes

Mountain hikes & routes

Hanging Boulder – Old Rag Summit loop from Nethers

Hard

5.0

(1)

hikers

Hanging Boulder – Old Rag Summit loop from Nethers

05:58

15.5km

730m

Mountaineering

Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: February 15, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 4.94 km for 1.93 km

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

5.27 km

View of the Shenandoah Valley from a rocky outcrop

Highlight • Viewpoint

After about 4 km the Ridge Trail arrives at the main easterly vista on the ridge. It is a great spot to enjoy the view and take a break sitting on the huge flat rock.

Tip by

5.33 km

Old Rag Mountain Ridge Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument

In this section, the trail up Old Rag Mountain is particularly strenuous with narrow crevasses, sometimes high rock steps and a lot of climbing. Our speed in the section was maybe 1 km/h

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.87 km

The Stairs

Highlight • Natural Monument

The boulders pile up on the summit ridge and there are hardly any or only very difficult ways to avoid them or to get in between.

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5.96 km

Hanging Boulder

Highlight • Natural Monument

Great place to have a rest after the first set of scrambling up the rocks. Refresh yourself, there is still more of scrambling to follow. Old Rag always has some more surprises up its sleeve.

Tip by

5.97 km

Ridge Trail — Shenandoah Wilderness

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Ridge Trail follows the ridge for about 1 km, climbing 200 m up and 100 m down the rocks. It is a strenuous undertaking, but you will enjoy the …

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6.85 km

Old Rag Summit

Highlight • Summit

The Old Rag Hike in Shenandoah National Park is a well-known hike. Some rank it among the top 25 hikes in the world. Old Rag has received several awards.
The …

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7.80 km

View from Byrd's Nest Shelter #1

Highlight • Viewpoint

On a side trip with additional rock scrambling near the Byrd's Nest Shelter #1 you can see the Balance Rock. hikingupward.com/snp/oldrag

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9.29 km

Old Rag Day-Use Shelter

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The Old Rag Shelter is available for day-use only. From the Old Rag Shelter, the trail follows a forest road. The distance to the trailhead at the Ranger Station is about 5.6 km.

Tip by

15.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.96 km

5.89 km

317 m

275 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.7 km

3.17 km

1.45 km

144 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Sunday 10 May

24°C

12°C

29 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Hard

5.0

Hanging Boulder – Old Rag Summit loop from Nethers

05:58h

15.5km

730m

Hanging Boulder – Old Rag Summit loop from Nethers

View of the Shenandoah Valley from a rocky outcrop

Old Rag Mountain Ridge Trail

The Stairs

Hanging Boulder

Ridge Trail — Shenandoah Wilderness

Old Rag Summit

View from Byrd's Nest Shelter #1

Old Rag Day-Use Shelter

Nearby routes

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