Nicholson Hollow

From the Old Rag parking area up Nicholson Hollow to Corbin Cabin and back. Dogs are allowed here, unlike on the Old Rag summit trails.

Stays on the map
Distance
8 mi
round trip
Elevation gain
1,240 ft
Hiking time
7 hr
NPS estimate, no breaks
Difficulty
Moderately strenuous
NPS scale

Old Rag's main parking lot is closed through November

Construction closed the main Old Rag lot on Nethers Road on May 4, 2026. NPS expects the work to finish by November 2026. Use the Nethers Road overflow lots or the Berry Hollow lot on the Syria side.

Source: National Park Service, checked Oct 29, 2026

Dogs allowed on a leash

Leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. NPS pet rules

Park entrance pass only

$30 per vehicle, good for 7 days, or an annual pass. NPS fees

Where to stay, by the drive

Rank on the map

Ordered by drive time to the parking area, skipping Old Rag main lot while it is closed, then by how close the stay is to this area and how complete and current its listing is. How ranking works.

Main Street in Sperryville, Virginia, in October.
Unclaimed

Hopkins Ordinary

Bed and breakfast with a brewery · Sperryville

25min drive

11.4 mi by road · 6.8 mi straight

Fields toward the Blue Ridge from Route 231 near Etlan, Madison County.
Unclaimed Some pet-friendly units

Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges

Lodge rooms, cabins, farmhouses and campground · Syria

33min drive

14.1 mi by road · 6.1 mi straight

Panorama across a field toward Old Rag from Route 231 near Etlan.
Host verified Dogs welcome

Birch's Library

Cabin, 1865 homestead · Syria

50min drive

13.7 mi by road · 3.5 mi straight

Late fall panorama from Pinnacles Overlook on Skyline Drive, with Old Rag Mountain in the distance.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Corbin Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 37.8

53min drive

25.1 mi by road · 3.8 mi straight

Aerial view of Luray, Virginia.
Unclaimed

The Mimslyn Inn

Historic inn · Luray

55min drive

28.4 mi by road · 11.7 mi straight

19 more beyond 60 minutes
Fall color in Mathews Arm Campground.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Range View Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 22

1 hr 1 mindrive

28.1 mi by road · 12 mi straight

Fall color in Mathews Arm Campground.
Unclaimed

Mathews Arm Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 22.2

1 hr 3 mindrive

28.7 mi by road · 13.3 mi straight

Exterior of the Skyland dining room and taproom.
Unclaimed

Skyland

Lodge rooms and cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 41.7

1 hr 4 mindrive

29.4 mi by road · 5.3 mi straight

Fog and red blueberry over Big Meadows in fall.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Rock Spring Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 48

1 hr 15 mindrive

35.3 mi by road · 6.7 mi straight

Evening light on the rocks of Bearfence Mountain.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Pocosin Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 59.8

1 hr 17 mindrive

44.6 mi by road · 15.6 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Boar's Head Resort

Resort · Charlottesville

1 hr 19 mindrive

45.4 mi by road · 38.6 mi straight

Moss phlox on the rocks at Crescent Rock Overlook in spring.
Unclaimed

Lewis Mountain Cabins

Rustic cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 57.5

1 hr 23 mindrive

47 mi by road · 13.8 mi straight

Evening light on the rocks of Bearfence Mountain.
Unclaimed

Lewis Mountain Campground

National park campground (first-come, first-served) · Skyline Drive, mile 57.5

1 hr 23 mindrive

47 mi by road · 13.9 mi straight

Sunrise over Big Meadows.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Campground

National park campground (reservation only) · Skyline Drive, mile 51

1 hr 27 mindrive

39.3 mi by road · 8.6 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Keswick Hall

Resort hotel · Keswick

1 hr 28 mindrive

48.5 mi by road · 38.5 mi straight

Exterior of Big Meadows Lodge.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Lodge

Lodge rooms and cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 51

1 hr 28 mindrive

39.4 mi by road · 8.8 mi straight

The Big Run watershed from Big Run Overlook, South District.
Unclaimed

Massanutten Resort

Resort lodging · McGaheysville

1 hr 33 mindrive

54.2 mi by road · 28.2 mi straight

Downtown Middleburg, Virginia.
Unclaimed

Salamander Middleburg

Resort and spa · Middleburg

1 hr 35 mindrive

51.7 mi by road · 40.5 mi straight

Lower Doyles River Falls.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Doyles River Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 81.1

1 hr 39 mindrive

54.4 mi by road · 30.8 mi straight

Loft Mountain Wayside on Skyline Drive.
Unclaimed

Loft Mountain Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 79.5

1 hr 42 mindrive

54.3 mi by road · 30.6 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Blackburn Inn

Inn and conference center · Staunton

1 hr 59 mindrive

80.4 mi by road · 51.5 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Hotel 24 South

Historic hotel · Staunton

1 hr 59 mindrive

80.8 mi by road · 51.5 mi straight

Also from Old Rag overflow lots

Hikers in the granite chute on the Old Rag rock scramble.
Very strenuous Ticket

Old Rag Circuit

9.4 mi · 2,348 ft gain · 7 hr 30 min

Old Rag overflow lots

Sources

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