Summit

Old Rag summit

A granite summit east of the main Blue Ridge, reached from Nethers on the east or Berry Hollow on the west.

Stays near here on the map
Skyline Drive Sperryville Syria Madison Etlan Washington Luray Old Rag summit
Old Rag Mountain rising above low cloud at sunset.
John Brighenti · CC BY 2.0

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

Old Rag needs a $2 day-use ticket through November 30

Everyone on the Ridge, Saddle and Ridge Access trails needs a day-use ticket bought in advance on Recreation.gov, plus a park entrance pass. 400 tickets a day are released 30 days ahead and 400 five days ahead. A ticket does not reserve parking.

Source: National Park Service, checked Oct 29, 2026

Old Rag stands apart from the main ridge, which is why the summit view is so wide and why the drive between its two trailheads is so long. The Nethers lots serve the Ridge Trail and the full circuit. The Berry Hollow lot serves the Saddle Trail, an out-and-back with no rock scramble.

From March 1 to November 30, everyone on the Saddle, Ridge and Ridge Access trails needs a $2 day-use ticket bought in advance, plus a park entrance pass.

Day-use ticket
$2, March 1 to November 30
Tickets per day
800 (400 released 30 days ahead, 400 five days ahead)
Dogs
Not allowed on the Ridge, Saddle or Ridge Access trails

Hikes that reach Old Rag summit

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

Where to stay, by the drive to the trailhead

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.

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

Birch's Library

Cabin, 1865 homestead · Syria

2min drive

0.5 mi by road · 1.6 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

20min drive

5.3 mi by road · 4.4 mi straight

Main Street in Sperryville, Virginia, in October.
Unclaimed

Hopkins Ordinary

Bed and breakfast with a brewery · Sperryville

25min drive

11.4 mi by road · 8.7 mi straight

4 more beyond 60 minutes
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 · 4.6 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 · 11.9 mi straight

Exterior of Big Meadows Lodge.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Lodge

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

1 hr 27 mindrive

39.5 mi by road · 7 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 · 6.8 mi straight

Sources

Checked October 19, 2026.

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