Old Rag Mountain is a 3,268-foot-tall exposed granite mass located in the Shenandoah National Park, east of the Blue Ridge. One of the first mountains that outdoorsy Virginians tackle, Old Rag will make you hike about 3 miles to reach the summit if you take the shortest route, gaining 2,200-3,000 feet in elevation. Most of the commonly used standard route crosses open rock, making the hike an above-timberline experience, rare in the Southeast. Some Class 3 scrambling is involved, making hiking Old Rag a real adventure for beginner hikers who have never experienced real alpine mountains. The trail can get crowded since it is only 2 hours from Washington, D.C.

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