Old Rag Camping Beta

Hey guys, looking for some info on camping for Old Rag in Shenandoah. Trying to get after it at first light to start climbing as early as possible, backcountry camping zones are very specific, and most campgrounds are shut down now. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, backcountry, campsite, or truck can work, but woulf prefer backcountry if possible. Thanks in advance.

I think if you walk up the back way (from parking near the base White Oak falls trailhead, probably how most climbers go up), you can camp towards the beginning of where the trail diverges from the fire road. There is actually even a picnic shelter right there.

You're not allowed to camp too high up, so you'll still have a walk in the morning.

You are not allowed to camp below 2800' and need a backcountry permit. The Saddle Trail is probably the best bet for finding level ground to camp on. There are markers on both the Ridge and Saddle trails stating that you have reached the camping cut off point. The shelters along the trail are technically for day use only. Personally I like the level ground near the big boulders at the Saddle Trail 2800' cut off. its a good natural box-in that shields from the wind and is just off the trail enough to give privacy...also a great bouldering project if you have your pads.

happy trails

If you go up the back side the approach is shorter (from Berry Hollow, not the more popular Weakley Hollow) assuming you are heading to crags on that side of the mountain, including the summit area. The NPS rules are actually no camping ABOVE 2800 feet, but you can stay close to the climbing and stay legal by camping down an old abandoned fire road that takes off South from the junction of the Ridge trail and the Byrd's Nest shelter. If you hammock camp there are plentiful spots, if you have a tent, you'll have to look for relatively flat spots on the topo and orienteer to them.

My buddy and I did our first trad climbing there this summer and we camped wayyyyyy back down this road until the topo showed us at below 2800 feet. I grew up in that park and I try to always observe the rules (no fires also.) To find it, start at the aforementioned junction of the Byrd's Nest shelter (nice stone picnic structure) and bushwhack south across a couple open slabs. At first you will be on some herd paths but these get harder to follow. After the slabs, trend uphill towards the ridge and in short order you will pick up an old fire road (look hard) which is actually on most topo maps, just out of service.

BTW be ready for black bears back there. SNP is only 3 miles wide at the widest and they don't get hunted back there, so when you venture far off the beaten path you're likely to be sharing habitat with one or several. We had one stroll through camp at dusk after in the tent and the next night after climbing when refilling our water down at the spring on the way up Berry Hollow.

Also some important beta - load up on H2O at the springs of the Old Rag shelter - there's is no easy water after that. We managed to find a runoff feeder the first day way back down that fire road but it was a lot of work to get there and dried up the next day. I would just hump extra water to base camp and that way you won't have to scoot down the mountain to the Old Rag shelter just to drink. Have fun!

Thank you guys for your replies, this solidified much of the info I had up to this point. Looking forward to checking it out as I live within 2.5 hours, and the rock quality looks prime. Good call on the water tip. Too bad backcountry permits are issued in person or by mail, and not online. Is the Berry Hollow parking pretty good for leaving a vehicle over night? Thanks again.

Jeff,

Berry Hollow is fine for overnight parking, but it will get absolutely packed on Saturday and Sunday. However my buddy and I showed up Friday morning and there was only one other car there. On our way out Sunday the cars had overflowed the lot and were parked on the shoulder of the road for 1/4 mile down.

Matt