3 days of camping, hiking, and top roping in Shenandoah—What do I need to hit?

Title says most of it—I’m looking to spend 3 days in Shenandoah camping, hiking, scrambling, and hopefully finding spots to set up a fixed line for some proper single pitch top rope climbing. What are the must hit spots in Shenandoah? Right now I’d like to summit Old Rag (I think just via the hiking trail), and explore the walls around there for somewhere neat to fix a line—will probably lug water up to a fire road camp site. Any other must dos while I’m in the area? I will be there in the second week of September.

It could still be pretty hot in mid September but Old Rag has probably the highest density of climbing in the area and the best. Old Rag is pretty well documented here on Mtn Project so it should get you around, but it still can be tricky to find the walls. If you don't want to get lost you can buy the guidebook: stores.sharpendbooks.com/ol… You could easily spend 3 days camping, hiking, and exploring Old Rag. White Oak Canyon also is very cool and worth hiking, especially if you like scrambling. There are walls along the White Oak Canyon trail but it is frowned on to climb directly on the trail where other people might see you.

Another place nearby with some moderate routes and good hiking is Little Stony Man. 

Jacob S wrote:

Title says most of it—I’m looking to spend 3 days in Shenandoah camping, hiking, scrambling, and hopefully finding spots to set up a fixed line for some proper single pitch top rope climbing. What are the must hit spots in Shenandoah? Right now I’d like to summit Old Rag (I think just via the hiking trail), and explore the walls around there for somewhere neat to fix a line—will probably lug water up to a fire road camp site. Any other must dos while I’m in the area? I will be there in the second week of September.

If you haven't picked this up yet: https://stores.sharpendbooks.com/old-rag-a-climbers-guide/ it's a great guide. I know the author and I know the area- this book is the most accurate and easy to follow resource on Old Rag as a climbing area.  It's smart to do a recon mission sans gear to figure out where you want to go and how to get there.  Hiking a rack, rope, water and food up there is a chore, so going directly to where you want is a benefit after walking uphill for three miles.  Check out White Oak Canyon and the falls there as a scenic detour if you're in the area.  There's *some* top roping to be had at Little Stony Man, but it's contrived (particularly building anchors and the fuckery involved with that) and not all that great.

Thanks for the advice! Currently planning on base camping out of Big Meadows, exploring the area for  any climbing, soaking in the views, and capping the trip with a guided day on Old Rag. Whiteoak is on the to do list as well. One question I had is about the best way to get from Big Meadows to Berry Hollow to start the Old Rag approach… is driving an hour and a half around the park really my best option? I have half a mind to just walk over the night before I climb and sleep along the trail. 

The fastest route by car is about 1hr 20 minutes, like you said and would involve driving from Skyline Drive down and around Old Rag Mountain on either Hwy 33 or 211. As the crow flies it is not far from Skyline Drive to Old Rag. I am not sure how long the hike would be but a Shenandoah trails map would allow you to figure that out. You can camp in Shenandoah National Park in backcountry areas. Specifically at Old Rag, you can camp below a certain elevation (I forget exactly but I think it is like 2800'). There are clearly marked boundaries of where you can and cannot camp at Old Rag.