If you hike the Appalachian Trail finding yourself in the Shenandoah National Park, then make your adventure complete by scrambling to the top of Old Rag.

This is the perfect Father-Daughter, Mother-Son, Husband & Wife, or Best Buddies adventure. So much has been written about climbing Old Rag that little more needs to be shared here. That said, consider the following recommendations gained from personal experience or my own research:

Start early for the most popular routes will take you all day to complete. My daughter and I spent approximately 9 hours counting the time from when we parked to when we returned to the jeep.
Hike during the week versus during the weekend to avoid the crowds. And of course the back-ups typically occur at the rock scramble near the summit.
Carry an extra canteen of water and extra high-energy food. Many hikers use a camel-pack. I tend to carry at least two liter-sized Nalgene water bottles along with a few granola bars, GORP (good old raisins and peanuts), cheese and crackers, and/or bars of chocolate.
Particularly in the early Spring and Fall, pack a light jacket, dress in layers, and wear some sturdy hiking boots that provide your ankles some extra support.
Stay on the blazed trail. It is very easy to miss a marker and then you find yourself at cliff’s edge having to back track for you’re not carrying a harness or a climbing rope.
Take plenty fo pictures when you reach the summit. The view is spectacular and you’ll want to share proof with your family and friends (like I’m doing here in this blog).