Oct 30-Nov 1 Shenandoah NP Foliage & Old Rag Mountain $269 (2 Nights)

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

Shenandoah National Park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Skyline Drive runs its length, and a vast network of trails includes a section of the long-distance Appalachian Trail. Mostly forested, the park features wetlands, waterfalls and rocky peaks like Hawksbill and Old Rag mountains. Shenandoah is home to many bird species, plus deer, squirrels and the elusive black bear. More on https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm

OLD RAG MOUNTAIN

Old Rag Mountain is a 3,284-foot peak near Sperryville, Virginia. Located within Shenandoah National Park, it is famous for its challenging rock scramble and 360-degree panoramic views, making it the most popular hiking destination in the park. Unlike most heavily forested peaks in the Blue Ridge range, Old Rag stands out for its massive, exposed granite boulders and bare summit. [1, 2, 3]

The most common way to experience the mountain is via the highly demanding Old Rag Mountain Loop on AllTrails. [1]

• Distance: \~9.3 to 9.4 miles total
• Elevation Gain: Around 2,600 feet
• Time Required: 6 to 8 hours depending on pace and crowd bottlenecks.
• The Scramble: Around mile 2.5, you will encounter a mile-long third-class rock scramble. You will need both hands free to climb over boulders, slide down tight granite crevices, and negotiate steep rock faces. [1, 2, 3, 4]

LODGING

We will be staying in a vacation house near Shenandoah National Park, with 5 bedrooms, 8 beds (1 king beds, 5 queen/full beds & 2 sofabeds), 4 baths, 1 dedicated workspace, 1 full kitchen & 2 living rooms. We will max out at 15 people. The house is 11 minutes drive to Shenandoah National Park and 42 minutes to Old Rag Mountain.

Features: *Lake access, big backyard, private patio, outdoor furnitures, outdoor dining area, fire pit area, BBQ grill, indoor gas fireplace, lift size games,* free WiFi, 4 large TVs, microwave, Keurig and drip coffee machines, hair dryer, washer & dryer.

Essential Provided: Bed sheets, shampoo, conditioner, soap, towels, and toilet paper

DEPARTURE/RETURN SCHEDULE

Depart Date: Oct 30th, 2026 Friday. Please arrive 15 minutes earlier. Van will depart sharply on time with or without you.

Depart 4:00 PM from Queens (NEW): (Northeast Corner of 39th Ave & College Point Blvd) 133-03 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354 (Map). Subway lines (Main St-Flushing): 7. (1/2 block from Asian Jewels)

Depart 5:00 PM from NYC: (Starbucks: Southwest Corner of 43rd St and 9th Ave) 593 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036 (Map) Subway lines (Times Sq-42 St): A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S.

Depart 5:15 PM from NJ (NEW): Lincoln Harbor Station, QX6G+H9 Weehawken Township, NJ 07086 (Map) near Lincoln Tunnel. Take Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) (System Map).

Return Date/Time: Depart on Sunday from Shenandoah after lunch around 3:00 PM and expect to arrive at NJ 8:50 PM, NYC at 9:15 PM & Queens at 10:00 PM

TENTATIVE PLAN (Plan may vary depending on weather among other factors)

OCT 30 FRIDAY: TRAVEL & ARRIVAL

5:00 PM -Leave Midtown Manhattan (Rest Area Welome to PA I-78 West).

7:30 PM - (Estimate) Dinner on the way to the house (Taco Bell or McDonald's Lemoyne, PA).

11:30 PM - Ideally grocery shopping 1 hour (Food Lion, Falling Waters, WV) before arriving at the house. Need to prepare/bring picnic sandwich/lunch for Sat's hike.

OCT 31 SATURDAY: BIG HIKING DAY

7:00 AM - Breakfast and enter park.

8:00 AM-3:00 PM

Option A (Best Overall)

Old Rag Mountain Loop *(one of the best hikes in the East; Bucketlist hike)*

VERY IMPORTANT: Everyone needs to book Old Rag Day-Use Ticket for $2 on Oct 1st 2026 (The first day tickets are available to book, which is 30 days in advance) at the link [https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/faqs-oldrag.htm](https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/faqs-oldrag.htm...