The Experience
You will love: Solitude, big vistas and a cathedral like forest.
You need to know:
This trail would get more fanfare if it wasn't sitting right next to its famous neighbor, Old Rag mountain. In fact, this trail is in my top 10 for Shenandoah National Park. The trailhead is found at the (new) Old Rag parking lot — a beautiful upgrade for the area, but one that also invites more visitors than ever before. A word to the eager: get there very early on weekends or go on a weekday, or you may forego serenity. To start, take the Ridge Trail just past the ranger station and head up this quick warm‑up ascent. The Ridge Trail aims to get you to your second wind faster than you may want to. It leads to the existing Old Rag Trail and intersects with the Ridge Bypass along the way. Hang a right and head down the bypass to Weakley Hollow Fire Road. This is where the trail slows down a bit. Take the Weakley Hollow Fire Road for 1.6 miles. Yes, it’s slow, lacking views, and you’ve just had a warm‑up on the Ridge Trail and are eager for adventure. However, the fire road has its own beauty through the constant sights and sounds of water and the visually striking, skyscraper‑sized trees lining the way. The Robertson Mountain Trail is on the right side of the fire road, quietly marked by a stone pillar trailhead. The trail immediately cuts through the woods on a well‑marked single track of leaves, dirt, and rocks. Robertson is known as one of the steepest trails in the area — get ready to climb 1,900 feet in just 1.6 miles, complete with three false summits. Sweet, right? The trail relentlessly tackles the mountain without switchbacks, taking a more direct approach. The summit — the real one — appears as the trail tops out, just to the left. It’s not marked and looks more like a game trail than a grand “welcome to the summit,” but it leads to a small clearing (camping‑worthy) where a narrow path on the right takes you to a rock outcrop. The summit offers wide, sweeping views of Skyline Drive, Old Rag, and neighboring peaks. There’s space to eat, lounge, and take photos. When you’re rested and ready, return to the main trail, turn left, and enjoy a gentle descent to the Old Rag Fire Road. The way down is filled with mountain laurel and a towering tree canopy. Once you reach the fire road, turn right and walk about 200 steps to the Corbin Hollow Trail on your right. From here, it’s a two‑mile hike to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road. This stretch is filled with the soul‑soothing sounds of waterfalls, running water, creeks, and streams. The trail is narrow but rich with trees, ferns, moss, fauna, and small creek crossings. Corbin Hollow leads back to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road. Turn left, and after 1.4 miles, turn right onto the Ridge Bypass and retrace your steps back to the Ridge Access Trail and eventually the parking lot.
Quick Trail Note: About 1.5 miles into the Corbin Hollow Trail you will have to cross the creek via a downed tree. There is little to no blue trail markings until 100ft after your crossing. From here you will return to a more consistent trail marking.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
You need to know:
- Fee required to access park
- Parking area and trailhead are outside the park in Nethers, Virginia
This trail would get more fanfare if it wasn't sitting right next to its famous neighbor, Old Rag mountain. In fact, this trail is in my top 10 for Shenandoah National Park. The trailhead is found at the (new) Old Rag parking lot — a beautiful upgrade for the area, but one that also invites more visitors than ever before. A word to the eager: get there very early on weekends or go on a weekday, or you may forego serenity. To start, take the Ridge Trail just past the ranger station and head up this quick warm‑up ascent. The Ridge Trail aims to get you to your second wind faster than you may want to. It leads to the existing Old Rag Trail and intersects with the Ridge Bypass along the way. Hang a right and head down the bypass to Weakley Hollow Fire Road. This is where the trail slows down a bit. Take the Weakley Hollow Fire Road for 1.6 miles. Yes, it’s slow, lacking views, and you’ve just had a warm‑up on the Ridge Trail and are eager for adventure. However, the fire road has its own beauty through the constant sights and sounds of water and the visually striking, skyscraper‑sized trees lining the way. The Robertson Mountain Trail is on the right side of the fire road, quietly marked by a stone pillar trailhead. The trail immediately cuts through the woods on a well‑marked single track of leaves, dirt, and rocks. Robertson is known as one of the steepest trails in the area — get ready to climb 1,900 feet in just 1.6 miles, complete with three false summits. Sweet, right? The trail relentlessly tackles the mountain without switchbacks, taking a more direct approach. The summit — the real one — appears as the trail tops out, just to the left. It’s not marked and looks more like a game trail than a grand “welcome to the summit,” but it leads to a small clearing (camping‑worthy) where a narrow path on the right takes you to a rock outcrop. The summit offers wide, sweeping views of Skyline Drive, Old Rag, and neighboring peaks. There’s space to eat, lounge, and take photos. When you’re rested and ready, return to the main trail, turn left, and enjoy a gentle descent to the Old Rag Fire Road. The way down is filled with mountain laurel and a towering tree canopy. Once you reach the fire road, turn right and walk about 200 steps to the Corbin Hollow Trail on your right. From here, it’s a two‑mile hike to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road. This stretch is filled with the soul‑soothing sounds of waterfalls, running water, creeks, and streams. The trail is narrow but rich with trees, ferns, moss, fauna, and small creek crossings. Corbin Hollow leads back to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road. Turn left, and after 1.4 miles, turn right onto the Ridge Bypass and retrace your steps back to the Ridge Access Trail and eventually the parking lot.
Quick Trail Note: About 1.5 miles into the Corbin Hollow Trail you will have to cross the creek via a downed tree. There is little to no blue trail markings until 100ft after your crossing. From here you will return to a more consistent trail marking.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
- 2 water bottle
- Lunch or trail bars
- hiking shoes or boots
- bug spray (summer)
