Old Rag Mountain day-use ticket at Shenandoah: what applies in 2026?

Exact conditions

Status

Required under the listed conditions

Applies to

specific area

Place or corridor

Old Rag Mountain area, including the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails. Weakley Hollow Fire Road and other unhighlighted trails/roads do NOT require a ticket.

Effective dates

March 1, 2026 through November 30, 2026

Published fee

$2

Release model

rolling window

Release detail: 800 tickets per day. 400 are released 30 days before the hike date and the remaining 400 are released 5 days before, both at 10:00 a.m. Tickets for the season first become available the first week of February. Leftovers may remain bookable same-day. NPS states '10:00 a.m.' without naming a time zone; park local time is Eastern.

Fee detail: $2.00 per person per day, in addition to the park entrance fee. Non-refundable - changes are allowed until noon the day before, but no refunds are issued for any reason.

Exceptions and limits

• Day-use tickets are NOT required in December, January, and February.
• A ticket is required at any time of day, even before sunrise or after sunset.
• Every person needs their own ticket regardless of age; a group of four needs four tickets.
• No fee waivers of any kind are offered, including for Access and Military/Gold Star lifetime pass holders.
• Tickets are not sold in person at the Old Rag entrance station - there is no internet service there.
• Backcountry campers need a separate ticket for each day spent in the ticket area.