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Do you need a reservation for Shenandoah National Park?
Shenandoah National Park's timed entry and reservation rules, quoted from its own page, with the dates, hours and how to book. Pick a day to check it.
What Shenandoah National Park requires
Shenandoah National Park requires a ticket for Old Rag Mar 1 to Nov 30 each year.
Old Rag Day-Use Ticket (Shenandoah National Park), National Park Service, checked November 2026.
Shenandoah National Park · Nov 3, 2026. Only for Old Rag. On Nov 3, 2026, Shenandoah National Park needs a ticket for Old Rag.
Shenandoah National Park · Nov 3, 2026
DependsOnly for Old Rag. On Nov 3, 2026, Shenandoah National Park needs a ticket for Old Rag.
Old Rag · 2026
Day-use ticket
Old Rag"Visitors to Old Rag Mountain, including hikers on the Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails, must obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance, in addition to a Park entrance pass."
- Every year
- Mar 1 to Nov 30
"Effective May 4, 2026, Shenandoah National Park will begin infrastructure enhancements at the Old Rag Trailhead main parking lot. ... Day-use tickets are still required from March 1 through November 30 in addition to a park entrance fee."
Who does not need one
"The trails, roads, and areas that aren't highlighted do not require an Old Rag day-use ticket, including Weakley Hollow Fire Road."
When to book
"A total of 800 tickets will be available for each day. Exactly 400 will be released 30 days in advance of the reservation date, and the remaining 400 will be released 5 days in advance of each date. Tickets are released daily at 10:00 a.m."
Fee
"Each Old Rag day-use ticket will cost $2.00."
More from Shenandoah National Park
"Your Old Rag day-use hiking ticket is good any time, from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., on the date that you selected when reserving your ticket."
"Each Old Rag day-using hiking ticket only covers one person, so a group of four hikers will need to have four separate tickets before they will all be allowed to hike in the Old Rag area."
"Tickets are valid for the reservation date only, and they do not guarantee a parking spot."
Source: Old Rag Day-Use Ticket (Shenandoah National Park), National Park Service, checked November 2026.
Also read on: Fees & Passes (Shenandoah National Park)
A guide to each agency's published rules, not a booking service. Dates and hours change; the linked page and Recreation.gov are the authority.
- Each park's own page, quoted
- Any day, any arrival time
- Booking link and release times
Going with a guide in Virginia
19 tour operators listed in Virginia.
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Common questions
Park reservation questions
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