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Catlett Mountain Hike

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Distance:
9.5 Miles / 15.3 km
Type:
Loop
Difficulty:
Hard
Time to Hike:
4 hours, ~45 minutes
Features:
Surface Type:
Dirt
Park:
Shenandoah National Park
Town:
Etlan, Virginia
Directions:
38.572826, -78.295698
Added:
March 18, 2025
Updated:
April 05, 2025
Guide by:
Copy Trail Link Hiking this trail? Send a friend or family member a link to this trail guide for your own safety. Hike at your own risk (disclaimer)
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1,790'

Total Change
2,136'

Ascent
2,146'

Descent

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Key Takeaways

  • Catlett Mountain offers a less crowded alternative to Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park, especially beautiful for fall foliage in October.
  • The 9.5-mile circuit hike starts on the Nicholson Hollow Trail, involves several trail intersections (Hannah Run, Catlett Mountain, Hazel Mountain, Hot-Short Mountain), and includes river crossings.
  • The hike features diverse terrain from riverbanks and gradual inclines to steep climbs and plateau sections, with scenic vistas and historical remnants like an old farmhouse.

Catlett Mountain Hike

One of the less traveled hikes in the Shenandoah National Park, the Catlett Mountain circuit is one of the most beautiful hikes in the SNP for fall colors. Starting from the same parking area as Old Rag, leave the crowds behind, as you can do this hike and not see another person on the whole circuit.

The fall colors explode in yellows, oranges and reds in the upper sections of Catlett Mountain during October. If you're looking for a more secluded hike, and beautiful scenery, this my be the hike for you.

From the lower Old Rag parking area, walk the 0.5 miles up to the Nicholson Hollow Trail turn off where SR600 veers left.

The first 0.5 miles of the blue blazed Nicholson Hollow Trail passes through private property. Please respect the land owners property, and remain on the trail. The Nicholson Hollow Trail will immediately turn right, where in 75 yards it crosses both the Hughes River, and Brokenback Run.

Continue up the blue blazed Trail and in 0.3 miles pass signage marking the entrance to the Shenandoah National Park. Follow the trail as it winds along the right bank of the Hughes River then arrives at the intersection of the Corbin Mountain Trail in 1.0 miles from the SNP boundary.

Remain on the Nicholson Hollow Trail, on the right bank of the Hughes River, and in 0.3 miles there is a large camping area on the right. 100 yards past the camping spot reach the intersection of the Hot-Short Mountain Trail.

Stay straight on the Nicholson Hollow Trail and shortly cross Hannah Run. 0.2 miles after crossing Hanna Run reach the intersection of the Hannah Run Trail. Turn right on the Hannah Run Trail as it gradually becomes steeper for 1.5 miles, then crosses a small ridge passing the ruins of an old farmhouse. From the ruins the trail will descend through a gully, then very steeply climb the ridge on the other side for the steepest section of the hike.

After arriving at the top of the ridge, the Hannah Run Trail will wind through a plateau on Catlett Mountain for 0.4 miles and arrive at the intersection of the Catlett Mountain Trail. Turn right on the blue blazed Catlett Mountain Trail and in 70 yards arrive at the intersection of the Catlett Spur Trail. Turn right remaining on the Catlett Mountain Trail as it descends into a hollow and passes a campsite and creek in 1.0 miles.

From the creek and campsite, the Catlett Mountain Trail will gently climb to the intersection of the Hazel Mountain Trail in another 0.2 miles. Turn right on the now yellow blazed Hazel Mountain Trail for 0.5 miles to the intersection of the Hot-Short Mountain Trail.

Be alert for the Hot-Short Mountain Trail trail turn-off, as the marker post is set back on the trail 20 yards and not easily visible when the foliage is thick.

Turn right on the blue blazed Hot-Short Mountain Trail as it descends for 2.1 miles to the Hughes River and intersection of the Nicholson Hollow Trail. Pass several vistas of Old Rag, and the Virginia plains near the top of the Hot-Short Mountain Trail. Then as the trail nears the valley floor, pass through a wooded area before arriving back at the intersection of the Nicholson Hollow Trail.

Turn left on the Nicholson Hollow Trail, passing the Corbin Mountain Trail in 0.3 miles, then re-crossing the Hughes River and Brokenback Run in another 1.3 miles before arriving back at the trail head.

Explore 75 trails near Etlan, VA
  1. Parking

    38.572826, -78.295698
  2. Main Trailhead

    38.5733, -78.296127
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

Hazards

Ticks - Lyme Disease More Info (CDC)
Snakes
Poison Ivy/Oak

Seasons

All

Blaze Color

Blue

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Trip Reports (Reviews)

Rated 3.89 out of 5 based on 27 ratings.
By: Ken
9.5 miles / 15.3 km
November 11, 2019
Did this on Veterans' Day (so parking was free at Old Rag lot). I started at 0745 and the lot was 50% full and was it was completely full when I finished around noon. The trail follows a rushing creek for the first few miles and that was very scenic and a great soundtrack. I enjoyed the solitude of this hike as everyone else was likely on Old Rag. You could easily extend this hike by adding some side trails. Very well maintained.
Legacy Review
By: JT and Sara
9.5 miles / 15.3 km
October 25, 2019
Great hike to test your stamina and resolve. My daughter and I were the only ones on the trail and it was a nice clear, cool day. The steep parts are very steep but if you are in good physical condition you’ll make it. BTW, I AM 70.
Legacy Review
By: Bob
9.5 miles / 15.3 km
May 05, 2018
We did this as a two day backpacking hike. Overall a very nice hike. Great scenery and lots of stream crossings. The steep uphill in the directions is very steep - especially carrying a full pack. We camped at the campsite in the hollow. It was not large but fit our needs and it was nice having a water source close by (we treated the water we sourced). After climbing up the short hill the second day we had to navigate around large trees that were across the trail about half a dozen times along the rigeline, but once we got to the hot short trail it was a fairly steady decent back to the parking lot. Only saw two or three other hikers along the entire route.
Legacy Review

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In Etlan, VA

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