If you would like a great view from the top of a mountain in West Virginia, look no further than Spruce Knob, the highest point in the entire state.
Spruce Knob sits along the eastern edge of Monongahela National Forest. At an elevation of 4,863 feet, it is the tallest mountain and the highest point in the state of West Virginia.
Spruce Knob is located on Forest Road 112 near the town of Whitmer. Once you are on 112, follow the signs to Spruce Knob. They will lead you to Forest Road 104, which dead ends in a loop at Spruce Knob Trail. Once there, there is plenty of room for off-the-road parking. If it is full when you first pull in, just follow the small loop for more parking spots.
The trail itself is not long. You will enter a forest comprised of flag-formed red spruce, with the branches shorn on one side from harsh westerly winds. Blueberry and huckleberry plants line the path at your feet.
The ecology is unusual for West Virginia because you will encounter plant species more common up north, largely due to great continental ice shifts that occurred during the Pleistocene Epoch, which deposited many plant species native to Canada down here.
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You will also encounter flowing streams running from the mountain peak, and even a small waterfall along the way.
The path offers some great views during your hike up the mountain. Though not very long, the hike is all uphill, as you ascend 900 feet from the road to the peak.
Once you reach the top, the observation tower will come into view. This stone and steel structure offers the best view from the peak since the surrounded trees at ground level will block your view.
At the towers summit, you will be able to see mountains trailing off to the horizon in all directions. You are now at the highest point in the state, just 417 feet shy of one mile above sea level.
At this point, your path continues onto Whispering Spruce Trail, just a bit longer than the trail you just followed. The trail system is a loop, so feel free to explore since it will eventually return you to the road.
From here, you will encounter more views, looking out from the opposite direction, and from a different prospective than the upper tower. You will also see more red spruce trees, accompanied by varied wildflowers and heath barrens.
And there is much more to see in the state's largest national forest than Spruce Knob. Nearby, you will find Spruce Knob Lake, the Dolly Sods Wilderness, Seneca Rocks, Seneca Caverns and Smoke Hole Caverns. So don't just drive out for Spruce Knob, make a weekend of it instead.
Have you ever been to Spruce Knob? Feel free to comment below and tell us about your visit.
Spruce Knob is the summit of Monongahela National Forest, while you are there, wouldn’t you like to see what else is around? Check out this ancient forest that right out of a story book.
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