Visiting Spruce Knob in West Virginia

At just over 4800 feet in elevation, Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia. Providing a commanding view of the surrounding area, Spruce Knob is a must see location in this state filled with scenic wonder and natural beauty. Spruce Knob provides a view of the Monongahela National Forest, the Allegheny Mountains, and east toward the Shenandoah.

Visitors to the Spruce Knob area will want to begin their trip at the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center located a few miles away. The Seneca Rocks Discovery Center serves as the visitor center for this area of the Monongahela National Forest and can provide information, directions, and maps of the numerous sights in the region. To get to the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center take Route 33 east from Interstate 79 through Elkins and follow the signs to Seneca Rocks. If you need to buy anything for your trip, Elkins is a good place to stop as it is the last city of much size in the area.

Once you have made it to the top of Spruce Knob, you will notice the vegetation that differs greatly from the surrounding countryside. The brutal winters and strong winds dictate that only the hardiest plant life can survive near the top. One of the first features that visitors will notice are the one sided spruce trees whose limbs grow on only one side due to the wind at the top of the mountain. When making the trip to the top remember to bring a jacket so that you can enjoy the view as it will be noticeably colder at the top then in the valley and the cold wind blows almost constantly. Trips up the mountain in the winter are not encouraged as the remoteness of the roads and their lack of use cause them to not be maintained.