Order of Visit: High Point #35
Date Visited: March 28, 2021
Route Taken: Whispering Spruce Trail – 0.6 miles round-trip
Type of Terrain: Flat, east dirt path
Elevation: 4,861 feet
Ancestral Lands: Shawnee, Cherokee, Saponi & Delaware, and Mingo
what’s in a name?
West Virginia’s highest point rests inside the Monongahela National Forest. The name Monongahela was derived from the indigenous Lenape language, and generally means “river with the falling banks.”
West Virginia’s high point shares an interesting quirk with South Carolina’s high point, Sassafras Mountain. Both East Coast states named their highest natural point after the predominant trees growing nearby, yet neither is named for their state’s official tree.
The summit of West Virginia’s highest point is covered with upland red spruce trees (Picea rubens). These evergreens are known for their square-shaped needles and long, hanging pinecones. This variety of spruce tree grows across Canada’s Maritime provinces and stretches south along the Appalachian Mountains, making West Virginia’s Canaan Valley an ideal place for red spruce growth due to its Canadian-like ecosystems and higher elevations.
The original red spruce forests that once covered the state’s high point were mostly denuded at the turn of the 20th century. The spruce trees visitors see today are primarily from second- or third-growth forests. However, a small 17-acre section of the mountain still contains old-growth spruce trees for nature lovers to discover and appreciate.
West Virginia also has the distinction of being the only state with the word “knob” in the name of its high point. In geography, a knob is defined as a prominent, rounded hill with steep sides. A knob always stands alone and is not part of a rolling chain of hills. Knobs are a relatively common terrain feature in West Virginia, with at least a dozen of them within a 10-mile radius of the state’s high point, including Mallow Knob, Germany Knob, Cedar Knob, Bible Knob, and Tea Knob.
Spruce Knob was the name given to the single rounded peak rising from the top of Spruce Mountain’s 16-mile-long whale-backed ridgeline. It formed when ancient African and North American plates collided about 300 million years ago. This intense pressure pushed layers of rock upward, and over millions of years of erosion, they softened into the mountain we see today.
The spruce forest atop the state high point also provides a habitat critical for several animals. Among these are the Atlantis Fritillary and Green Comma butterflies, the Spruce Knob Threetooth snail, and the West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel.
In 1969, a two-story observation tower opened atop the high point, offering visitors 360-degree views of the Monongahela National Forest and the Allegheny Mountains. The Whispering Spruce Trail also encircles the summit with interpretive signs describing this unique high point’s geology, wildlife, and vegetation
TRIP SUMMARY
Our visit to Spruce Knob came immediately on the heels of Maryland’s high point earlier in the day. After figuring out where our son Finn took his wrong turn on his descent, we trod back down the muddy trail to where our car was parked in West Virginia and set off for a two-fer.
The drive was just 67 miles down the Appalachian Highway, but it wasn’t going to be a quick one. This was mountain country, and it was slow-going as the road wound through what felt like the most rural part of the state.
In hindsight, we really should have stopped for lunch in the town of Davis, West Virginia, before continuing south. The town was adorable, and it had a bunch of lovely looking restaurants right along the Blackwater River. But, in our minds, we assumed we’d have more plenty more options to choose from en route.
Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. We saw nothing else along the rural drive and the three of us grew hungrier and hungrier over the next hour. Finally, when we got to the tiny town of Seneca Rocks, we spotted a Subway, and settled for some disappointingly mediocre sandwiches made by the teenagers manning the shop that afternoon.
As we ate in the car, we could see the picturesque Seneca Rocks towering over us like a rock cathedral in the near distance. This national recreation area is a popular hiking and rock climbing destination in the mid-Atlantic states, and it was easy to see its charming appeal.
Just beyond Seneca Rocks, we drove along a branch of the Potomac River and followed the signs toward Spruce Knob. Our turn off the highway onto Briery Gap Road (Public Road 112) was well-marked, but menacing gray clouds and rain were beginning to obscure the views around us.
We’d been mentally prepared to drive up on a dirt forest road (thanks to our outdated guide book) and were pleasantly surprised to discovered everything was paved now. Nonetheless, the 17-mile drive up the road was slow as we curved back and forth along the climb.
The ascent up Spruce Mountain involved a one-and-a-half lane paved road. By this I mean, there was enough room for one car or truck to comfortably drive on the road, and you had to immediately pull off to the narrow shoulder to let the occasional car pass in the opposite direction.
As we continued to climb at 35 miles per hour, we pushed our way up into the storm clouds and lost any potential views we might have enjoyed. It was now completely gloomy and rainy.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we reached a sign directing us to continue straight if we were heading to the Spruce Lake and the nearby primitive campgrounds. Or we could turn right onto Public Road 104 to head up toward the summit of Spruce Knob.
From that road junction, we drove the final 1.5 miles in the pouring rain toward Spruce Knob’s large parking area. I opened the car window to take a photo of the Spruce Knob sign, and realized too late that the heavy wind was pushing the rain nearly sideways and I got soaked.
The mountain seemed to be making its own weather up here, and it was radically different from what we’d experienced down by the river. Who knew the 3,000 feet of elevation we’d just driven up would make such a drastic atmospheric change?
When we turned into the parking lot, there were a handful cars already parked there with their occupants safely ensconced inside. We immediately recognized one of the cars from our visit to Backbone Mountain just a few hours earlier. It was the same SUV with the New York plates that we’d parked behind at that trailhead!
We decided to follow their lead and sit inside our car until the storm broke. It was only 900 feet to the observation tower (where the high point actually sits) but we hoped to do it without getting knocked over by the wind or soaked completely through in the rain.
The storm raged for the next half hour, with winds rocking our SUV like it was a leaf in the wind. We watched as two of the other occupants impatiently got out of their car. But then the wind and rain immediately plastered their clothes to their skin, and a handful of items starting blowing out of their car and into the parking lot. After just a few moments, they changed their minds and quickly returned to the safety of their vehicle to resume their patient wait.
Keith’s bladder became an issue about 40 minutes into our wait, so we literally drove the six or so parking spaces down to where the pit toilets stood so he could safely brave the elements.
As he came out of the restroom though, something happened. The rain and wind seemed to be tapering off just enough to tempt us. It still was uber gloomy and gray outside, but we decided to make a run for it anyway. We couldn’t sit up on this mountain all afternoon.
As I jogged down the gravel path toward the observation tower, I was pleasantly surprised. The 6-8 foot tall tightly grouped trees were blocking the worst of the weather around us. It was far calmer out here on this path than it had been in the parking lot!
There were some signs pointing out the nuances of the local geology, but I didn’t to enjoy them in great detail. We didn’t want to press our luck. Our mission was to get down this trail to the observation tower!
Around a final bend, the observation tower came into view. As the first souls to brave the elements, we were completely alone out here on the high point. We quickly climbed to the top of the tower, but there was nothing but gray and white clouds to see in the middle of this storm. I’m sure our West Virginia surroundings look lovely on a clear sunny day, but we wouldn’t know.
Back down near the base, we searched for the survey monument to prove we’d been to the top of West Virginia. It was cold and we could feel the rain pelting us in this clearing in the middle of the spruce trees. Finally, after a few minutes, Keith spotted it submerged in a puddle near one of the corners of the observation tower.
We were going to head back to the car before a chill set in, but I decided to take a quick lap around the rest of the Whispering Spruce trail first. It was only a short loop, and I was already out here, so why not?
On a more typical day, visitors can stop at one of the many overlooks along the trail to enjoy the views of the mountains and valleys down below. But I would have to settle enjoying for the nearby signs, since there was nothing but clouds in front of me at each one.
After taking a quick jog around the flat, gravel trail, I returned to the observation tower to find Keith chatting up several other highpointers – including the crew from New York.
While watching us make a dash for the trail, they’d mustered up their own courage to brave the elements too. And now everyone was huddled under the base of the observation tower taking their photos.
As a new group came walking down the path, we bid everyone goodbye and headed back to the car to begin the long drive back down the mountain.
Although we didn’t see much during our brief visit to the top of West Virginia, it will certainly stand out as one of the more memorable ones thanks to the inclement weather.
DETAILS
When to Visit: This peak is technically open year-round, but it requires a 17-mile drive up a steep, narrow paved route that isn’t plowed during the winter months. Spruce Knob averages 180 inches of snowfall annually. Thus, visitors should plan carefully between the months of October and April, when snow and ice are likely to make the road impassible. If you are looking for a current weather conditions for the local area, one consistently good resource is Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort.
Getting There: Spruce Knob is located in the eastern part of the state, approximately 125 miles south of Morgantown, WV.
Entrance Fees: None. This summit is located in the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.
Parking: There is a paved parking loop with room for at least 20 vehicles near the summit. There’s also a pit toilet near the trailhead.
Accessibility: Good for all ability levels.
Bonus: If you’re planning to extend your visit to the nearby area, some additional places to consider visiting include Seneca Rocks and the Dolly Sods Wilderness. And, if the weather permits, you can also hike up to the summit of Spruce Knob via the Huckleberry Trail.
Resources:
- An Overview of Spruce Knob (Summit Post)
- Whispering Spruce Trail (All Trails)
- Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area (U.S. Forest Service)