At 4,863 feet, Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia, ranking #24 among U.S. state high points and marking my 4th overall.

Located within both the Monongahela National Forest and the Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, Spruce Knob can be reached either by a long hike or by driving nearly to the summit—an option that proved useful on my visit.

Getting to the summit

The day I visited Spruce Knob was overcast and drizzly, with lingering fog clinging to the upper elevations. Given the weather—and after reading several less-than-encouraging AllTrails reviews citing muddy conditions, overgrowth, and poorly marked early sections—I opted to drive up rather than attempt the full hike.

For context, the main trail to Spruce Knob is a 10.8-mile out-and-back hike, with a modest elevation gain of 1,295 feet, and typically takes about 4.5 hours to complete. On a clear day, and with better trail conditions, it’s absolutely a hike I’d consider. On this day, however, the road made more sense.

Once at the top, a short loop trail leads to the true high point, and there’s also an observation tower you can climb—both of which I did, despite the limited visibility.

Photos: Trail Map | The trail around the Knob

Photos: Trail through the woods | The massive boulder field on the hike

About Spruce Knob

In addition to being the West Virginia State High Point, Spruce Knob holds several other distinctions:

  • Highest point in the Allegheny Mountains
  • Highest point of the Appalachian Plateaus
  • 13th-most isolated peak in the contiguous United States (≈ 175 miles of isolation)
  • 14th-most isolated U.S. state high point
  • 25th-most prominent peak east of the Mississippi River

At 4,863 feet above sea level, Spruce Knob earns its reputation not just through elevation, but through its remote and rugged setting.

Photo: Me atop Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia!

On the summit

Normally, summits reward you with expansive views. On this day, however, fog and mist erased nearly everything beyond a few feet. The observation tower disappeared into the clouds, and the surrounding landscape remained completely hidden.

And yet, there was something unexpectedly powerful about it.

Standing alone on the highest point in the state, surrounded by silence, fog, and wind, Spruce Knob felt hauntingly beautiful—a reminder that not every high point is about the view. Some are about the moment.

Foggy summit at Spruce Knob in West Virginia with rocks and spruce trees fading into mist at the state’s highest point

Photos: Views from the top – as you can see, not much of a view

Nearby recommendation

If you’re making the trip to Spruce Knob, I highly recommend pairing it with a visit to Blackwater Falls State Park, located about 1 hour and 15 minutes north. It’s one of the most scenic parks in West Virginia—and it’s on my list of Best State Parks, which I’ll be covering in more detail in a future post.

Catch you on the summit!

Date of Visit: 16 May 2023

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