Spruce Knob, West Virginia

TRs for ranges outside California.
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Sean
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Post by Sean »

After visiting the West Virginia capitol building in Charleston, I headed eastward to the Allegheny Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachians. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I had blocked the rest of the weekend for nature time in the Monongahela National Forest. So I was in no great hurry. My first goal would be Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. The rental car's navigation system wanted me to go one way, but I noticed a tiny road sign that said "Spruce Knob" and it was pointing the other way. So I turned off the tech and followed the sign, which guided me to a very good dirt road along Gandy Creek.

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I stopped to check out the creek and re-consider taking the rental on an unknown dirt road for 18 miles.

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Some locals assured me that the road stayed very good all the way to the Knob, as it's well-maintained by the county. They sounded like they knew what's what, so I decided to put the Ford Fusion to the test.

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It was like hiking along a river deep in the mountains, only while driving a car. I just stuck the camera out the window and got these views of the stream and fall colors.

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I thought about stopping and sleeping in the car, it was so peaceful being tucked in the river valley with no city sounds and sights. But I wanted to reach the summit before sunset.

A little before the peak, I stopped briefly at Spruce Knob Lake. It looked like a very serene place to fish. A trail circled the shoreline, but I was running out of daylight.

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I arrived at Spruce Knob with a half-hour to spare. A short path goes up to an observation tower, where I and some others watched the day end.
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JeffH
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Post by JeffH »

That was a nice day - it was pouring rain when I was there in July. Bonus to see the trees turning colors like that.
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tekewin
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Post by tekewin »

I wonder how many state high points are drive ups. Nice forest colors and the lake is great.
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Girl Hiker
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Post by Girl Hiker »

Wow! Beautiful pics of the creek and fall colors. I wish I was there.
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JeffH
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Post by JeffH »

tekewin wrote: I wonder how many state high points are drive ups. Nice forest colors and the lake is great.
This one requires at least a 100-yard walk! I took the scenic loop around the summit so it was maybe a half mile of walking.
I have put my camera on the hood of the truck at the high point of Kansas and Kentucky. I know that Nebraska and North Dakota are also the same, I'll probably visit them next spring. Also Ebright Azimuth in Delaware is on a residential street while Britton Hill in Florida is about 10 yards from the parking lot.
"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours".
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Sean
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Post by Sean »

tekewin wrote: I wonder how many state high points are drive ups.
According to the list at the Highpointers site, there are eleven drive-ups (less than 0.1 miles), and a few more that are only 0.1 miles from the parking. Spruce Knob is actually listed as being 0.3 miles. There was a short walk to the summit area on a nice trail.
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tekewin
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Post by tekewin »

Counts the same a Denali!

I have a friend who has 49 state high points and two fails on Denali.
jarredorlane

Post by jarredorlane »

Quite breathtaking and pleasing to the eyes.
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