Spruce Knob Summit Trail

Spruce Knob Summit Trail leads to the highest point in West Virginia at 4,863 feet, offering panoramic views from an observation tower atop the windswept summit. The short trail circles the summit through stunted red spruce forest shaped by constant wind and harsh winter conditions. The observation tower provides 360-degree views extending into Virginia and across the Allegheny highlands. The summit area features a unique high-altitude ecosystem with northern plant species and wind-flagged trees that grow only on the lee side of their trunks. Despite the short distance, the remote location and high elevation create an otherworldly atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the state.