This hike takes place in the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Recreation Area, within the Monongahela National Forest. The trail reaches the highest point of West Virginia, Spruce Knob. Spruce Knob stands 4,863 feet tall and is capped with a steel and stone tower called Spruce Knob Tower of all things. There are no fees associated with this hike.
The Spruce Knob Trail is easily accessed from the parking lot. The 900-foot trail leads straight to the summit. An alternative is the Whispering Spruce Trail, which encircles the Tower and is approximately 0.5 miles long. This area has vaulted toilets, picnic tables and grills.
The Huckleberry Trail also leads from the parking area and connects Spruce Knob to the Monongahela National Forest Seneca Creek Backcountry Trail System (trail map in the links section below).
Since Spruce Knob is kind of out of the way I decided to include an overnight backpacking trip on my visit to the high point, easier and more fun than staying in a motel. I started on the Huckleberry trail which leads north along the ridge for 3 miles through Spruce trees. The trail is soft and there are many camping spots along the trail here. The Huckleberry trail then drops down into the valley on the west. The landscape changes you will find yourself among hardwood trees. The Trial turns into the Horton Trail and continues down to Seneca Creek. Before getting onto the Seneca Creek Trail and heading north continue on the Horton trail for a couple minutes to check out a great 25-foot water fall. Turn around and get onto the Seneca Creek Trail. Heading south along the creek you will find multiple potential camp spots. Seneca Creek has many waterfalls cascading into clear pools. Hikers must ford the creek a couple of times as there are no footbridges. I spent the night near the Judy Spring.
On day 2, I took the Judy Springs Trail uphill .7 miles through an open meadow. The Judy Spring trail is the most difficult part of this loop. I would rate it as moderate. Eventually, the trail puts you on the Horton Trail which quickly turns into the Huckleberry Trail. Follow this back to the parking area.
Close by is Seneca Rocks which is certainly worth a look.
Spruce Knob Route (out and back): Spruce Knob Trail.
Spruce Knob Tale of the Trail
Distance: 0.34 miles round trip
Time: 10 minutes
Backpacking Route (Loop): Huckleberry Trail Horton Trail Seneca Creek Trail Judy Springs Trail Horton Trail Huckleberry Trail
Backpacking Tale of the Trail - Day 1
Distance: 8.8 miles
Elevation: -1,727 feet
Max Slope: 30.3%
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Backpacking Tale of the Trail - Day 2
Distance: 5.7 miles
Elevation: 1,454 feet
Max Slope: 26.6%
Time: 4 hours
Links:
Wikipedia Page: en.wikipedia.o...
Monongahela National Forest site: www.fs.usda.gov...
USDA site: www.fs.usda.gov...
Seneca Creek Backcountry Trail Map: www.fs.usda.gov...
Connect With Me:
Twitter: / easternhiker
www.threads.ne...
/ easternhikers
Directions to the Trailhead: bit.ly/1X8Lmop
SOME DREAM, SOME DO, FEW DO BOTH
Outro - "Corncob" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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5 сен 2024
