Spruce Knob Lake Loop

Spruce Knob Lake is located just below the peak of Spruce Knob at 3,840’, making it the highest lake in West Virginia. If you are not camping in the campground, there is a parking lot/boat launch located near the dam. If you are camped in the campground, there is a trail that leads from the campground down to the lake and ends in the parking lot near the dam. To reach the trailhead from Riverton, WV, take HWY 33 south 2 miles to Briery Gap Road (HWY 33/4). Turn right onto Briery Gap Road, and follow it for 2 miles to Forrest Road 112. Make another right and follow 112 for 13.5 miles. Make another right onto Forest Road 1, and follow it for about 1 mile, passing the campground, and then make a hard left where the road forks, and turn on to Forrest Road 1B. Find a place to park, and then walk to the end of the parking lot toward the lake, and the trail starts at the dam.

To reach the trailhead from Elkins, WV, take HWY 33 to HWY29, and make a right onto HWY29. Follow HWY29 south for 19.4 miles to Forest Road 1. Make a left onto Forest Road 1, and follow it for about 2 miles. When the road forks, take the right fork onto Forrest Road 1B. Find a place to park and then walk to the end of the parking lot toward the lake, and the trail starts at the dam.

The one mile loop trail starts at the dam, and since it is a flat loop, it doesn’t matter which way you start. I usually start the loop by walking along the dam first. The lake is stocked with fish, so if you like fishing make sure you bring your rod. Once you cross the dam, continue to follow the trail to the left as it leads around the lake. One thing I like about this trail is that it leads the hiker from a pine wood forest, to an
open shoreline usually filled with wild flowers, then along some board walks, allowing you to easily walk above the feeder stream making it feel like you have hiked through a few different eco systems in a very short amount of time. On the backside of the lake, there is a bald eagle’s nest, and if you are lucky, you can watch him catch fish from the lake or just soar above the trees. The trail is very well maintained and easy to follow, and it starts and stops at the dam. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail, so your whole family can enjoy the beautiful scenery.