Spruce Knob Lake Campground

Admittedly, we had awful weather - it rained more than 50% of the time.  The weather ruled out our main purpose for being their which was astrophotography at Spruce Knob Lake and doing some hiking.   That said, we had a lovely walk-in site with a nicely situated tent pad, fire ring and large picnic table nestled in a private space with lots of tree shade.  If you are wanting to take in the sites of the area and need a base for day hiking, this is a good spot.  There are a few things to know: this campsite is very basic with the only facilities being vault toilets and bins for your trash.  You are able to buy firewood there (if you can get it lit and enjoy before it rains!). There is no cell service whatsoever, so once you get there, you’ll have no clue what the weather is going to do unless you have access to a satellite source (we didn’t.)   There was a water spigot near our site, but we were told to boil the water before drinking any (which made us glad it wasn’t that hot out and we had brought a sizable stash from home.)

The Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers extra-large camp sites with lots of shade and so much undergrowth I only saw my neighbors when I took a walk to check out the campground. There are 45 campsites, with pit toilets and a solar-powered pump house for drinking water. No electric or sewer hook-ups, but you’ll find free apples growing at some of the sites. Sites#31 through 41 are walk-in sites for extra privacy if you’re tent camping. 

This is bear country, so don’t leave any food sitting out. Dogs are allowed as long as they’re kept on a leash. 

Spruce Knob Lake is less than a mile away and a great spot to kayak, fish, and star gaze because you won't have any city lights to interfere and trees won’t block your view. There’s a boat dock and wheelchair accessible fishing pier with the lake stocked with trout several times a year. Electric motors only; No swimming allowed. 

There are at least 60-miles of trails in the surrounding Monongahela National Forest, including the very pleasant, 1-mile, Big Bend River Trail accessible from the campground.

If you’re up for a hardy hike, you can walk 8-miles east to Spruce Knob, the highest place in the State of West Virginia at 4,863-feet. There’s a cool lookout tower at Spruce Knob where you can get a good view of the rugged mountain ridges where the red spruce get so hammered by the wind and rough weather, one side of the tree is missing. The plant life is pretty unique too, with reindeer moss visible along the Whispering Spruce Trail. 

The drive to the Spruce Knob Lake Campground is on a combination of narrow, winding, mostly unpaved roads. Go slow because there are plenty of blind curves. My A/C was out on the day I arrived, so I ate a fair amount of dust with my window partially open… Lol…. 

Directions from the Recreation.gov website: 

From Riverton, WV, take U.S. Route 33 south 2 miles to Briery Gap Road(County Road 33/4). Turn right onto Briery Gap Road. Go 2 miles to Forest Road 112, turn right and continue for 13.5 miles. Turn right on Forest Road 1. The campground is 1/2 mile on the right. From Elkins, WV, take U.S. Route 33 to State Route 29, which is 1 mile west of Harman. Turn right onto SR 29, go south 18.6 miles and tum left onto Forest Road 1. Follow FR 1 for 2.5 miles.

Note:  Seneca Rocks is less than an hour away and well-worth a visit!

This campground is not full of luxuries, but it is full of beautiful forest. It's very close to the lake, and Spruce Knob peak is accessible via trails (an approximately 8-mile hike), or by gravel road. Unfortunately, we were not blessed with good weather while there, so we drove to the parking area near the peak, and to the Lake. There is potable water available, and vault toilets. The toilets were actually pretty clean, as far as vault toilets go. The caretaker, Mike, is a very interesting, congenial, and resourceful individual. Spruce Knob area has some of the darkest skies in the Eastern U.S., and we went there with the hope of some astrophotography. Mother Nature intervened, but regardless, we enjoyed our stay at the Spruce Knob Lake campground. I would highly recommend this beautiful place to anyone who doesn't mind the lack of showers, etc. The drive to get to the campground is a mix of narrow paved roads, and narrow unpaved roads, but the drive is also full of stunning forest views, as like the picture I have included which I shot through the passenger side windshield while the husband was driving.

Like the previous reviewer, we camped off the Huckleberry Trail. We parked at the summit, descended down and came back up. It was one of the most gorgeous trails I've ever experienced and highly, highly recommend it for a quick weekend backpack.

We did this hike in March and there was a thin layer of snow on the ground when we started that quickly accumulated while we hiked and then overnight as we slept. Quick heads up to be prepared if you're going to do this because I definitely got pretty cold and chickened out without doing the whole trail.

This was the guide we were going to follow: https://www.hikingupward.com/MNF/SpruceKnobSenecaCreek/

The sites along the beginning of the trail are nestled among the spruces and very beautiful if you can't make it too far on your first night. We camped just before mile 5 where you get on the Lumberjack Trail, there are two nice sites there with defined campfires.

These are all backcountry, hike-in sites, so none of your campground amenities, but they're all gorgeous.

Spruce Knob Lake is an established campground at the base of the mountain. It was closed in March when we visited so we couldn't even drive through. If you're going to camp at this campground I would totally recommend doing the Huckleberry Trail at the summit!

There is ample and varied hiking and camping in Monongahela National Forest…more than a lifetime's worth.

As we traveled, hiked and camped for a month (Aug 2016) we returned to a favorite location…Spruce Knob!

I have only drove through the actual campground further down Spruce Mountain, and thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the small lake nearby…wishing I had my canoe to paddle around.

Last year we camped off the popular Huckleberry Trail, heading down off Spruce Knob. It was such a memorable time…that we made a point to swing by and spend at least one night. Spruce Knob is the highest peak in West Virginia at 4,863 ft, and the highest in the Allegheny Mountains.

The drive up winds up the mountain offering great views through the trees. On the peak there is a two-story observation tower that affords some wonderful views. The trees continue to grow, so you don't have 350 views…but you get 180 degrees. There is also a flat 1/2 mile trail loop that circles the peak so you can get those views you are looking for. A number of private picnic areas dot the summit to enjoy a meal…Only one shelter that houses two picnic tables, and one pit latrine there in the parking lot.

Note: there is no running water or available water at the summit. So have plenty of water with you.

This August we were surprised by the warm weather…and with it brought flies. Not any ordinary fly…huge blowflies. They weren't bad around the summit and parking lot area…but as we hiked down into the trees to set up camp. It seemed plague-like, the amount of swarming flies. So we went up to the picnic area to eat and then moved back down the trail to our camp. Last year, it was much cooler and did not experience the flies at all.

The location in the woods was perfect. A soft blanket of pine needles, quiet and ample tinder for a fire…sticks and pine cones galore. You can usually expect strong winds and cooler weather. The clouds roll in and out quickly, so if it rains…it moves on.

A large portion begin there backpacking journey here and hike down the Huckleberry Trail…just remember, if you park up top…you are going to have to hike it back up. If you are into peak-bagging or just looking for a great spot to take in the views…Spruce Knob is a must visit!