Spruce Knob · WV
Spruce Knob Lake Trail
A flat, family-friendly loop following the shore of 25-acre Spruce Knob Lake, the highest lake in West Virginia at 3,840 feet; passes pine woods, wildflower shorelines, and boardwalks, with a bald eagle nest on the far side.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the trail running plan today.
Today's best: trail running
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- − 79°F air — Above trail running's comfort zone (28–78°F)
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 14 ft
- Surface
- gravel
- Difficulty
- easy
Trailhead
Coordinates
38.7012, -79.5864 — WV.
Park
Part of Spruce Knob.
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Frequently Asked
How long is Spruce Knob Lake Trail?
Spruce Knob Lake Trail is a 1-mile route with 14 feet of elevation gain — easy — gentle grades, generally suitable for families and beginners with normal fitness. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Spruce Knob Lake Trail?
Spruce Knob Lake Trail is crushed gravel or compacted aggregate — drains quickly, stays passable in wet weather. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Spruce Knob Lake Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Spruce Knob Lake Trail is in Spruce Knob, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.