Spruce Knob is the highest point in all of West Virginia. Its summit reaches 4,861 feet above sea level and is located on Spruce Mountain in Pendleton County.

The knob is made of Pottsville sandstone, a very hard rock that dates back over 300 million years and resists erosion. Even though glaciers never reached West Virginia, the extremely cold climate left its mark. Special rock patterns (like circles and stripes) formed by ancient freeze-thaw cycles can still be seen on the high ground. Spruce Knob has a climate similar to that of Newfoundland, Canada. The high altitude and cold weather allow certain northern plants, like dwarf cornel, to grow here. In the harshest spots, trees are stunted and grow only shrub-high.

Spruce Knob was originally covered in a dense red spruce forest. Settlers burned it for pasture, and later logging, and severe fires destroyed the rich soil. Since the U.S. Forest Service acquired the land in 1921, the red spruce has been slowly growing back.

In 1965, the area was protected when President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. A short trail circles the knob and features an observation tower with spectacular, panoramic views. Nearby Spruce Knob Lake, the state's highest lake, is a popular spot for fishing and wildlife viewing.