Whispering Spruce NRT

For a scenic hike in the north central highlands of West Virginia, hit the Whispering Spruce Trail with your pooch! Located in the Monongahela National Forest, this 0.5-mile nature trail encircles Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state, and will surely take your breath away with all the puptacular views it has to offer!

Don't worry if your canine companion isn't exactly athletic, for even couch potato pups will do fine on this easy trail. As you and Fido make your way around windblown rocks, you will feel the fresh west wind in your hair and fur. The trail then leads to a vantage point where large boulders dot an open field—this is a furrific spot to take photos, so be sure to bring your camera! You might even see vultures taking a pawse on the boulders.

Once you're done snapping pictures, continue on the trail through a thick spruce forest, where you can catch views of the beautiful North Fork Valley between the trees. Eventually, you and Fido will come to a fork in the trail—turn left to head back to Spruce Knob, or turn right to hike through a blueberry patch with azalea bushes and arrive at the parking lot.

Should you decide to climb up Spruce Knob, you will find a steel and stone observation tower sitting at the top of this 4,863-foot peak. From the Spruce Knob Tower, you and your pooch can enjoy a 360-degree view of grassy openings, forested ridges, and spruce trees that have been shaped by the strong high winds. Before returning to the trail, it would be a good idea for the humans in the group to take a bathroom break in the vault toilets available at the tower.

The Whispering Spruce Trail is pawfect for experiencing the rugged beauty of the Allegheny Mountains with your furry pal, without having to go through a grueling hike. Visit from May through July when the wildflowers are in bloom for a truly unfurgettable trip!