Spruce Knob Lake is the highest lake in West Virginia – a serene, 25-acre mountain trout lake set at nearly 3,900 feet in the Monongahela National Forest, just below Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state. Cold, clear and ringed by red spruce, it’s a fly-fisher’s and stargazer’s lake: stocked trout in the water, and some of the darkest, most star-filled skies in the eastern United States overhead.
This guide covers Spruce Knob Lake: the trout fishing, the high-country setting and dark skies, and access. It’s part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
Spruce Knob Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~25 acres at roughly 3,840 ft – the highest lake in West Virginia
- Location: Pendleton County, eastern West Virginia, in the Monongahela National Forest
- Type: a cold mountain trout lake (no gas motors)
- Top fish: stocked rainbow & brook trout
The highest lake in West Virginia
Perched in the high Alleghenies just below the 4,863-foot summit of Spruce Knob, this is the loftiest lake in the state. The elevation keeps the water cold and clear – perfect for trout – and the surrounding spruce forest and open highlands give it a northern, almost Canadian feel. The remoteness also brings extraordinarily dark night skies, making the lake a favorite of astrophotographers chasing the Milky Way far from city lights.
Fishing Spruce Knob Lake
Spruce Knob Lake is managed as a trout lake, stocked with rainbow and brook trout in its cold, clear water. A West Virginia fishing license and trout stamp are required. The lake is popular with fly anglers and is restricted to quiet, non-gas-motor use, preserving its peaceful character. Fishing from the bank, a canoe or a float tube is the norm.
Camping, hiking and dark skies
A Forest Service campground and a lakeside trail sit on the water, and the area is laced with trails – including routes up to the Spruce Knob observation tower, the highest point in West Virginia, with sweeping views over the Allegheny highlands. After dark, the lake is one of the best stargazing spots in the East. It’s a base for trout fishing, hiking, photography and quiet high-country escape.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Spruce Knob Lake is reached by forest roads off US-33/WV-28 in Pendleton County, eastern West Virginia, deep in the Monongahela National Forest. Spruce Knob, Seneca Rocks and the Germany Valley overlooks are all nearby in this spectacular stretch of the Potomac Highlands.
Know before you go
- Fishing license & trout stamp: both required.
- Remote & high: forest-road access, cold even in summer, no gas motors – come prepared.
- Dark skies: bring a camera and warm layers for stargazing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lake in West Virginia?
Spruce Knob Lake, at about 3,840 feet in the Monongahela National Forest, below Spruce Knob – the highest point in the state.
What fish are in Spruce Knob Lake?
Stocked rainbow and brook trout, in cold, clear high-elevation water popular with fly anglers.
Where is Spruce Knob Lake?
In Pendleton County, eastern West Virginia, reached by forest roads in the Monongahela National Forest near Spruce Knob and Seneca Rocks.
Related: explore the small lakes of West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
