The US Forest Service has completed the paving of the road to the highest point in the state - Spruce Knob in Pendleton County. The paved route is the access from near Riverton south of Seneca Rock on route 33. This allows road bikes to effectively make the climb for the first time. This is West Virginia's ultimate cycling climbing challange though it might not be he hardest.

Almost twelve miles of climbing with an overall average of 4.7% and the first three miles aveaging 8%. There is really no respite from the climbing till you are within the last mile of the climb, though the average grade from mile 9 to 10 is less than 2%. After the first four miles, the climb it not bad. We will be listing the Wheelers who have done this climb on this page with their "total elapsed time.": That means the total time (not riding time) it takes to get from the bottom to the top including any breaks you take along the way. To be listed on this page, you must have been a paid-up member at the time of the climb.

The first 2.6 miles of the climb are on state maintained 33/4 and is two lane stripped pavement. The state has widened the first two miles of this section within past few years meaning there is little protection from the Sun. It gets the full morning Sun. The mountain would shade it in the late afternnon. The Forest Service maintained section begins where state 13/1 Simoda Road takes off downhll to the left. The road to Spruce Knob turns right uphill and becomes 1 1/2 lane unstripped pavement the rest of the way. From this point to the intersectin of FS 104 that takes you across Spruce Mountain to the Knob itself, the road is mostly shaded.. When you reach FS 104, you have reached the top oF Spruce Mountain and have less than two miles to ride across the ridgeline to the Knob itself. This final section has the only downgrade of the whole climb just before a final short steep uphill section to reach the parking lot and finish of the climb. FS 104 being on the ridge, provides little protection from the Sun or the frequent winds on top of Spruce Mountain.

Once you reach the top, you get to enjoy 11 miles of uninterrupted descent!

There is public parking available at the interection of Rt. 33 and Rt. one mile south of the beginning of the climb. This gives your legs a little warm up before hitting the climb. There is also a restuarant at the beginning of the climb that might grant you permission to park.

The table below gives the total climb and percent climb by mile. The actual climbing will be slightly more as it does not factor in the slight downhill in the last mile of the climb before the final 8-9% ascent to the parking lot. These are "average" percent, so there will be shorter sections of more or less percent climbing.

Mile	Total Elevation Gain	Average Percent Grade to Mile	Elevation Gain From Last Mile	Percent Grade for Mile
1	440	8.3%	440	8.3%
2	834	7.9%	394	7.5%
3	1260	8.0%	427	8.1%
4	1600	7.6%	339	6.4%
5	1788	6.8%	188	3.6%
6	2007	6.3%	219	4.1%
7	2170	5.9%	163	3.1%
8	2358	5.6%	188	3.6%
9	2483	5.6%	125	2.4%
10	2582	4.9%	99	1.9%
11	2744	4.7%	162	3.1%
11.8	2900	4.7%	156	3.0%

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Members Who Have Climbed Spruce Knob

Name	Date	Time	Start Temp	Fin. Temp	Wind
Dale Porter	Aug. 13, 2009	I:42	75	65	<5
Gallie Ward	Aug. 14, 2009	1:22
Jay Stevens	Aug. 14, 2009	<1:20
Larry Weese	Aug. 14, 2009	1:26
Dan Neal	Aug. 14, 2008
Ryan Busch	Aug. 13, 2009	1:02	75	65	<5
Tabitha Jones	Aug. 14, 2009	1:14	75	65	<5
Tom Miller	Aug. 14, 2009
Nora Miller	Aug. 14, 2009
Liz Stevens	Aug. 14, 2009
Steve Marshall	Aug. 14, 2009

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< 30 Years

Name	Date	Time	Start Temp	Fin. Temp	Wind

 

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30 - 39 Years

Name	Date	Time	Start Temp	Fin. Temp	Wind

 

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40 - 49 Years

Name	Date	Time	Start Temp	Fin. Temp	Wind

 

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50 - 59 Years

Name	Date	Time	Start Temp	Fin. Temp	Wind

 

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<50 - 59 Years

Name	Date	Time	Start Temp	Fin. Temp	Wind

 

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<60 - 69 Years

Name	Date	Time	Start Temp	Fin. Temp	Wind
Dale Porter	Aug. 13, 2009	I:42	75	65	<5