Spruce Mountain (West Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Spruce Mountain, in eastern West Virginia
, USA, is the highest ridge of the Allegheny Mountains
. The "whale-backed" ridge extends for only about 16 miles (25.7 km), from northeast to southwest, but several of its peaks exceed 4500 feet (1,371.6 m) in elevation. The summit, Spruce Knob
(4861 ft; 1482 m), is celebrated as the highest point in the state as well as the range, which covers parts of four states.
, a U.S. National Recreation Area (NRA) located within the Monongahela National Forest
(MNF) in Pendleton County
. It extends from the vicinity of Onego
in the north to near Cherry Grove
in the south. Brushy Run separates Timber Ridge — a spur of the main mountain — to the east. The ridgelines of Spruce Mountain and Timber Ridge continue to the north of US Route 33 as Hoffman Ridge and Smith Mountain, respectively. To the south (south of West Virginia 28) the line continues as Big Mountain.
Prominent peaks of Spruce Mountain, north to south, are: Horse Rock (4536 ft; 1383 m), Spruce Mountain Peak (4586 ft; 1398 m), Picea Benchmark (4613 ft; 1406 m), and Spruce Knob itself. Spruce Knob is the highest point in the eastern United States between the Adirondacks of New York
and Mount Rogers
(part of the Blue Ridge Mountains
) in southern Virginia
.
) The present second-growth forest
of Spruce Mountain is characterized by a dominance of sugar maple
(Acer saccharum), American beech
(Fagus grandifolia), and yellow birch
(Betula lutea). Other characteristic species of the mixed mesophytic forest
region are also present: tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), basswood (Tilia heterophylla, T.floridana, T. neglecta), chestnut
(Castanea dentata), yellow buckeye
(Aesculus flava), red oak (Quercus borealis), white oak
(Q. alba), and eastern hemlock
(Tsuga canadensis). The upper reaches of Spruce Mountain also include areas termed northern hardwood
and northern evergreen forest types. The former is typified by red oak, white ash
(Fraxinus americana), basswood (Tilia spp.), red maple
(Acer rubrum), and cherry
(Prunus spp.). The latter is dominated by the Mountain's eponymous red spruce
(Picea rubens). While not extending above the timberline, the stunted tree growth high on this windy mountaintop is relatively open.
(Bonasa umbellus) on the Mountain has been acknowledged by the establishment of the 1750 acres (7.1 km²) Spruce Mountain Grouse Management Area by the MNF
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA, is the highest ridge of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. The "whale-backed" ridge extends for only about 16 miles (25.7 km), from northeast to southwest, but several of its peaks exceed 4500 feet (1,371.6 m) in elevation. The summit, Spruce Knob
Spruce Knob
Spruce Knob, at , is the highest point in the state of West Virginia and the summit of Spruce Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Alleghenies.-Overview:...
(4861 ft; 1482 m), is celebrated as the highest point in the state as well as the range, which covers parts of four states.
Geography
Spruce Mountain lies mostly within the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation AreaSpruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area
Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area is a U.S. National Recreation Area located within the Monongahela National Forest of eastern West Virginia, USA.The National Recreation Area protects three prominent West Virginia landmarks:...
, a U.S. National Recreation Area (NRA) located within the Monongahela National Forest
Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...
(MNF) in Pendleton County
Pendleton County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,196 people, 3,350 households, and 2,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 5,102 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile...
. It extends from the vicinity of Onego
Onego, West Virginia
Onego is an unincorporated community located along Seneca Creek on U.S. Highway 33 in Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA. Onego lies within the Monongahela National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains, near Seneca Rocks....
in the north to near Cherry Grove
Cherry Grove, West Virginia
Cherry Grove is an unincorporated community located in Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA. Cherry Grove lies within the Monongahela National Forest at the confluence of Big Run with the North Fork South Branch Potomac River....
in the south. Brushy Run separates Timber Ridge — a spur of the main mountain — to the east. The ridgelines of Spruce Mountain and Timber Ridge continue to the north of US Route 33 as Hoffman Ridge and Smith Mountain, respectively. To the south (south of West Virginia 28) the line continues as Big Mountain.
Prominent peaks of Spruce Mountain, north to south, are: Horse Rock (4536 ft; 1383 m), Spruce Mountain Peak (4586 ft; 1398 m), Picea Benchmark (4613 ft; 1406 m), and Spruce Knob itself. Spruce Knob is the highest point in the eastern United States between the Adirondacks of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Mount Rogers
Mount Rogers
Mount Rogers is the highest natural point in the state of Virginia, USA, with a summit elevation of above mean sea level. It lies in Grayson County and Smyth County, Virginia, about WSW of Troutdale, Virginia, within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Jefferson National Forest.The...
(part of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
) in southern Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Flora
As with almost the entirety of the MNF, most of the original Spruce Mountain upland forest was completely denuded by logging around the turn of the 20th century and now consists of second- or third-growth forest. (The only documented exception to this on the Mountain is the 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) North Spruce Mountain Old Growth Site.) The present second-growth forest
Secondary forest
A secondary forest is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a major disturbance such as fire, insect infestation, timber harvest or windthrow, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident...
of Spruce Mountain is characterized by a dominance of sugar maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas...
(Acer saccharum), American beech
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia, also known as American Beech or North american beech, is a species of beech native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario in southeastern Canada, west to Wisconsin and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida in the United States. Trees in the...
(Fagus grandifolia), and yellow birch
Yellow Birch
Betula alleghaniensis , is a species of birch native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, southern Quebec and Ontario, and the southeast corner of Manitoba in Canada, west to Minnesota, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia.It is a...
(Betula lutea). Other characteristic species of the mixed mesophytic forest
Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests
The Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests are an ecoregion of mesophytic plants west of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States.-Setting:...
region are also present: tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), basswood (Tilia heterophylla, T.floridana, T. neglecta), chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
(Castanea dentata), yellow buckeye
Yellow Buckeye
Yellow Buckeye is a species of buckeye native to the Ohio Valley and Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 20–47 m tall...
(Aesculus flava), red oak (Quercus borealis), white oak
White oak
Quercus alba, the white oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak of the Fagaceae family, native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been...
(Q. alba), and eastern hemlock
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis, also known as eastern or Canadian hemlock, and in the French-speaking regions of Canada as pruche du Canada, is a coniferous tree native to eastern North America. It ranges from northeastern Minnesota eastward through southern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and south in the Appalachian...
(Tsuga canadensis). The upper reaches of Spruce Mountain also include areas termed northern hardwood
Northern hardwood forest
The northern hardwood forest is a general type of North American forest ecosystem found over much of southeastern and south central Canada, extending south into the United States in northern New England and New York, and west along the Great Lakes to Minnesota and western Ontario...
and northern evergreen forest types. The former is typified by red oak, white ash
White Ash
For another species referred to as white ash, see Eucalyptus fraxinoides.Fraxinus americana is a species of Fraxinus native to eastern North America found in mesophytic hardwood forests from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida, and southwest to eastern...
(Fraxinus americana), basswood (Tilia spp.), red maple
Red Maple
Acer rubrum , is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern North America. It ranges from the Lake of the Woods on the border between Ontario and Minnesota, east to Newfoundland, south to near Miami, Florida, and southwest to east Texas...
(Acer rubrum), and cherry
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
(Prunus spp.). The latter is dominated by the Mountain's eponymous red spruce
Red Spruce
Picea rubens is a species of spruce native to eastern North America, ranging from eastern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and from New England south in the Adirondack Mountains and Appalachians to western North Carolina.-Physical description:...
(Picea rubens). While not extending above the timberline, the stunted tree growth high on this windy mountaintop is relatively open.
Fauna
The important presence of ruffed grouseRuffed Grouse
The Ruffed Grouse is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Alaska. It is non-migratory.The Ruffed Grouse is frequently referred to as a "partridge"...
(Bonasa umbellus) on the Mountain has been acknowledged by the establishment of the 1750 acres (7.1 km²) Spruce Mountain Grouse Management Area by the MNF
Recreation
Hiking trails — Huckleberry Trail, Lumberjack Trail, Spruce Mountain Trail — extend the length of the ridge. There are over 75 miles (121 km) of trails around the Mountain and a small 25 acre (10 ha) lake well stocked with trout on the west side. There are also two campgrounds on the Mountain; the larger (43 sites) is nearest the lake.Other sources
- Core, Earl L. (1928), "Ecological Studies on Spruce Mountain", Proc. W.Va. Acad. Sci. 2:36-39.
- Core, Earl L. (1929), "The Plant Ecology of Spruce Mountain, West Virginia", Ecology, 10:1-13.
- Robison, William C. (1960), “Spruce Knob Revisited: A Half-Century of Vegetation Change”, Castanea, Vol. 25, No. 1 (March issue), pp 53–61.