Spruce Knob — Local services in Franklin

Saw the milky way overnight, as an amateur star gazer. Go on a night when there is low humidity, when the moon is a sliver and not rising before 2 am. When the milky way is directly overhead, blast some music (headphones ok too) and start spinning. It is indescribably beautiful. The hush of the trees. The blanket of stars. Sunset is over the mountaintops and sunrise is over pine trees. There is a better view facing west if you go on the trail beside the observatory. Other details: There is 4G (AT&T) at the top but not on the way up the mountain. The bathroom at the top is really smelly and there wasn't toilet paper. If it's a nice night, there are probably a few folks with fancy cameras and it would be best to turn off your flashlight shortly before reaching the observatory so that it doesn't ruin any long exposure shots. Temperature is around 10-15 degrees lower at the top compared to below. Also at almost 5000 feet, oxygen is a little less concentrated than below, and you might feel a little bit of light headedness or shortness of breath if you stay up there overnight, but likely...

This review is rather delayed, as the last time I visited this place was in June 2013. My dad and I went on a backpacking trip in Seneca Creek that went very well, my first in a long time. After we finished, we decided to check out what was nearby before we went home, being summer above all. We noticed that Spruce Knob was nearby and decided to check it out. It's the first state high point that I ever accomplished and the first in a long, long line. Since then, I've visited the high points of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Utah, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, that's roughly chronologically, more than my other family members. This marks the onset of a great voyage whose completion is yet to be seen, depending if I've tackled all the easy ones. The point itself is really interesting; there's rock outcrops that are fun for kids of all ages and the observation tower provides a very convincing view,...

Very neat part of the Monongahela National Forest pretty high up. The summit gives commanding views of the west and great sunsets. I immediately noticed how the west side of the trees were sheered off, indicated this being a high winds-area, and it was. Lighting a fire to cook was difficult in one of the grills they provide at the picnic spots because the air was extremely humid and cool and the winds were pretty strong, even in the middle of a long and strong dry heat wave over the East Coast, but we eventually got it going.

The observation deck is neat, and there are some trails that encircle it that are worth checking out if you have the time. The exact summit can not be reached by car; a 900’ hike is all that’s needed for that, however. Some toilets are found at the top as well, if you need to relieve yourself. Highly recommend a visit if you’re anywhere near here or visiting the...