Northeast - WV Mountain Climbers

I'm wanting to challenge myself with my cycling training and am looking for a mountain in Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Pocahontas, Mineral Counties to climb. I do some mountain climbing in Eastern Hampshire County but would like to find something with switchbacks that would be in the 5-12 mile climb range. I have a 2 mile 9% climb just down the road from me, but I want WV's version of Alpe D'Huez. Does anyone know of one in the Allegheny's with a paved road?

Never Mind I just found my ultimate mountain. I didn't realize that Spruce Knob is now paved all the way to the top. Woohoo!!!

Spruce Knob - WV's ultimate cycling climb.


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 . 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, thought the average grade from mile 9 to 10 is less than 2%.


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 theonly 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.

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 ascent to the parking lot. These are "average" percent, so there will be shorter sections of more or less percent climbing.


http://www.mountainstatewheelers.org/SpruceKnob/Profile.jpg

Awesome! I didn't know it was paved either! But I think I may have to work on my motor a little bit more before I attempt that haha.

I just attempted this from the other side(Durbin) on a fully loaded tour. Kicked me hard. From the Thornwood/Durbin side it is doable with a load but not on the 4th day of my tour. The eastside(the side you're talking about is harder). Another 4 miler is Jordan Run up to Dolly Sods. Well graded dirt road about 2.5-3K ft gain in I believe in 4-5 miles. It also kicked me hard. And still another road(dirt) from Elkins, Chenowith(sp?) rd up to Bemis. This road is in poor shape. ANd this one also kicked me hard. I am still hurting from my trip but want to go back with an unloaded bike and ride 'em clean.
Folks at Blackwater bikes said the toughest is Jordan to Dolly Sods. I have to agree, I did that fresh on the first day and left a crumpled mess. So steep , nothing flat anywhere.

Yeah, I need to work on my motor as well. I have a 2 mile 400' 9% incline just down the road so I'm going to do some hill repeats for the next couple weeks and see how I feel before I make my attempt.