Explore WV Potomac Highlands Regional Guide

Pendleton County

WET A LINE H ome to Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, and some of the most rugged mountain terrain to be found on the East Coast, Pendleton County is a picturesque getaway that exemplifies the slogan “Almost Heaven.” Blessed with beautiful rivers, amazing trails, and awe-inspiring views, Pendleton County features a host of world-class recreational activities. In addition to Spruce Knob, Pendleton County is home to the Monongahela and the George

Washington National Forests and the most recognizable landmark in the state, Seneca Rocks. These natural settings form a stunning backdrop for incredible hiking and biking, rock climbing, golf, horseback riding, and paddling rivers and streams. What Pendleton County is really known for is fishing. Brushy Fork Lake and Brandywine Dam are excellent areas to put your boat in and enjoy a relaxing day of fishing. Brandywine Lake is stocked once in February and every two weeks in March, April, and May, and then during the week of Columbus Day, in October, and again a week later. Brushy Fork Lake is stocked once in February and once every twoweeks inMarch, April, andMay. You might already know Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia, towering above the rest of the state’s terrain at nearly 5,000 feet above sea level. But it’s also the tallest peak in the Allegheny range. Travel to the top by car on Forest Road 112. Once there, a quick walk on the Whispering Spruce Trail offers many panoramic views over its half-mile course.

No boat? No problem. Fishing along and in the rivers and streams in Pendleton County is a real treat. The South Branch of the Potomac River begins in Highland County, Virginia, upstream from Franklin, West Virginia, and continues northeast for 80 miles. Along the way it offers trophy trout fishing as well as trophy largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing. The South Branch has been called the best-kept secret of fishing in West Virginia. South Branch trout action begins at the town of Franklin, where rainbow, golden rainbow, brown, and brook trout abound. Each year, more trophy trout are caught in the South Branch than in any other stream in West Virginia. Every spring, Pendleton County hosts the Annual West Virginia Trout Fest . Located in Franklin since 2005, the festival sees fishermen from all over the state fishing for trophy trout in the South Branch of the Potomac. Certain fish will earn an angler cash prizes, and participants enjoy a host of other events all weekend long. pendletoncountywv.com

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