Is there a logical reason for hopping on the Route 150 stretch of Highland Scenic Highway? Not really. Other highways will get you where you’re going more directly, but if we humans always favored reason and necessity we would miss out on treasures like toe socks, trampolines and limited-edition Oreo flavors. When you’re ready to break free from that left-brain thinking and do a little journeying for the sake of journeying, this bucket list-worthy stretch of highway will take you through some West Virginia landscapes that will blow your mind!
We’re warning you now: it’s gonna be hard to drive these miles without wanting to throw your door open and make a mad dash for the natural eye candy just outside your vehicle. Luckily, four scenic overlooks let you put it in park and go wild. Spring’s wildflowers and fall’s foliage make these transitional seasons the best time to hit the road here.
This quintessential road trip route winds through the wilderness of Monongahela National Forest, climbing over 4,500 feet to the top of Black Mountain. You’ll dip and climb along mountain ridges for bird’s-eye views of the Allegheny Highlands.
For the outdoor adventurer, there are plenty of chances to stretch your legs in Monongahela National Forest. Hiking trails just off of the highway take the windshield out of the equation and let you get up close and personal with Mother Nature. The short and sweet High Rock Trail leads to an overlook of the Stamping Creek watershed, the Black Mountain Loop travels through pine trees and rhododendrons along an old railroad grade, and the Red Spruce Knob Trail rises 4,703 feet to a view of the surrounding mountains and rivers.
Named after its iconic waterfall, Blackwater Falls State Park is nestled in the Canaan Valley in the Allegheny Mountains. Blackwater Falls is a favorite of amateur and professional photographers alike. It’s uniquely dark hue can be attributed to tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.
There’s no shortage of ways to spend a day (or the weekend) checking out the falls for yourself. Twenty miles of hiking trails, ski trails, sledding runs and scenic picnic areas give hikers a glimpse at the falls from every angle and an onsite restaurant serves up fresh food and canyon views.
Bike and boat renters will have easy access through the 65-site campground that’s just a short walk from the nature center. The small village of wood-paneled cabins with stone fireplaces is a slightly cushier option than the open air sites on the other side of the Blackwater River. Don’t expect isolation at this tour bus hotspot though; Blackwater Falls is a destination better suited for the social camper.
Due to its high elevation, the scenic highway shuts down to traffic in the winter. This is a whole other territory once snow falls: cross-country skiers and snowshoers take to a trail system just off the route, while snowmobilers plow down the road for frosty views of surrounding bogs and mountains. If you want to rough it along the route, three different campgrounds are just a short detour away. Summit Lake Campground has 33 primitive sites along with superb fishing, Tea Creek Campground is smack dab at the intersection of its namesake creek and the Williams River and Day Run Campground features 12 sites a little farther north. More remote sites in the Dolly Sods Wilderness are available for the camper who doesn’t mind working up a serious sweat for seclusion.
The highest peak in West Virginia, Spruce Knob is found in the wilderness of the Monongahela National Forest. At a whopping 4,863 feet, the landscape of this peak might come as a bit of a surprise: trees on the cliff’s edge are often healthy and full on one side but stripped bare by high winds on the other. At the top of Spruce Knob, a short hiking loop circling the peak and tower made of stone and steel offer panoramic views of mountains and meadows alike.
Tucked away in a dense hardwood forest over a mile above sea level, the campground at Spruce Knob is perfect for quiet time spent with Mother Nature. Hikers will enjoy easy access to miles of trails, including a 16.5-mile backpacking loop where you’ll find the wreckage of a 1973 airplane, mountain meadows and creeks, waterfalls and vistas.
One of the most popular attractions to visit near Lewisburg is The Greenbrier. The award-winning luxury hotel has been around in its current form since 1913, and the original hotel was built back in 1853. It's played host to 26 presidents and other celebs and dignitaries from Bing Crosby and the Kennedy family to Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duke of Windsor. It's got a casino, a golf course, a spa, laser tag, bowling, restaurants and bars, a movie theater, and more. Whew! If you just stop by for a visit without booking a stay, you can check out the museum dedicated to the Presidents who have spent the night, or tour their formerly-top secret nuclear fallout bunker. Kept a closely guarded secret for three decades and only revealed to the public in 1992, the emergency Cold War fallout bunker was built to house the entirety of Congress. The fully staffed and operational bunker had a power plant and water purification system, a hospital, a laboratory, a pharmacy, a TV production room, and dorms that could house 1,000 government officials. Today, you can tour the bunker and explore all of the once-classified underground rooms!
Due to its high elevation, the scenic highway shuts down to traffic in the winter. This is a whole other territory once snow falls: cross-country skiers and snowshoers take to a trail system just off the route, while snowmobilers plow down the road for frosty views of surrounding bogs and mountains. If you want to rough it along the route,Tea Creek Campground is smack dab at the intersection of its namesake creek.
Signs of civilization are few and far between on the highway, but once you’ve cruised its entirety, we recommend touring the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace for a peek into the life of the early-19th century Pulitzer Prize winner and philanthropist. The taste of turn-of-the-century opulence is a different feel from the wilderness along the route, but it’s just as fascinating!
A cruise here brings you through hardwood forests to sweeping vistas of the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, a windy bog full of epic greenery -- trees grow extra thick roots to survive strong gusts, and carnivorous plants bite back at the bugs that try to eat them.
Take a hike through Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park! The site of the last major battle of the Civil War is now a peaceful retreat into nature, where you can climb a historic lookout tower or see actual Civil War trenches.
So forget reason for a minute and hop on this rambling roadway in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains. The extra miles on your odometer are worth it for this once-in-a-lifetime journey through Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
