General Route Description
Almost twelve miles of climbing with an overall average of 4.7% and the first three miles averaging 8%. There is really no respite from the climbing till you are within the last mile of the climb, though the average grade from mile 9 to 10 is less than 2%. After the first four miles, the climb it not bad.
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 afternoon. The Forest Service maintained section begins where state 13/1 Simoda Road takes off downhill to the left. The road to Spruce Knob turns right uphill and becomes 1 1/2 lane un striped pavement the rest of the way. From this point to the intersection 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 ridge line to the Knob itself. This final section has the only 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.
Once you reach the top, you get to enjoy 11 miles of uninterrupted descent!
There is public parking available at the intersection of Rt. 33 and Rt 28. one mile south of the beginning of the climb. This gives your legs a little warm up before hitting the climb.
0.0 Start: Judy Gap Intersection of routes 28 & 33
1.0 Left on route 33/4. Begin Climb
3.6 Bare right on Forest Service 112
11.0 Right on Forest Service 104
12.8 Parking Lot.
Return the same way.
25.6 Finish
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 8-9% ascent to the parking lot. These are "average" percent, so there will be shorter sections of more or less percent climbing