Highland Scenic Highway
43 miles through a wild part of the Monongahela National Forest, past the Cranberry Glades bog, Summit Lake and the Falls of Hills Creek.
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Length43 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout two hours of driving, or four hours to enjoy it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endNear Richwood, WV and near Marlinton, WVNearest towns to the ends of the U.S. DOT route line
- Fees and passesNo fee to drive the highway; campground fees vary.[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Highland Scenic Highway crosses an undeveloped part of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. FHWA describes hardwood forest over rolling mountains, dark spruce at the highest elevations, and a narrow, steep-walled valley with clear streams.
Stops include the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, a mountain bog with a boardwalk, Summit Lake, and the Falls of Hills Creek.
Allow about two hours of driving, or four with stops.
Stops along the way
-
Summit Lake
Mountain lake in the national forest.
Official information · 38.25257, -80.4371 · about 1.1 mi from the route line
-
Falls of Hills Creek
Series of waterfalls on a short trail.
Official information · 38.17374, -80.33508 · about 0.5 mi from the route line
-
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
Bog wetland with a boardwalk.
Official information · 38.20317, -80.26646 · about 1.2 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Pocahontas County Farmers' MarketMarlinton, WV · about 5.8 mi from the route
- Webster Springs Farmer's MarketWebster Springs, WV · about 14.3 mi from the route
- Summersville Tailgate MarketSummersville, WV · about 17.0 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Highland Scenic Highway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).