Natural beauty and local hospitality are easy to find in the town of Franklin in Pendleton County. This small, charming town is in the Allegheny Mountains and is on the eastern side of the Monongahela National Forest, which is often the drier side of the forest. Some of the state’s most spectacular scenery is nearby. Spruce Knob in the Monongahela National Forest is the highest point in West Virginia at 4,863 feet above sea level. It can be accessed by trail or by road and is less than an hour’s drive from Franklin. Another iconic landmark in the nearby forest is Seneca Rocks. This natural rock feature is only about a 30-minute drive from Franklin. The stunning Tuscarora Sandstone fin rises hundreds of feet above the valley floor. Seneca Rocks is a popular destination for rock climbers and for hikers. There’s a 1.3-mile hike from the valley to near the summit of the rocks. North of Franklin, during wetter times of the year, the South Branch of the Potomac River provides an enjoyable whitewater section through the pristine Smoke Hole Canyon. Franklin and the surrounding area of Pendleton County provide a picturesque getaway that exemplifies the slogan “West Virginia, Wild and Wonderful.”