Black Oak Mountain, in Mercer County, is an elongated, single-crested mountain that rises to 3,268 feet above sea level near Princeton, West Virginia. It is part of the folded geologic structure of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians.
It parallels the Bluestone River and extends for seven miles. Highway US-19 crosses the northeastern end of the mountain at Kegley, north of Princeton. River Ridge, a series of lower peaks, parallels the mountain on its north flank along the Bluestone.
Ridges of sandstone outcrop along the crests of Black Oak Mountain and River Ridge. The best-known of these outcrops is Pinnacle Rock, the focus of Pinnacle Rock State Park near Bramwell, West Virginia.
The mountain was most likely named for black oak trees (quercus velutina) that grew there.
Map showing Black Oak Mountain
Topo Map of summit of Black Oak Mountain
