The Cranberry Glades

I was thinking this evening of special places that are close to this biologist’s heart. The Cranberry Glades is one of those special areas. Cranberry Glades (750 acres) was designated as a Natural Area within the Monongahelia National Forest on November 7, 1949. At an elevation of 3375 feet, the Cranberry Natural site is the most extensive bog area in West Virginia. Because of it’s unique conditions, some unusual plants (including insectivorous plants) and animals live here and this is the southern-most point in North America for some of these life forms. Many of these unique plants are descended from seeds that took root here over 10,000 years ago. Following are pictures of the bloom of the insectivorous pitcher plant.

The Cranberry Glades consists of four bogs whose plant and animal life is similar to that found in the bogs or “muskegs” of the north.
Big Glade – 60 acres
Flag Glade – 28 acres
Long Glade – 20 acres
Round Glade – 8 acres

The ½ mile boardwalk extends through Round and Flag Glades.

The Glades takes their name from the cranberries, both Large (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and Small (V. oxycoccus), that thrive here.

Although much of the glades is underlain by peat- up to 10 feet thick in places- the peat is in is in turn underlain by algal ooze and the ooze by marl. (H.C Darlington, 1943) This is the headwaters of the Cranberry River.

Take Route 39/55 East from Richwood, WV to the Cranberry Glades. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center located nearby.