Cranberry Glades Botanical Area

The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area protects the largest area of bogs in West Virginia. Bogs are acidic wetlands more commonly found in the northern areas of this country and in Canada. The ground in a bog is spongy and consists largely of partially decayed plant material known as peat. Because of its unique conditions, some unusual plants grow in bogs, including carnivorous or insect-eating plants. The Botanical Area encompasses 750 acres.

The Cranberry Glades consists of four bogs whose plant and animal life is like that found in the bogs or "muskegs" of the north where bogs are found in glaciated landscapes while the glaciers did not make it this far south. This life spread southward with the changing climatic conditions that allowed glaciers to creep across the northern part of our continent. Several species ended their migration here, and the Cranberry Glades are now the southernmost point in North America where some of these life forms are found.

Please treat the Cranberry Glades with care! A half-mile boardwalk has been constructed through two of the bogs so you can enjoy the area without disturbing this fragile community. Help protect these bogs and stay on the boardwalk and leave the flowers for others to enjoy. Remember...many of these unique plants are descended from seeds that took root here over 10,000 years ago! With your help, they will continue to live here, making Cranberry Glades a special place to visit for a long time to come!

Due to its fragile ecosystem it’s imperative that visitors stay on the boardwalk.