West Virginia is known for deep, forested canyons; rugged, wooded mountain slopes; and historic small towns with huge, old trees lining the streets. But do you know what West Virginia is not known for? Wide-open, swampy grass plains. That’s why a visit to Cranesville Swamp Preserve’s boreal bog will feel like an adventure to another world. And in fact, it really is, if the other world you have in mind is Canada: the surrounding mountains funnel cold air and moisture into this swamp to create a microclimate reminiscent of something you might find on the other side of our country’s northern border.

Cranesville Swamp Preserve in Preston County is West Virginia's oldest nature preserve.
Matt Tillett/Flickr
It actually extends across the state border into Garrett County, Maryland, and the Nature Conservancy manages both portions of the 1,774-acre preserve.
Cranesville Swamp features a unique subarctic wetland, otherwise known as a boreal bog.
Matt Tillett/Flickr
Boreal bogs have become quite rare in the Southern United States. Cranesville Swamp is one of the few left and was one of the first areas in the country to receive an official National Natural Landmark designation.

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Cranesville Swamp Preserve isn't ALL swamp, though.
Nicolas Raymond/Flickr
The Nature Conservancy has been hard at work to restore portions of the original red spruce forest.
There are five trails throughout the Cranesville Swamp Preserve that you can choose from, including a boardwalk through the swamp.
Brian Powell/Flickr
You must stay on the boardwalk as you hike through the swamp, though, in order to protect the fragile ecosystem of the area.
In addition to unique views, Cranesville Swamp is known as a habitat for rare birds.
Chris M Morris/Flickr
You can also pick wild blueberries and cranberries if you visit at the right time of year.

The Nature Conservancy provides this video of Cranesville Swamp Preserve so that you can learn more about this amazing ecosystem before you visit, as well as an audio tour that you can listen to ahead of time or download and take with you to listen as you hike. You can visit their website for more information.

Have you visited this rare site and enjoyed its unique beauty? We are not a large state, but it truly is amazing the variety we can enjoy right here within our state borders!

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Cranesville Swamp, Terra Alta, WV 26764, USA