Cranberry Glades in West Virginia is located in the high wilderness of the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas County. Tucked inside a tiny ecosystem that is unlike anything else in the entire state: Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, in Hillsboro, is a 750-acre protected place that is home to the Mountain State’s largest region of boreal bogs. Let’s take a look at the home of some interesting carnivorous plants in West Virginia.

Bogs are wetlands full of decayed plant material called peat.
cranberry glades in west virginia
Alyssa Ballard/Alltrails
And the bogs in Cranberry Glades are home to an arctic microclimate unlike anything else at this latitude since the glaciers retreated thousands of years ago.
Plants, animals, mosses, and lichens that are normally at home in alpine tundra can be found here.
Carla McClure/Alltrails
Some include the cranberries that gave the area its name and several other species that can be found nowhere further south.
And among the exotic wildlife that live here, there are some that warrant special mention - the carnivorous plants in West Virginia.
cranberry glades in west virginia
Pytheas (talk) (Uploads), CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
We think the Pitcher Plants are fascinating creatures!
Within the Cranberry Glades, you can find at least two rare species of plants - the pitcher plant and the sundew - that supplement their diet of sunlight with insects.
cranberry glades in west virginia
Noah Elhardt, CC BY-SA 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons
Pictured above is a sundew. Pictured below is a Cranberry Glades pitcher plant.
They developed this eating habit due to the acidic, nutrient-poor spongy soil of the bogs, and it allows them to flourish here where other plants cannot.
cranberry glades in west virginia
roozoo/Tripadvisor

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The Cranberry Glades lies on the renowned Highland Scenic Highway, and it can be most easily enjoyed by the 0.5-mile boardwalk loop.
Forest Wander from Cross Lanes, USA, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
In the spring, the cranberries are blooming, and in the fall the bogs are thick with the brilliant red fruit.
The views of the stunning surrounding mountains are impressive, and the opportunity exists to see an array of wildlife, such as birds and even black bears!
cranberry glades in west virginia
CV1958 (Colin Viney), CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The boardwalk, which is dotted with many informational signs, allows visitors to learn about and experience the amazing landscape without disturbing it.
Alan Schafer/AllTrails
The walk is handicapped accessible but is apt to be muddy or slick in places.
Look for the pink sundew with its sticky tentacles and the purple-veined pitcher leaves where unsuspecting bugs meet their bane!
GoneOnTravel/Tripadvisor
For those who want to enjoy more of this unique area, the six-mile Cowpasture Trail encircles the botanical area and offers more beautiful vistas
Mandy Parmer/AllTrails
Whatever trail you choose, stay on it and protect this fragile ecosystem.

Cranberry Glades in West Virginia offers more information on its web page. At a surprising 3,400 feet of elevation, the property experiences a very cool and wet microclimate, collecting cold air from the 4,000-foot mountains surrounding it. Frosts can occur even into the summer, so come prepared for a welcome relief from lowland heat, but dress accordingly!

Do you already know this information? If you’ve visited this intriguing botanical area, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if you just love grisly yet fascinating plant life like these carnivorous plants, you might also want to learn more about West Virginia’s most gruesome fungus, Dead Man’s Fingers.

On Your Next Forest Hike, Keep An Eye Out For Dead Man’s Fingers, A Spooky Fungus That Grows In West Virginia

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More to Explore

Gardens In West Virginia

Carolyn Harmon | May 07, 2024

What are some of the best gardens in West Virginia?

  • West Virginia Botanic Garden (Morgantown): One of the best gardens, out of at least eight beautiful spaces, is the Eclectic Garden where the perennials and annuals change each year. It also contains the interesting ruins of the former caretaker’s house.
  • Holly River State Park (Hacker Valley): The 8,101 acres of this impressive forest showcase the second-largest state park in West Virginia and a natural rock garden. The valley is surrounded by heavily forested mountains, some reaching more than 2,800 feet high.
  • Sunshine Farm & Gardens (Renick): In more than 30 years, the result here is a diverse collection of over 10,000 different bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and trees from around the world. Folks can visit the 60-acre mountaintop at 3,000 feet with advance notice.
  • Ritter Park (Huntington): This lovely park is surrounded by beautiful homes in a national historic district that represents some of the most typical architectural styles from 1913-1940. It offers a rose garden, a walking trail, a dog park, tennis courts, and an award-winning playground.

Where are some of the best state parks in West Virginia?

  • Lost River State Park (Mathias): These sprawling 3,934 acres offer cabin rentals and a variety of outdoor recreation. Come for the Cranny Crow overlook on top of Big Ridge Mountain for a panoramic view of five counties!
  • Beartown State Park (Renick): This seasonal 110-acre natural area is famous for its unusual formations of rock, such as overhanging cliffs and massive boulders that carve out deep crevices. Folks can see these along the half-mile boardwalk.

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Featured Addresses
Cranberry Glades Boardwalk, Little Levels District, WV 24946, USA