The best time to visit Cranberry Glades in Hillsboro, West Virginia is quite possibly any time as it is beautiful in every season. But if you want to see the unusual plants blooming, the warmer months are ideal. Also, guided tours are offered through the summer months on which you’ll quickly find it is unlike any other place. Located in the Monongahela National Forest, with a magic all its own, the red landscape and exotic plant life feel a bit like you’re walking on another planet. Let’s take a look at the unique Cranberry Glades in West Virginia.

The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area consists of four bogs, also called "muskegs," reminiscent of the bogs up north.
best time to visit cranberry glades
Jonas Barnhart/AllTrails
The Glades are actually part of the larger Cranberry Wildlife Management Area.
A 20-mile drive will eventually lead to a turnoff on Forest Road 102, where you can find the Cranberry wilderness and the trails that precede it.
http://www.ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 US , via Wikimedia Commons
The 750-acre area has a boardwalk running through two of the bogs in an effort to leave the fragile ecology undisturbed. The National Park Service staff asks that you do not venture off the boardwalk areas, so as to preserve this precious flora for others to enjoy for years to come.
The transformed landscape, visible along the Cranberry Bog Boardwalk, is a sight to behold, and the 0.6-mile easy loop trail is one of the best ways to explore this unique property.
best time to visit cranberry glades
Flickr/Random Michelle
Walking through the woods in this wild environment creates a feeling of otherworldliness. Read more about this hike and others on the AllTrails website.
It eventually leads into a lush forest, replete with unique forms of plant life you have probably never seen before in this country.
Camelia Williams/AllTrails
These include many strange and exotic species of plant some of which are even carnivorous.

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You'll find cranberries - of course - moss, skunk cabbage, and the two carnivorous plants: the purple pitcher plant (pictured) and the interesting sundew.
best time to visit cranberry glades
Sarah Robertson/AllTrails
The plants in the area are the descendants of species 10,000 years old.
After the boardwalk ends, you are free to roam a bit more.
best time to visit cranberry glades
Joslyn Hoalcraft/AllTrails
Trails are marked with wooden signs on the side of the road.
You can also turn onto Hill Creek Falls Road to view a gorgeous waterfall at Hills Creek Overlook.
best time to visit cranberry glades
Falls of Hills Creek Parking, Hill Creek Falls Rd, Hillsboro, WV 24946, USA
Kent Davis/AllTrails
No worry of getting lost here, as this road promptly dead-ends at a parking lot adjacent to the falls.
In peak times, near the end of autumn, visitors can see where the Cranberry Glades gets its name as they become vibrant red, and walking through this area becomes a surreal, almost magical experience.
Forest Wander from Cross Lanes, USA, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
You will find a moment where you can easily imagine yourself on another planet - perhaps Mars - if its red surface was comprised of grasses and bogs instead of dust.
This area is so unusual to American hikers because of a great ecological migration that took place during the Pleistocene Epoch when massive continental ice sheets deposited Canadian flora and fauna into the region.
best time to visit cranberry glades
Joslyn Hoalcraft/AllTrails
The Glades are the southernmost part of this migration. As we wrote before, any time is a good time to visit the Cranberry Glades in WV - even decorated with snow.

For the best time to visit Cranberry Glades and other information, visit the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area web page. Have you ever been to Cranberry Glades? Feel free to comment below and tell us all about your experience.

To learn more about West Virginia’s unusual places, check out this little portion of Canada right here in the Mountain State. And shop for some hiking gear on The North Face website.

Few People Know There Is A Little Portion Of Canada Right Here In West Virginia

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More to Explore

Wilderness Areas In West Virginia

Carolyn Harmon | May 08, 2024

What are some of the best wilderness areas in West Virginia?

  • North Fork Mountain (Riverton): This area is best observed along the difficult 18.6-mile out-and-back trail. The hike offers gorgeous views with several camping spots if you are backpacking.
  • Seneca Creek Backcountry (Spruce Knob): Hike some of the 60 miles of trails that take you through forests of red spruce trees to open meadows and along refreshing mountain streams. Primitive camping is an awesome experience here and is allowed no closer than 300 feet from Forest Roads 112 and 104.
  • Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area (Lenore): This lovely protected area consists of 12,856 acres on which grow wildflowers, plants, and a variety of trees - depending on the season. The vegetation also attracts a variety of wildlife.
  • Otter Creek Wilderness (Bowden): This is truly a wilderness with 45 miles of unmarked trails within the 20,698 acres, and dead trees are normally left along the routes. Located within the Monongahela National Forest, many of the trails follow old railroad grades, logging roads, or farm roads.

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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Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, Hillsboro, WV 24946, USA