A Walk Through West Virginia's Cranberry Glades Is Like Walking On Another Planet

The 750 acre area has a boardwalk running through two of the bogs in an effort to leave the fragile ecology undisturbed.

For a nice day trip, you can book a room at the Four Seasons Lodge at 320 North Fork Cherry Highway (55 WV-39) on the outskirts of Richwood. From there, you can follow the road away from town, stopping at the different trails along the way, such as Eagle Camp Trail and Kennison Mountain Trail. You can also turn off 55 on to Hill Creek Falls Road to view a gorgeous waterfall. No worry of getting lost here, as this road promptly dead ends at a parking lot adjacent to the falls. The 20 mile drive will eventually lead you to a turnoff on 102, where you can find Cranberry Glades and the three other trails that precede it. All these trails are marked with wooden signs on the side of the road.

In peak times, near the end of Autumn, visitors can see where the Cranberry Glades gets its name. The glades become vibrant red, and walking through this area becomes a surreal, almost magical experience. 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.

But the National Park Service 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. Don't forget to bring your camera, though. And extra batteries.