Pollinator viewing spots in the Monongahela National Forest!
During the spring and summer, the Monongahela forest has beautiful wildflowers, providing the perfect habitat for pollinators.
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center: Native Plant and Pollinator Garden
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center: Native Plant and Pollinator Garden. Click to expand.
In May of 2008, the Gauley District created a pollinator garden at the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. Species include columbine, wild bergamot, coreopsis, aster, blazing star, beardtongue, oxeye daisy, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, phlox, wild geraniums and butterfly milkweed.
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. Click to expand.
Near Richwood, West Virginia, this 750 acre botanical area is the southern most point in North America where post-glaciated bogs are found.
Highland Scenic Highway
Highland Scenic Highway. Click to expand.
Just a little north of Marlinton, the Highland Scenic Highway extends 43 miles from Richwood to US Route 219. It passes through the beautiful terrain of the Allegheny Highlands and Plateau, going from 2,325 feet in elevation to over 4,500 feet.
Dolly Sods
Dolly Sods. Click to expand.
During the months of May, June and July, the highest areas in Dolly Sods offer spectacular views of azaleas, mountain laurel, rhododendron and blueberries.
Stuart Memorial Drive
Stuart Memorial Drive. Click to expand.
Stuart Memorial Drive (also known as Forest Road 91) is a 10.3-mile road that extends through the south side of the Otter Creek Wilderness. It travels from the Shaver's Fork River valley up to Bickle Knob and Stuart Knob.
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center: Native Plant and Pollinator Garden
In May of 2008, the Gauley District created a pollinator garden at the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. Species include columbine, wild bergamot, coreopsis, aster, blazing star, beardtongue, oxeye daisy, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, phlox, wild geraniums and butterfly milkweed.
In the morning, you can find bumble bees waking up all over the flowers and hummingbirds swarming the feeders throughout the day!
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
Near Richwood, West Virginia, this 750 acre botanical area is the southern most point in North America where post-glaciated bogs are found.
When visiting, you can find a half- mile wheelchair accessible boardwalk to view the wildflowers and pollinators!
Highland Scenic Highway
Just a little north of Marlinton, the Highland Scenic Highway extends 43 miles from Richwood to US Route 219. It passes through the beautiful terrain of the Allegheny Highlands and Plateau, going from 2,325 feet in elevation to over 4,500 feet.
The Highway travels through northern hardwood and red spruce forest communities, as well as many flowering shrubs (serviceberry, mountain laurel, and rhododendron). You will also find a variety of wildflowers such as Turk’s cap lilies, Canada lilies and white monkshood, along Williams River and the entirety of the highway shoulder. The eastern end of the Highway has abundant moisture, which creates the perfect conditions for many wildflowers and shrubs that provide perfect habitat and food sources for pollinators!
Dolly Sods
During the months of May, June and July, the highest areas in Dolly Sods offer spectacular views of azaleas, mountain laurel, rhododendron and blueberries.
Stuart Memorial Drive
Stuart Memorial Drive (also known as Forest Road 91) is a 10.3-mile road that extends through the south side of the Otter Creek Wilderness. It travels from the Shaver's Fork River valley up to Bickle Knob and Stuart Knob.
This drive provides many opportunities to see wildflowers from early spring through the fall, and with them comes the opportunity to see pollinators hard at work!
From mid to late May, you can find the flame azalea blooming in the drier, low elevation oak-hickory forests, followed by the mountain laurel in June. Great laurel can also be seen blooming in June and July in the stream bottom downhill from the road. Additionally, at the top of the mountain you'll find a dense understory of great laurel in the spruce-hemlock forest, which blooms in mid-summer. Spring ephemeral flowers bloom from late March through early May in the middle elevation hardwood forests, and include various species of violets, trout lily, toothwort, Carolina springbeauty, trilliums, blue cohosh, wood anemone, among others. One of the best ways to find these smaller flowers is by parking and walking down one of the many gated Forest Service roads. Additionally, some of the best places to look for late-summer and fall flowers, such as goldenrods and asters, are in the grazing allotments alongside the road.
Information sourced from the U.S. Forest Service