Forest Abundance

Finzel Swamp Preserve

The Only Evergreens that Shed in Winter

15,000 years ago, retreating glaciers left a taste of the arctic here in the AFNHA region. Managed by The Nature Conservancy, Finzel Swamp Preserve is a frost pocket full of northern plant and animal species which continue to survive here because of the elevation, poor drainage, and shady chill of the mountain. As a result, the preserve hosts one of only two Tamarack groves in Maryland. Tamaracks are the only conifers that lose their needles in the fall!

Finzel is made up of 3 three different types of habitats– partially of sedge meadows and swamp forest, but mostly shrub swamp. Shrub species including northern arrowwood, speckled alder, and serviceberry provide a critical food source for rare fall migrating birds such as the alder flycatcher and Blackburnian warbler. Other food sources include turtlehead, a major host plant for Baltimore checkerspot butterflies, and skunk cabbage, an essential early spring snack for black bears.

Unfortunately, booming deer populations threaten the turtlehead and checkerspot by overgrazing. A road built when the area was farmland is even more threatening, however, having attracted beavers to dam the underside of a bridge. This has flooded the upstream end and drained the downstream, a disruption to water levels only exasperated by rising temperatures.

Frostburg State University is hoping to better understand these future changes by looking deep into the past, examining pollen that has been preserved in acidic waters since the last ice age! They also study the rare birds here and the regeneration of state-endangered Tamarack, and run Finzel’s very own weather station!

For more information about Finzel Swamp Preserve,  click here . TNC also offers an audio tour of the site, which  can be found here . Please do not bring your dog if you go on the tour!

Deep Creek Lake State Park

Nearby Forests Protect this Man-made Refuge

Once a collection of low-lying rivers, a giant, spider-shaped lake now feeds into the Mississippi watershed in Garrett County, Maryland.  Deep Creek Lake  isn’t natural; It was the byproduct of a hydroelectric dam built in the 1920s. And yet this man-made environment has so much natural beauty to offer.

The 3,900 acre lake contains different layers of ecosystems; catfish and mussels browse the lake floor, while coastal wetlands invite various plants, insects, snails, amphibians, and small fish to thrive. Further from the shore, forests of hemlock, Norway spruce, black cherry, and black and yellow birch shield the lake from heat, industrial waste, and erosion.

The Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center displays several reptiles and amphibians that you’ll find taking refuge around this cool, clean sanctuary, such as the state-endangered green salamander. The mountain earthsnake, unlike its cousins, can withstand the rough mountain soils. And on rare occasions visitors can spot the eastern spiny softshell turtle. While most softshell species are southern in range, the eastern spiny can be found all throughout Appalachia.

Unfortunately, many of these gorgeous critters and the trees that guard them are threatened by invasives! For example, mussels can stick to boats, so keep the lake safe and clean your boats properly. Also be on the lookout for hemlock wooly adelgids, as they threaten many of the hemlocks here. And if you own land near a river,  be sure to leave a thin layer of forest along the river banks to suck out any run-off pollution!  

Be sure to visit the  Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center  to learn more. Deep Creek Lake is part of a larger complex which also includes  Sang Run State Park  and  Youghiogheny Wild River Natural Environmental Area.  For a map of the park, click  here.  For other State Parks in the region, click  here .

Swallow Falls State Park

Ancient Hemlocks and CCC Relics

Rarely does one find any old growth from before the logging boom era still standing in Appalachia. Swallow Falls holds one of the only old growth stands in Maryland. The 37-acre Youghiogheny Grove (pronounced “yockagainee”) is home to massive hemlock trees over 300 years old, and younger white oaks sprout in clearings where the shallow-rooted hemlocks have fallen over.

There are also white pine, white oak, black cherry, and red, sugar, and striped maple (no other counties in Maryland have striped maple!). Along the nearby Muddy Creek Falls, one can find yellow and black birch as well as white-flowering rhododendron and light-pink mountain laurel.

Swallow Falls, named for the birds who once nested here, no longer hosts a swallow population due to heavy tourism, though the chirping of birds can still be heard all around. Along with Herrington Manor State Park, Swallow Falls borders the first ever public lands project in Maryland, the Potomac-Garrett State Forest. Hikers off-trail can still find old milk bottles and other relics discarded by CCC workers in the 1930s.

Near Muddy Creek Falls is one of the historic campsites of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone, who called themselves  “The Vagabonds”  as they traveled to escape the noise of city life.

Swallow Falls State Park is one of many state parks in Maryland. For a complete list of state parks,  click here . Besides Swallow Falls State Park, AFNHA recommends Deep Creek Lake, Greenbrier, and Rocky Gap State Park.

Garrett State Forest

Maryland's Oldest Act of Forest Kindness

 Garrett State Forest  is considered the birthplace of forest conservation in Maryland. In 1906, the Garrett brothers donated about 1,917 acres to the State of Maryland, setting the precedent for all of Maryland’s future public lands management. Now called Garrett State Forest, the area has since been expanded to 7,741 acres.

Throughout the forest, visitors can see many beautiful species of trees, including northern red, white, scarlet, black, and chestnut oaks; as well as black cherry, hickory, and hemlock. You can also find a cranberry bog within the State Forest, along with beaver dams if you're lucky.

Within the forest, visitors can enjoy basic camping, hiking, hunting, birding, biking, skiing, and snowmobiling. Approximately 30 miles of hiking trails meander through these woods, which range from relatively flat to moderately steep. Also inside the forest is the  Kindness Demonstration Area , which will teach you how to manage forests... well... kindly!

 Garrett State Forest  is one of many state forests and parks in Maryland. For a map of state parks in the area,  click here . Some of the most beautiful sites on this map include Deep Creek Lake, Swallow Falls, and Cranesville Swamp Preserve!

Cranesville Swamp Preserve

Sundews and Water Shrews

Where the bog is cool, and even the evergreens turn yellow and shed before winter, there is an alien world awaiting. Cranesville Swamp is a frost pocket, where cool air masses settle between the mountains and chill the lands below. The cold and wet preserve dead plants here, so they build up and linger to form an acidic wetland ecosystem where only hardier trees like the eastern hemlock, red spruce, and our southernmost tamarack population can thrive. The tamarack, or American Larch, is one of few conifer species to lose its needles every fall!

Stranger still is the common sundew, adorned with a crown of blood red tendrils that secrete sticky dew to ensnare unsuspecting insects– food in an otherwise nutrient-starved environment. Also plentiful here are cranberries and sedge.

This frigid area is home to the otherwise uncommon northern water shrew, as well as bears and flying squirrels. And birders can listen for the calls of the alder flycatcher, blackburnian warbler, and saw-whet owl. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is actively studying the flying squirrel and saw-whet owl populations, as well as water level increases due to climate change.

Aside from warming water temperatures, other threats to this precious peatland include deer overeating plant life, the impacts of historic logging, and especially invasive species like the autumn olive and the cattail.

Cranesville Swamp Preserve is open year-round during daylight hours. To learn more,  click here . And as the water levels are rising, and until staff finish raising the boardwalk, be sure to have proper footwear before visiting!

Allegheny Trail

And Incredible Journey through Many Biomes

If you’re looking for a true adventure, the Allegheny Trail will take you along sandstone cliffs, freezing bogs, buzzing meadows, and pristine forests for over 300 miles! The trail was created as an offshoot of the Appalachian trail, forking off just south of the Virginia-West Virginia border, and trekking all the way to the Mason-Dixon line at the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border. It is divided into 4 sections, and crosses through 8 counties in WV and 2 in VA, 4 state parks, 2 state forests, and 3 national forests!

It would be impractical to list all of the unique plants and animals that make their home in such a diverse range of habitats. But the Allegheny Highlands are the only home known to the Virginia northern flying squirrel, Cheat Mountain salamander, Greenbrier crayfish, and candy darter. In some spots travelers may hear the harrowing yaps of coyotes who have taken the place of the once thriving red wolves, or the calls of rare birds such as the bobolink or saw-whet owl.

Plant life is equally diverse. Trees range from single-species stands of the once-thriving white pine or abundant red spruce, to mixed forests surrounding more diverse bogs or meadows. While the high elevations make much of the region the southernmost stronghold of more northern lifeforms, some exposed south or south-west-facing slopes, called shale barrens, get especially hot and dry in the summer. The table mountain pines that thrive here require the intense heat of wildfires to reproduce, a rare trait among trees this far east!

This only scratches the surface of the countless wonders the Alleghenies have to offer! For a deeper dive into the different biomes along the trail, you can  purchase a $5 wildlife guide here.  For general information regarding the trail’s amenities, events, and history,  check out their official website here. 

Also check out our entries on the other sites along or near the trail, including Canaan Valley, Seneca Rocks, Blackwater Falls, and the Greenbrier River Trail. Each segment of the trail may count as one whole trail for our hiking challenge!  Learn more here.  

Note that there is a 33 mile gap near the trail’s southern terminus, but there is a detour which the hiking guide details. And of course,  leave no trace , and wear boots as many areas will get wet!

Audra State Park

Crystal Clear Waters and Pink Lady's Slippers

Tucked into the densely forested mountainside, Audra offers beautiful views of quintessential West Virginia wilderness. The bubbling creeks and river rapids here are heralded as the clearest in the whole region. Wade in pristine blue-green pools, or get a tan on the smooth, broad sandstone outcroppings nearby. Or take a stroll beneath the massive sandstone overhangs that form Alum Cave while autumn leaves begin to turn.

Aside from Alum Cave, Audra’s 2 hiking trails also tour along the Middle Fork River, where travelers may glimpse the plentiful trout, bass or bluegills. Along these foaming waters the rhododendron show off their iconic white and pink flowers in the spring, alongside scarlet cardinal flowers and pink lady’s slippers. One may find deer drinking nearby, although they tend to linger deeper in the forest.

Deeper in the temperate forests of maple, oak, and pine, squirrels flourish along with the occasional black bear. And near or far from the river, one may hear the caws and tweets of crows, robins, blue jays, cardinals, and titmouses.

For the braver explorers out there, the Middle Fork River offers great opportunities for whitewater rafting. A 6.6 mile run of class III-IV rapids is accessible between Audra and Buckhannon. Tygart River Outfitters can provide shuttles from the pullout.

AFNHA also recommends Beartown and Cathedral State Parks. For a full list of WV state parks,  click here . For more information about Audra,  click here .

Otter Creek Wilderness

Where Rich History and Biodiversity Collide

In a bowl-shaped valley between Shavers and McGowan Mountain lies over 20,000 acres of untamed wilderness. Otter Creek is a Wilderness Area, meaning there are no vehicles and minimal intervention. With 45 miles of trails, including the 11-mile Otter Creek trail, there are rushing streams, rock outcroppings, and abundant plant and animal biodiversity to explore. Trails are marked with rocks, but have no signage or blazing, and trees are only removed from paths when absolutely necessary, and only using hand tools. There isn’t any dedicated staff cleaning the grounds, so it’s especially important to  leave no trace!  Hikers should be aware of frequent creek crossings that may become flooded at high water levels, so don't forget to wear boots as it can get quite muddy!

 Otter Creek Wilderness  is a second-growth forest, having rebounded after excessive logging decimated old growth from 1897 to 1914. Historical remnants of old railroad grades, logging roads, and farm roads can be found along the rushing creek for which this area is named. Natural biodiversity includes a range of tree species, from red spruce at the highest elevations; to black cherry, maple, and yellow birch along the mid and lower areas; and the occasional apple grove marking an abandoned homestead.  Some Norway spruce plantations pepper the lower slopes, and rhododendron and mountain laurel grow thick around stream drainages. The creek offers shelter to beavers and brook trout, and the valley is frequented by squirrels, black-bears, wild turkeys, hares, rabbits, grouse, and white-tailed deer.

For more information and additional access points to Otter Creek Wilderness, you can find the  brochure  and  maps here .

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge

A Giant Sanctuary for Migrating Birds

Christened the 500th National Wildlife Refuge in the country, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a standout of abundant forests. The valley is comprised of the largest area of wetlands in West Virginia and includes 23 distinct types of wetlands. The Visitors Center offers detailed information on the various areas in the site. Not only exceptional for its wetlands, Canaan also hosts extensive grasslands and young forests many species of native migratory birds need to survive. In the summer, visitors can hear brown thrashers singing from deep within the shrubbery, an Eastern towhee stopping to mate at the forest’s edge, or an American woodcock peeping from the forest floor near wet meadows. Canaan National Wildlife Refuge has 31 miles of hiking trails, 23 of which are open to bikes, and 22 to horses. Fishing here requires a state license. The refuge also borders White Grass Ski Touring Center, where you can rent skis or snowshoes and explore the trails of Canaan covered in snow and ice. For more information about Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge,  click here. 

Blackwater Falls State Park

It Has this Name for a Good Reason

Besides the endless opportunities for scenic nature photography, Blackwater Falls supports an incredible variety of life with its amber, needle-stained waters (hence the name "Blackwater"). You might see small mammals like the West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel, or birds like the Winter Wren or the Blackburnian Warbler. If you're looking for a particular animal or plant, you can find a list of  known flora and fauna here .

The Blackwater Falls Nature Center has exhibits and informed staff who showcase the captivating natural features in the area. Blackwater Falls also has an interpretive trail that stretches from the main parking lot to the Falls themselves. This trail features signs on all kinds of topics, and you’ll learn plenty about the forest’s ecology along the way.

Blackwater Falls State Park is open year round. For more information about the area,  click here. 

Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

A Scarred Landscape Rises from the Ashes

For a piece of Canada in West Virginia, check out Dolly Sods! These sods (a regional term for mountaintop meadows or bogs) have a cooler climate and stunted vegetation typically only found as far north as sea-level biomes in eastern Canada and parts of Alaska, making it one of the southernmost centers of many cold-loving lifeforms.

The over 17,000 acre area includes a variety of habitats, from forests of spruce and aspen; to ancient cranberry bogs; to rocky windswept ridges overlooking Canaan Valley to the west. After the Logging Boom Era stripped this land of all its trees, extreme wildfires scorched the topsoil down to the bone, leaving the exposed wind-carved rock formations that dominate much of the ridge today. 

Nearby are the heathlands, or huckleberry plains, home to many species of low-lying woody plants such as heaths, mountain laurel, mountain ash, rhododendron, and a variety of berries. They are also home to snowshoe hare, a species normally found in tundra and taiga. The sods are covered with silvery Allegheny flyback, grass so thin it flies back from even the slightest breeze. The harsh climate here has made the forest recovery process much slower than in surrounding areas.

Slow, but steady. Elk and bison roamed these lands before we wiped them out in the 19th century, but efforts to reintroduce some populations are underway. As the young forest continues to mature, old species will die out as new ones take their place. Perhaps one day Dolly Sods will be restored to its former glory, but there is a unique beauty in the ever-changing landscape that thrives today.

Note: As this is a wilderness area, there are no vehicles and minimal intervention. Trails have some rock cairns, but no signage or blazing, and trees are only removed from paths when absolutely necessary, and only using hand tools. As with any wilderness area, it is absolutely essential to  leave no trace!  There are some ford and small stream crossings on certain trails, so check for high water events before planning your trip.

For more resources and maps of Dolly Sods, visit their website  here .

Roaring Plains West Wilderness

Hard to Get Bogged Down this High Up

Along with nearby Roaring Plains North, Roaring Plains East, and Flatrock Plains, Roaring Plains West Wilderness and its neighbors make up the highest plateau in the Eastern US. Also the highest sphagnum moss bog in West Virginia (full of dead mosses that are preserved in cool, acidic waters!), Roaring Plains West is a vitally important flyway for migratory birds. Native rhododendron and mountain laurel grow in thickets so dense as to prohibit passage through them, providing the nesting ground necessary for many bird species’ survival. Due to its high elevation, this preserve receives an average of about 70 in of snowfall each year. If you don’t need to be here in winter, it’s best to avoid the area as roads are treacherous. Roaring Plains West includes part of the Allegheny Front, one of the windiest spots east of the Mississippi, and part of the Eastern Continental Divide. This ridge is defined by the point where water falling west of the divide drains to the Gulf of Mexico, and eastern water flows to the Atlantic coast. In the AFNHA, much of that eastern drainage flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

For more information about Roaring Plains West Wilderness, see here:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=12371 

Seneca Rocks

Cottontail Rabbits Abound Along the Cliffside

One of the crown jewels of West Virginia nature,  Seneca Rocks  is located in the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. The ridge-and-valley peak rises 900 feet from the valley floor, providing the premier rock climbing playground east of the Mississippi. The beautiful river below is the South Branch of the North Fork of the Potomac River, which is great for fishing and offers canoeing opportunities further downstream.

Seneca Rocks isn’t just for rock climbers- anyone can hike the interpretive trail up to the viewing platform atop the mountain! Along the way, one may notice the area is a bit warmer and drier than neighboring valleys to the west; the Eastern Continental Divide shields these woods from rain and east-flowing winds. Species that thrive in these environments include the cottontail rabbit, chipmunk, and black snake, although these critters are timid and tend to hide away from visitors.

Be sure to check out the  Seneca Rocks Discovery Center  where you can learn all about the geological formations and the cool plants and animals which call the area home. For more information about the Discovery Center,  click here .

And you can learn more about the Rocks themselves  here . Nearby sites include Blackwater Falls, Canaan Valley, and Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia!

Spruce Knob

Full of Ruffed Grouse and Stunning Views

As West Virginia's highest peak and the highest point of the Allegheny Mountains and Appalachian Plateau at 4862 feet, Spruce Knob allows visitors to see the beauty of Appalachia from the best vantage point in the state. 175 miles of isolation surround the peak, making it the 13th most isolated peak in the contiguous US. Established in 1965, Spruce Knob-Seneca Rock National Recreation Area was the first National Recreation Area designated as part of the USDA Forest Service.

Spruce Knob's altitude and isolation makes for a harsh but thriving ecosystem. Both trails near the summit feature flagged red spruce--- trees without branches on all but one side due to harsh westerly winds. Huckleberry, blueberry, and various northern wildflowers hug the ground to form heath barrens. White-tailed deer and wild turkey abound, but most interesting are the ruffed grouse. The nearby  Spruce Knob Grouse Management Area  maintains a variety of younger brush, wetlands, and older trees to help these birds thrive. 

Whispering Spruce Trail runs near the observation tower, which provides a 360° view of the surrounding patchwork of pastures, meadows, and forest ridges. The half-mile trail is relatively flat, wide, and easy to access, and features interpretive signage on the flora, fauna, and topology of the area.

Roads to the peak are open all year, but are not maintained through winter. Visits are recommended from May to September. For more information about Spruce Knob,  click here. 

Gaudineer Scenic Area

One of the Last Virgin Red Spruce Groves

When it comes to Forest Abundance, few areas offer more unique experiences than old-growth forests. Gaudineer Scenic Area is home to the Cheat Mountain Salamander and Red-Backed Salamander, but the two compete for the same food resources. This results in the territorial salamanders adapting to each other’s presence by changing what they look like! Both species are smaller when sharing space than when not, and the differences in head shape between species are greater than when they’re apart. Unfortunately, the Cheat Mountain Salamander is a threatened species, so it may be difficult to see them. Gaudineer Scenic Area also overlooks one of the few remaining virgin red spruce groves left in West Virginia. Around 50 acres of old-growth spruce remain, displaying the ecosystem that once covered 500,000 acres in West Virginia. In addition to red spruce, northern hardwoods like yellow birch, American beech, red maple, and sugar maple cover the mountains.

For more information about Gaudineer Scenic Area, see here:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=9917 

Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area

A Wildflower Wonderland

A wonderful example of the beautiful plant and animal life typical in the mountains of West Virginia, Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area showcases three waterfalls 25 feet, 45 feet, and 63 feet in height! The lower falls at 63 feet is the second highest waterfall in West Virginia after Blackwater Falls. The best time to visit is high afternoon in spring to early summer, when the light reaches through the dense forest growth to the lower falls framed by native rhododendrons and laurel, surrounded by a carpet of over 40 species of wildflowers. Only the 1700 ft. walkway to the first falls is paved and ADA accessible. The last 0.75 miles of the path near the middle and lower falls turns to dirt and stairs and occasionally floods.

For more information about Fall of Hills Scenic Area, see here:  https://pocahontascountywv.com/company/falls-of-hills-creek/ 

Cranberry Wilderness

A Playground for Protected Black Bears

Cranberry wilderness is the largest wilderness area in the Mon Forest at over 47,000 acres! As a wilderness area, there are no vehicles and minimal intervention. Trails have some rock cairns, but no signage or blazing, and trees are only removed from paths when absolutely necessary, and only using hand tools. As with any wilderness area, it is absolutely essential to leave no trace! And please note that as this is part of the Black Bear Sanctuary, any bear hunting here is strictly prohibited! 

Aside from bears, the area hosts plenty of white-tailed deer, foxes, snowshoe hares, wild turkeys, and grouse. These animals find shelter amid a mixture of hardwoods throughout the valley, and almost exclusively amid red spruce upon higher ridges. These trees and other plant life contribute to the streams’ higher acidity, which in turn limits the local fish populations.

To learn more about the local plants and wildlife, check out the  Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.  You can also find the  Forest Service's entry and trail map here.  Nearby sites include the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, Falls of Hills Creek, and Highland Scenic Highway.  We also recommend checking out two more of our six wilderness areas– Otter Creek and Dolly Sods!

Cranberry Glades Botanical Area

Keeping it Cool Since 10,000 B.C.

A National Natural Landmark spanning 750 acres, Cranberry Glades Botanical Area contains the largest group of peat bogs in West Virginia. Peat, a partially decayed spongy plant material, typically thrives as far north as Canada, making this land a cold oasis in the south. The bogs formed about 12,000 years ago when conifers and northern hardwoods grew up out of the receding tundra near the end of the last Ice Age. Moving water eroded limestone in the basin and collected here as more resilient rock dammed the low end, and the resulting acidic waters now drain to form the headwaters of the Cranberry River.

Because of the elevation, slope, and prevailing winds, many plants and animals more typical much further north call this place home. Cranberry Glades is indeed the southernmost habitat of many plants including Jacob's ladder, bog rosemary, mountain serviceberry, and the gorgeous northern coralroot orchid. Because of the strange ecology of bogs, carnivorous plants like purple pitcher plant and sundew thrive here. Be on the lookout for all the amazing butterflies including West Virginia’s state butterfly, the Monarch, which visits Cranberry Glades around May every year.

Experience these wonders along the half-mile boardwalk cutting through the Glades! The path is ADA accessible and features interpretive signage introducing you to the area. You can find more signage detailing the local flora and fauna along the Cowpasture Loop, which runs further into Cranberry Wilderness. Note that this ecosystem is very fragile! So please remain on the boardwalk or other marked trails.

Cranberry Glades is conveniently located by the Highland Scenic Highway, so be sure to drive through as you tour the region! Visitors can arrange guided tours ahead of time. For more information about Cranberry Glades,  click here . For similar frost-pocket experiences, see the Finzel and Cranesville Swamp Preserves in the northern portion of this map. For a deeper dive into the ecology of the area and other nearby sites, visit the  Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. 

Highland Scenic Highway

A Winding Red Spruce Getaway

Starting from an elevation of 2,325 ft outside Richwood, the Highland Scenic Highway rises to over 4,500 ft above sea level. At this elevation, the iconic red spruce takes over the forest. In West Virginia, its range starts at around 3,200 ft above sea level and persists as the dominant species to the top of the highest peaks. The highway is a 43 mile 2-lane National Scenic Byway and connects Richwood to US Route 219. It covers two designated state routes, 39 and 150, and while 39 is maintained in winter, the 23 mile stretch of 150 is not. Travel across this road between November and March is discouraged.

Highland Scenic Highway also goes through Cranberry Wilderness, Cranberry Glades, and the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. For more information, see the  Driving Tours and Trails section  on our website.

For more information about Highland Scenic Highway, see here:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7011 

Cranberry Mountain Nature Center

Learn all about Mushrooms, Snakes, and Bats

Located on the side of Cranberry Mountain, along the Highland Scenic Highway, is the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. The center is operated by the U.S. Forest Service and provides exhibits and audio-visual programs interpreting the area’s natural and cultural history. Topics of interpretive programs and events include mushrooms, native orchids, wild edibles, and medicinal plants. The CMNC also includes a nature store, native plant garden, picnic area, and an interpretive nature trail.

Among the nearby attractions are the Cranberry Wilderness Area, the largest wilderness area in the Monongahela National Forest, as well as the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. This collection of northern-type bogs is designated as a National Natural Landmark and can be viewed via its interpretive trail and boardwalk. For more information about these sites, check the next area on this storymap!

Interpretation at the Nature Center and on the trails shares information about the natural resources of the area, including live snake displays and presentations; the trail signage will help you identify local trees, bugs, birds, bats, and other animals.

Cranberry Mountain Nature Center is open 9:00 am to 4:30 pm from mid-April to mid-October. To learn more,  click here.