Best Time to Visit cranberry glades

Cranberry Glades is a beautiful and unique location in eastern West Virginia, surrounded by the Monongahela National Forest. It is a popular destination for hikers, bird-watchers, and nature enthusiasts. The best time to visit Cranberry Glades depends largely on what you want to see and do.

If you’re interested in seeing the cranberries in bloom, the best time to visit Cranberry Glades is in late June to early July. During this time, the walking trails around the glades are surrounded by a sea of pink and white flowers, make for a beautiful sight that you won’t want to miss. The Glades is home to rare native plants and wildflowers like orchids, pinxter flower, and azaleas, all of which bloom in late spring and summer and until fall.

If you’re interested in hiking, the best time to visit Cranberry Glades is during the fall. The hills and forests surrounding the glades are covered in a riot of fall colors, with the autumn leaves changing to oranges, yellows, and reds from mid-September to late October. The national forest also offers great hiking trails like the Greenbrier River Trail and the Highland Scenic Highway which you can explore while foliage peeping. Autumn also presents the best wildlife viewing time, and visitors can often see deer, black bears, chipmunks, and a variety of birds like warblers, woodpeckers, and bald eagles preparing for winter, among other wildlife.

Winter recreation is also popular in the area with smaller crowds. The best time to visit Cranberry Glades for winter recreation is from December to February when the snow brings in activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. Outdoor adventure enthusiasts are encouraged to visit during these months to witness the frozen landscapes, frozen water streams, amidst the quiet of the white landscape.

Spring is also a great time to visit, particularly if you’re interested in birdwatching. The cool weather welcomes a variety of birds during migration. You can see birds like the Eastern bluebird, woodpecker, scarlet tanager, hooded warbler, indigo bunting, and the pileated woodpecker. The woodlands around the Cranberry Glades is also famous for bird watching, with bird enthusiasts flocking to see birds like the ovenbird, cerulean warbler, and northern flicker, among many others.

Overall, the best time to visit Cranberry Glades depends on what you’re looking to do and experience. Each of these seasons presents an entirely different view of the glades and surrounding forests, making it a great vacation spot all-year-round. Regardless of when you choose to visit, you’re sure to be struck by the area’s natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and peaceful atmosphere.