Cranberry Wilderness

The Cranberry Wilderness is a 47,815-acre (19,350 ha) U.S. wilderness area in the Monongahela National Forest of southeast West Virginia, United States.[2] Its name derives from the nearby Cranberry Glades as well as from the Cranberry River and Cranberry Mountain. In addition to being wilderness, it is a designated black bear sanctuary.

Cranberry Wilderness
Cranberry Wilderness
Map showing the location of Cranberry Wilderness
Map showing the location of Cranberry Wilderness
Location of Cranberry Wilderness in West Virginia
LocationWest Virginia, United States
Coordinates38°16′36″N 80°19′57″W
Area47,815 acres (193.50 km2)[2]
Elevation3,400 ft (1,000 m)
Established1983-01-01
OperatorMonongahela National Forest
WebsiteMonongahela National Forest Wilderness Areas

Geography

The Cranberry Wilderness is located mostly in Pocahontas County, with a small portion in Webster County. The wilderness is drained by the Williams River and the Cranberry River, both of which are tributaries of the Gauley River, which in turn unites with the New River to form the Kanawha, a tributary of the Ohio. The area just to the east of the Cranberry Wilderness is drained by tributaries of the Greenbrier River which flows into the New.

The wilderness is located in the Yew Mountains, which are part of the Allegheny Mountains. The highest point in the wilderness is along Black Mountain at 4,556 feet (1,389 m), although there is a slightly higher point at 4,603 feet (1,403 m) just outside the wilderness. The lowest elevation in the wilderness is at 2,400 feet (730 m) along the Williams River at Three Forks of Williams River, where it exits the wilderness.

History

Wilderness designation

Counterculture events

The national Rainbow Gathering has been held twice at the Cranberry Wilderness — in 1980 and in 2005.[3]

2009 addition

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 added 11,951 acres (4,836 ha) of adjacent land to the Cranberry Wilderness.[4] This area, which was previously known as the Cranberry Backcountry, is located between the Williams River and the Cranberry River. It protects several tributaries of both the Williams and Cranberry Rivers which are popular trout streams. The area already has an excellent trail system connected to the original wilderness.

Hiking trails
  • Big Beechy Trail – 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometers)
  • Birch Log Trail – 3.0 miles (4.8 kilometers)
  • Black Mountain Trail – 2.0 miles (3.2 kilometers)
  • County Line Trail – 9.5 miles (15.3 kilometers)
  • District Line Trail – 3.0 miles (4.8 kilometers)
  • Forks of the Cranberry Trail – 6.0 miles (9.7 kilometers)
  • North South Trail – 14.0 miles (22.5 kilometers)
  • Forks By-Pass Trail – 2.0 miles (3.2 kilometers)
  • Middle Fork Trail – 9.0 miles (14.5 kilometers)
  • North Fork Trail – 7.5 miles (12.1 kilometers)
  • Laurelly Branch Trail – 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers)
  • Tumbling Rock Trail – 2.5 miles (4.0 kilometers)
  • Little Fork Trail – 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers)
  • Lick Branch Trail – 2.1 miles (3.4 kilometers)
  • Rough Run Trail – 3.0 miles (4.8 kilometers)
Cranberry Wilderness trail

[5]

See also

References
  1. "Cranberry Wilderness". Protected Planet. IUCN. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. "Cranberry Wilderness". Monongahela National Forest. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  3. "Rainbow Gathering – Listing of North American Annual Sites". Rainbow Family of Living Light – Unofficial. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  4. "Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  5. "Cranberry Wilderness brochure" (PDF). Monongahela National Forest. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
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