southern | E A SY ROA D TR IPS clockwise from left
The Old Clark Inn is a haven for cyclists. Historic buildings line the streets
of downtown Marlinton. The Autumn Harvest Festival and Roadkill Cookoff is nationally known.
POCAHONTAS COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, NIKKI BOWMAN
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area Encircled by Cranberry Mountain to the east and south, Kennison Mountain to the west, and Black Mountain to the north, the Cranberry Glades stretch over more than 700 acres within the Monongahela National Forest. Commonly referred to as muskeg, these acidic wetlands occur where high water tables and poor drainage create a unique ecosystem of decomposing plants, mosses, alder thickets, and rare plants like bog rosemary and buckbean. The glades’ unusually high elevation and topography prompted the National Forest Service to protect and preserve the area in 1965. Today the glades are home to more than 60 unique plant species as well as countless animals. Inside the botanical area, a half-mile of boardwalk brings you through two of the area’s four bogs, offering a prime vantage point without disturbing fragile habitats. While on your walk, keep an eye out for unusual plants like grass pink orchids, Indian pipes, and the carnivorous pitcher plant. Want to learn more? Cranberry Mountain Nature Center has exhibits such as a live snake display and educational programs for visitors of all ages. Located at the junction of State Route 150 and State Route 39/55, the center often features live nature programs and guest speakers from April to November. Hillsboro, pocahontascountywv.com/cranberry_ glades_nature_center.aspx
Nearby Things to Do Marlinton bills itself as nature’s
playground, and for good reason. Hikers, bikers, skiers, backpackers, and everyone in between hit the 78-mile-long Greenbrier River Trail, accessible from downtown Marlinton, to take in the beauty of the Allegheny Mountains and follow the river as it winds along the edge of Monongahela National Forest and multiple state parks. Ranked by Backpacker Magazine as one of the top 10 hiking trails in the U.S. and most recently added to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame, the trail is one of the best known and loved rail-trails in the country, offering ample opportunities for world-class fishing, as well as swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and horseback riding.
Autumn Harvest Festival and West Virginia Roadkill Cook-off has been recognized by the Travel Channel, Food Channel, and Discovery Channel. The Pocahontas County cook-off is an opportunity to try kooky dishes like Pothole Possum Stew and Smeared Hog with Groundhog Gravy—but don’t worry, none of the food has been peeled from the side of the road. Stop by Marlinton in September to see for yourself. Cooking starts at 9 a.m. Tasting ticket sales close at 1 p.m. 800.336.7009, pccocwv.com/roadkill
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