Backpacking - Cranberry Wilderness and Backcountry
Description
Cranberry Wilderness (35,864 acres) and Cranberry Backcountry (26,000 acrea) make up one of the largest backpacking areas east of the Mississippi River. Together there are 135 miles of hiking trails that provide a great opportunity of reasonably long distance trips (3 to 6 days) and some good loops. Scenery includes rugged mountains with streams, waterfalls and swimming holes, hardwood forests and spruce forests on the peaks of the mountains. Trail Map (pdf) Brochure (pdf) Trail Map Link (Highlands Conservancy)
Directions from Morgantown
From I-79, take exit #57 and follow US 19 south to WV 55 east. Follow WV 55 East past Richwood and take WV 150 north to access several trailheads on the east side of the wilderness or to reach FR 86 along the north side. The west side of the wilderness can be reached by taking FR 102 off WV 55 past Cranberry Glades to the parking lot at the gate on FR 102 and then walking up the road.
Travel Time: 3 hr
Activities: Backpacking, Hiking, Sight Seeing (waterfall, overlooks), Swimming Holes, Cross Country Skiing, Mountain Biking(backcountry only)
Address: Gauley Ranger District. 932 North Fork Cherry Road. Richwood, WV 26261
One mile east of Richwood on Rt 39/55
Phone/Email: 304-846-2695 (Voice & TDD), 304-636-1800 - Mon. National Forest
Web resources: www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/cranberrywilderness.html
ORC Resources: Brochure, Books - "Monongahelia National Forest Hiking Guide", "Out There West Virginia A Guide to Backcountry Travel and Adventure", "West Virginia Hiking Trails"
