Cranberry Glades—also known simply as The Glades—are a cluster of five small, boreal-type bogs in southwestern Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States.

The Cranberry Glades area is believed to have formed after the last Ice Age, approximately 10,000 years ago, when glacial meltwaters and cool, wet conditions created the acidic, peat-filled wetlands seen today.

Although glaciers never directly covered this region, the cooler climate allowed boreal plant species typically found much farther north to thrive.

[2] Archaeological evidence suggests that early indigenous peoples utilized the glades as seasonal hunting and foraging grounds.

[3] The nutrient-poor soils and wet conditions likely discouraged permanent settlements, but the area provided an abundance of plant and animal resources.

By the 19th century, logging operations started targeting the old-growth red spruce and hemlock forests surrounding the glades.

The Cranberry Glades were officially designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1974, recognizing their importance as one of the largest high-elevation bogs in the Appalachians.

The water from the Glades drains to form the headwaters of the Cranberry River, a popular trout stream joined by the Yew and Charles Creeks.

Over top of these grow prostrate cranberry vines that bloom pink flowers in the summer, fruiting in late September.

[6][7] The upland forests immediately surrounding the wetlands are dominated by these same species, but also include American beech, sugar maple, black cherry, American basswood, white ash, yellow buckeye, black birch, cucumber tree, Fraser magnolia, and northern red oak.

This is a consequence of the widespread presence of low- to medium-height woody plants throughout shrub swamps, forest habitats, and open glades.

Browsing deer have reduced the number of Canada yew to such an extent that it is found only in scattered locations throughout its central Appalachian range.

[9] Many herbs with primarily northern distributions occur here, including oak fern, pod grass,[10] Canada mayflower, mountain bindweed, marsh marigold, goldthread, swamp saxifrage, white wood sorrel, northern white violet, Jacob's ladder and buckbean.

[9][11][12][13] Many animals that live in the Glades are at their southernmost breeding grounds, including birds such as the Swainson's and hermit thrushes, Nashville and mourning warblers, and purple finches.

This is due to its high elevation and the surrounding higher mountains forming a bowl, draining their cool air downhill into the Glades.