Cranberry Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Cranberry Wilderness is a 47815 acres (194 km²) U.S. Wilderness area in the Monongahela National Forest
of southeast West Virginia
, USA. 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.
, 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 4556 feet (1,388.7 m), although there is a slightly higher point at 4603 feet (1,403 m) just outside of the Wilderness. The lowest elevation in the Wilderness is at 2400 feet (731.5 m) along the Williams River
at Three Forks of Williams River, where it exits the Wilderness.
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.
The national Rainbow Gathering
has been held twice at the Cranberry Wilderness — in 1980 and in 2005.
Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...
of southeast West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA. Its name derives from the nearby Cranberry Glades as well as from the Cranberry River
Cranberry River (West Virginia)
The Cranberry River is a tributary of the Gauley River located in southeastern West Virginia, USA. It is a part of the Mississippi River watershed, by way of the Gauley, Kanawha, and Ohio Rivers, draining an area of ....
and Cranberry Mountain. In addition to being wilderness, it is a designated black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
sanctuary.
Geography
The Cranberry Wilderness is located mostly in Pocahontas CountyPocahontas County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,131 people, 835 households, and 527 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, with a small portion in Webster County. The Wilderness is drained by the Williams River
Williams River (West Virginia)
The Williams River is a tributary of the Gauley River, 33 miles long, in east-central West Virginia, USA. Via the Gauley, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 132 square miles in a sparsely populated region of the southern Allegheny...
and the Cranberry River
Cranberry River (West Virginia)
The Cranberry River is a tributary of the Gauley River located in southeastern West Virginia, USA. It is a part of the Mississippi River watershed, by way of the Gauley, Kanawha, and Ohio Rivers, draining an area of ....
, both of which are tributaries of the Gauley River
Gauley River
The Gauley River is a river in West Virginia. It merges with the New River to form the Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River. It is one of the most popular advanced whitewater runs in the Eastern United States and is the chief feature of the Gauley River National Recreation Area.-Headwaters...
, which in turn unites with the New River
New River (West Virginia)
The New River, part of the Ohio River watershed, is a tributary of the Kanawha River about 320 mi long. The river flows through the U.S. states of North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia...
to form the Kanawha
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
, a tributary of the Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The area just to the east of the Cranberry Wilderness is drained by tributaries of the Greenbrier River
Greenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
which flows into the New.
The Wilderness is located in the Yew Mountains, which are part of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. The highest point in the Wilderness is along Black Mountain at 4556 feet (1,388.7 m), although there is a slightly higher point at 4603 feet (1,403 m) just outside of the Wilderness. The lowest elevation in the Wilderness is at 2400 feet (731.5 m) along the Williams River
Williams River (West Virginia)
The Williams River is a tributary of the Gauley River, 33 miles long, in east-central West Virginia, USA. Via the Gauley, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 132 square miles in a sparsely populated region of the southern Allegheny...
at Three Forks of Williams River, where it exits the Wilderness.
2009 addition
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 added 11951 acres (4,836.4 ha) of adjacent land to the Cranberry Wilderness. This area, which was previously known as the Cranberry Backcountry, is located between the Williams RiverWilliams River (West Virginia)
The Williams River is a tributary of the Gauley River, 33 miles long, in east-central West Virginia, USA. Via the Gauley, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 132 square miles in a sparsely populated region of the southern Allegheny...
and the Cranberry River
Cranberry River
Several rivers are called Cranberry River:*Cranberry River *Cranberry River *Cranberry River *Cranberry River *Cranberry River *Cranberry River *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.
The national Rainbow Gathering
Rainbow Gathering
Rainbow Gatherings are temporary intentional communities, typically held in outdoor settings, and espousing and practicing ideals of peace, love, harmony, freedom and community, as a consciously expressed alternative to mainstream popular culture, consumerism, capitalism and mass media.Rainbow...
has been held twice at the Cranberry Wilderness — in 1980 and in 2005.