Flower Power on Charles Creek Trail: Cranberry Glades

If you like wildflowers, you’ll love the Charles Creek Loop Trail. It’s right next to the Cranberry Glades Boardwalk and supports wildflowers galore. Creek side, glade, meadow, forest, the trail slices through a diverse set of environments each with a unique charm. All this variety comes in just a round trip of 2 1/4 miles and an elevation change of just 100 feet. The best time to hike this loop is mid-July, and I will describe the flowers you’re likely to see at that time of year.

Start at the Cowpasture Trailhead (GPS: Lat. 38.195573, Long. -80.272579) on the Cranberry Glades Road about 750 feet before (south) of the Cranberry Glades Parking Lot. The trail begins in woods and is flat with a smooth tread. Great Rhododendron line both sides of the trail, and in mid-July the shrubs are loaded with blossoms. Hugging the ground, Heal-all plants abound as well. What I especially like about this section of trail are all the Bee balm flowers. In the wetter stretches of the trail, they are prolific brightening the trail with a natural reddish glow.

Great Rhododendron

Bee Balm

Heal-All

After about 0.6 mile, the trail bursts out of the woods and into a glade. At this point look for some blue plastic flagging hanging from a tree limb on the left side of the trail. The flag marks a bushwhacked trail into the woods and leads towards a couple of Turks cap lily plants next to Charles Creek. Although the way is awkward and difficult to follow, the Turk’s cap lily blooms are worth the extra effort. The blossoms are numerous, and in the sun, glow a dazzling bright orange.

Turk's Cap Lily

As the trail progresses through the glade, milkweed abounds. At 0.9 mile, the trail crosses a little bridge over Charles Creek. Around the bridge and a little beyond, Black-eyed Susans are common.

Black-eyed Susan

Common Milkweed

At the 1 mile mark, the Charles Creek Trail is picked up, and you are plunged into dark woods for a bit. The trail winds through some tall grass and thistle, which blooms in late August. In the wooded portions of the trail, ferns are thick and lush. After 0.5 mile you emerge at the Cranberry Glades Road.

Turn right on the road and take it for 0.75 mile to loop back to the starting point. Lots of flowers line the road on the way back. Evening primrose is common, as is bee balm and St. John’s wort. Since it’s practically all downhill, you’ll be back at the start in no time with a camera full of flower photos and a pack of fond memories. 

St. John's Wort 

Evening Primrose