Cranesville Swamp
by Crede Calhoun Chief Guide for Camp Earth and owner of Windrush Online Art Gallery

One of the most interesting natural areas in Garrett County is the Cranesville Sub Arctic Swamp. This scenic area features interpretive displays, a self-guided trail and a boardwalk that stretches out into the swamp. The area is a popular place for birdwatchers, botanists, zoologists, ecologists and nature lovers.

The swamp is 2 1/2 miles long, 1/2 mile wide, totaling about 600 acres. Nearby the small town of Cranesville is located in West Virginia, about a mile west of the Maryland Border. At the turn-of-the-century this area was booming in the logging industry.

Muddy Creek which flows through Swallow Falls State Park and over Muddy Creek Falls (Maryland's highest at 53') begins its journey in Cranesville. Several creeks join Muddy Creek in the swamp including, Hayes Run, Hoyes Run, and Cupp Run.

This high mountain bog formed thousands of years ago and is unique because of its bog habitat and for the many plants and animals normally found in more northern or boreal areas such as Canada or New England. These northern species found at Cranesville are of special interest and known as 'relict' species, meaning they remain or are left over from the 'Ice Age'. These plants and animals survive at Cranesville because of the special climate and physiographic conditions at the swamp help maintain these relict populations.

The area receives plenty of rain, an average of 60 inches annually. Snowfall is almost triple that of lower elevations, an average of 160 inches. At Cranesville traces of snow have been found well into the summer months.

The waters of Muddy Creek are a dark color typical of swamp water due to the presence of tannins and other organic matter leached from decaying plants, producing the dark 'tea' colored water.

The plants and animals lived here when conditions were cold from the last ice age. Although the glaciers never came this far south, the weather for thousands of years was much colder and these plants thrived. When the ice retreated and the conditions warmed these plants and animals were able to survive because the area is generally cool due to its elevation and the natural pocket created by the mountains. Temperatures are usually several degrees cooler in the swamp than on the slopes of the surrounding mountain.

Cranesville was probably named by the local residents who saw 'Cranes' at the swamp. They were probably Blue Herons, that the locals have for years called Cranes. Cranesville is not really a swamp, the definition of swamp means trees leaving in standing water, The open area at Cranesville is really a bog.

Many interesting plants live in Cranesville. One plant of special interest is the carnivorous sundew. This tiny plant can be found if you look carefully from the boardwalk. The tiny stalks tipped with a sticky glue sort of resembles a Venus fly trap. Ants or other small insects get stuck in the sticky stalks and the plants enzymes digest them for food. There is also a plant called a pitcher plant that traps bugs in a pool of water encased in leaves.

Sundew Plant

In 1960 the Nature Conservancy purchased 259 acres of the swamp (250 acres in West Virginia and 9 in Maryland), and the |Cranesville Swamp nature sanctuary was formed. This was the first natural area in West Virginia to be purchased by private means. In 1965 the National Park Service dedicated cranesville Swamp as a National Natural Landmark. Additional land has been purchased and the preserve now totals over 300 acres. Visitors are asked to respect the fragile environment and stay on the designated trails and the boardwalk. There is no hunting or camping allowed.

The Boardwalk

Common mammals that you might find include: opossum, smoky shrew, northern water shrew, star nosed mole, little brown bat, eastern cottontail, snowshoe hare, red squirrel, deer mouse, woodland jumping mouse, mink, black bear, bobcat, and red and gray foxes.

An interesting tree that you will find at Cranesville is the Tamarack. This northern species finds its southern most home at Cranesville. This tree is an evergreen that looses it's needles every year!

Tamarack Tree without needles.

Skunk Cabbage

Cranberry

Cotton Grass

Cranesville Swamp is a great side trip for visitors to Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County. Combining a trip to Swallow Falls State Park and Cranesville Swamp makes a great 1/2 day trip to two beautiful natural areas. I suggest you pick up a map from the Garrett County Visitors Center in McHenry on Route 219. The staff there can also give you good directions phone 301-387-4386.

Photographers will find plenty to photograph and the tour of self-guided walk around the preserve takes about one hour. Cranesville... a little hidden natural jewel for you to admire and explore.

Photography by Crede Calhoun