Join the Maryland/DC chapter for an annual tradition—planting red spruce at Cranesville Swamp Preserve.
- Friday, April 21 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday, April 22 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Registration is required. Volunteers may sign up for one or both days. Need overnight accommodations? Visit the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce website to help plan your stay in western Maryland.
Red spruce (Picea rubens) once covered thousands of acres in western Maryland. Logging and subsequent wildfires at the turn of the 20th century drastically reduced its range. It's estimated that in the Central Appalachians as much as 90% of the original red spruce forest is now gone.
You can help us change that statistic and make a difference—one seedling at a time!
Your efforts will improve habitat quality for rare plants and animals, restore carbon-rich soils and improve hydrology and local climate, reducing erosion and increasing percolation of water into the underlying bedrock. It's a pretty good payoff for a spring day spent in a beautiful place!
Notes to keep in mind:
- There are no facilities at the planting site.
- We recommend packing water and a lunch.
- Please dress in layers and be ready for rain, snow and/or sun. The weather is extremely variable in this region.
- Wear sturdy shoes/hiking boots that you don't mind getting wet. We will be planting along the edge of the swamp.
- Pack dry socks/a change of clothes for the ride home—you won't regret it!
Cranesville Swamp Preserve is located in western Maryland approximately 3-4 hours from Washington/Baltimore and 1.5 hours from Morgantown, WV.
Directions
Specific directions to the planting site will be provided. General directions to the preserve are provided below.
From Morgantown (approximately 1.5 hours):
- Take I-68 east to Keysers Ridge, MD exit 14 and follow Route 219 south for 19 miles.
- From Route 219, turn right (west) on Mayhew Inn Road, and after 1.4 miles turn left on Bray School Road.
- In 1.6 miles at a T intersection, turn right on Oakland/Sang Run Road (Route 15).
- After 1 mile, turn left on Swallow Falls Road.
- After 2.6 miles, take a hard right on Cranesville Road.
- Take a sharp right curve in the road and stay to the right at the fork.
- Stay to the right at the next fork in the road, and Cranesville Swamp is 0.2 mile down the gravel road. Park in the lot.
From Baltimore/DC (approximately 3.5 hours):
- From either I-270 or I-70, head to western Maryland.
- In Hancock, take I-68 west to exit 14/Keysers Ridge and follow Route 219 south for 19 miles.
- From Route 219, turn right (west) on Mayhew Inn Road, and after 1.4 miles turn left on Bray School Road.
- In 1.6 miles at a T intersection, turn right on Oakland/Sang Run Road (Route 15).
- After 1 mile, turn left on Swallow Falls Road and follow for 2.6 miles to a sign for Youghiogheny Mountain Resort.
- At the sign, take a hard right on Cranesville Road.
- After approximately 4 miles, turn left onto Lake Ford Rd.
- Take a sharp right curve in the road and stay to the right at the fork.
- Stay to the right at the next fork in the road, and Cranesville Swamp is 0.2 mile down the gravel road. Park in the lot.
Join Us
Join the Maryland/DC chapter for an annual tradition—planting red spruce at Cranesville Swamp Preserve.