For more than a century, the woodland charms of Cook Forest have attracted vacationers in search of peace and quiet in nature. The unspoiled 8,500-acres Cook Forest State Park serves as the area’s main draw, but visitors can also find a wide range of lodging and dining options, recreational outfitters, retail stores, attractions, and other amenities. However, the natural aesthetic of the old-growth forest remains intact, and it serves as an elegant canvas upon which its guests can paint any number of unforgettable adventures.
Cook Forest State Park is best known for its awe-inspiring stands of old-growth hemlock and white pine trees, some of which rank among the tallest and oldest in the northeastern United States. Hikers can explore more than 50 miles of trails, and paddlers, swimmers, and tubers won’t want to miss the picturesque Clarion River flowing along the park’s border. Wildlife found in the park includes bald eagles, otters, whitetail deer, black bears, wild turkeys, porcupines, owls, great blue herons and many songbirds. Thousands of park acres are open to licensed hunters and trappers, and anglers will find great fishing for trout and smallmouth bass. The park has a new visitors center/park office featuring exciting exhibits on the flora and fauna of Cook Forest and a wifi hotspot.
Throughout the year, the park’s Sawmill Center for the Arts hosts events like the French and Indian War Encampment, Herb and Fiber Festival, Chainsaw Carvers Roundup, and Festival of Trees, and during the warmer months, park visitors can enjoy weekly performances from local community theater groups as well as a craft market filled with wares from talented local artists. Park staff also offer a wide range of outdoor programs, such as otter watches, hellbender hunts, paddling instruction, environmental education, historical tours, and guided hikes, that draw visitors with all varieties of interests. In the winter, you can go ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Although the thick forest gives you a definite sense of seclusion, Cooksburg and the area surrounding the park offer many private cabins, lodges, inns, bed & breakfasts, restaurants, campgrounds, canoe liveries, horse stables, and more, so you’ll always find a great place to stay and will never run out of fun things to do. However you choose to spend your time in Cook Forest, be sure to take time to relax and absorb the natural beauty of this rare landscape. A vacation here offers vastly different opportunities than you’ll find in other destinations, and it’s one you’ll remember long after you make your way back home.
Find everything you need to plan your adventure in Cook Forest State Park online at VisitPAGO.com/Counties/Cook-Forest.
