Cook Forest State Park stands as one of Pennsylvania’s most treasured natural areas, sprawling across 8,500 acres where Clarion, Forest, and Jefferson Counties meet. Established in 1927, the park was created to protect what many consider the finest stand of old-growth forest remaining in the eastern United States. The towering white pines and hemlocks of the Forest Cathedral Natural Area — some reaching over 180 feet tall and more than 300 years old — earned this grove National Natural Landmark status, and walking beneath their canopy feels genuinely cathedral-like.

The Clarion River runs along the park’s southern boundary, offering excellent canoeing, kayaking, and tubing through scenic stretches of Class I and II water. Anglers will find solid trout fishing in both the river and Toms Run. More than 30 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, ranging from easy riverside walks to ridge-top routes with sweeping forest views. The Longfellow Trail through the old-growth area is the must-do hike. Winter brings cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on designated trails.

The park operates rustic cabins and a campground, though availability can be tight during peak summer weekends — reserve early if you’re planning a July or August visit. Spring wildflower season and fall foliage are equally rewarding and far less crowded.

Come to Cook Forest expecting quiet immersion in a forest that has looked this way for centuries. It’s not a thrill-ride park — it’s a place that rewards slowing down and looking up.