Please bring your river sneakers, swimsuits, and snorkels to the Park Office as we drive to nearby watersheds to search for and identify hard to find underwater creatures. Various species of fish, mussels, snakes and salamanders often make an appearance. This is truly a wilderness experience. Expect no public bathrooms. Bring lunch & water. Children must be with a participating adult.
Please bring your binoculars and meet at the Fire Tower Parking Lot for an historical interpretive tour of the Fire Tower and Seneca Point by DCNR Conservation Volunteer, Greg Burns. Learn about local logging history, observe Indian sign, and take a breathtaking view from the top of the Fire Tower.
Are you curious as to what scenic surprises, wildlife, and local history lie within the newly acquired Clarion River Lands? If so, you’ll need a guide to get you there. Trails are steep, rocky, and sometimes hard to find, but the wilderness experience will be worth the effort. This 3-mile interpretive, very strenuous, and often times off-trail hike climbs 460ft from the valley floor to the hilltop. We’ll investigate rock outcrops along the way for wildlife and historic use. The tail end of the hike loops back down along the picturesque Blyson Run Valley and its numerous small waterfalls. Meet the Friends of Cook Forest at Park Office where we will drive to the starting point roughly 9 miles downriver. Access to the kick-off point is not easy. Pick-ups and jeeps are good, low clearance vehicles are bad. Pack a lunch and bring plenty of water!
Summer is a great time of year to go out looking for snakes, frogs, salamanders, and turtles. We will start our car-pool at the Park Office to help the park naturalist survey herp’ hot spots along the Clarion. Participants must be able to traverse steep muddy slopes, high weeds, and rocky terrain. Sturdy walking stick, hiking boots, and long pants are advised.
Enjoy an evening nurturing your mental and physical health. Moderate level hiking. Approximately 2 hours long. Open to all women (ages 14 & up). Please meet at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom. For more information, please contact Meredith Reinhart at (814)319-4621 .
Join us for an interpretive guided float down the National Wild & Scenic Clarion River from Spring Creek to Heath Pump Station. We’ll learn about the lumber & wood chemical industry at Halton, float past remnants of one of the largest lumber mills on the Clarion at Pine Rapid, and take a 1 mile hike up one of the drainages along the way to view unique rock formations. Fishing is excellent here, so don’t forget your poles! Only experienced boaters permitted. Please meet at the Park Office where we will drive to the starting point. Lunch and boats provided to those who register by 8/4 by contacting the Park Office at (814)744-8407 orcookforestsp@pa.gov. Registration limited to 10 boats. Cost is $50/boat payable by cash, check, or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Lunch, boats, and all boating equipment provided. Prior Cook Forest kayak training participants receive a 50% discount. See you on the river!
