Nature & Wildlife

Cook Forest & Clear Creek State Parks will be conducting a 7.3-mile interpretive float down the National Wild & Scenic Clarion River from Clear Creek’s boat launch to Cook Forest’s 4-mile launch. Odds are pretty good we’ll see plenty of otter signs. Along the way we’ll go past remnants of the old bridge, dam, and raft building sites of Clarington, go through the ripple and past rock cliffs of Hogback, and talk about the rafting tragedy of Maze Gap. Fishing is good along this stretch, don’t forget your poles! Only experienced boaters permitted. Please meet at the Clear Creek canoe launch neat the playground. Participants must pre-register by 7/20 by contacting the Cook Forest Park Office at (814) 744-8407. Registration limited to 10 boats. Cost is $50/boat payable by cash, check, or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All boats, gear, and lunch provided. Prior Cook Forest kayak training participants receive a 50% discount. Register early, available spots go fast! See you on the river!

Please meet at the park office where we'll take a moderate often off-trail hike to the tallest known black cherry tree in the Northeast, the Davies Black Cherry, at 140 ft. tall. Then we'll double back across the Swinging Bridge to view exemplary 160ft. tall white pines along the picturesque Tom's Run Valley at the base of the Forest Cathedral. See less