Cook Forest State Park

Can I just say this is the perfect get a way! Only a 2 hour drive from Cleveland, Ohio. Cooks Forrest is our favorite year round vacation. My in-​laws have been going there their entire lives, and I have grown to know and appreciate everything cooks Forrest had to offer. Great hiking trails and breathtaking views! Seneca point and the fire tower are two of our stops we always make. Staying at McBeth’s cabins on the river are the best and the location is prime. We love cooks Forrest!

Ok. In the name of transparency I will say that I am not a die-​hard hiker, but that is not nearly all offered by a visit to Cook Forest! I am an photography enthusiast and Cook Forest, in addition to being 6 miles from where I grew up, is one of my favorite photography models.
There’s the obvious: Clarion River, beautiful forest trails and scenic rest areas. There are interesting businesses nestled in, too, like the canoe livery and Forest Café (Hershey’s ice cream!!). They blend in well and have been in place for years (way).
Less obvious: the local eagle which nests on the river, the Cook Mausoleum and the Fire Tower overlooking Seneca Point.
There are soft ball games, bicycling, picnics and river tubing in the summer; ice skating and a snow-​man building festival in the winter. Spring and fall are obviously when the Forest struts its stuff.

Being a one-​time local, I know of the camping and cabins, but beyond working there in summers through high school, cannot comment.
Watch your speed and enjoy this State Park — she’s big and she’s beautiful! AND TAKE YOUR CAMERA!

In my opinion this is Pennsylvania’s most beautiful state park. Cook Forest has ample opportunities for people to have a great time:
You can take a relaxing Canoe ride down the Clarion river by renting a canoe from one of the many outfitters.
If your in the mood for a hike Cook Forest offers beautiful trails through large Pines as well as the area known as the Forest Cathedral which plays host to the largest tree’s in Pennsylvania! The Long distance North Country Trail passes through the park as well heading north to the Allegheny National Forest.
For a unique adventure you can climb the fire tower or check out Seneca Point Overlook!
The campground is also beautiful in Cook Forest offering both Tent and RV sites with a beautiful pine backdrop!
Overall Cook forest is a great place to spend the weekend, and is a great place for families. Be sure to stop in at MacBeths General Store, and get a few treats for yourself as well.
You don’t have to take my opinion… Go see it for yourself.

Amazing park right here in Western PA’s backyard. The oldest growing trees on the East Coast, miles of trails, outdoor activities for most anyone. I suggest going down the relatively calm and shallow Clarion River when the weather is warm. I love coming here in the winter because you see absolutely nobody. The summer is like most state parks as far as crowds usually manageable during the week but watch out on the weekends.

I went to Cooks Forest State Park two times in the past two years. Last year in the end of Sept and stayed in a trailer home with my fiancé at the time and her family. The trailer home was very cheap but the beds looked dirty and smelled bad. The bathrooms were dirty and the heater didn’t work. The camping ground was very nice, clean and pretty quite. It was enjoyable staying for the weekend. I also went last Sunday with my wife, her family and a couple friends for the day. First went to the river where there was tubing, kayaking, and open Fields to enjoy. We later went to Beartown rocks where there are large boulders that look neat and some its fun to climb up them. Just be careful though. Also has a nice view of the mountains. After that went to the Fire Tower where it’s a old tall tower they used to use to stop forest fires. Climbing up that was fun and had a great view once you got the the top. Seneca Point also had a great view on the mountain side. We later went to are camp site (can’t remember the name of it) were for around 20 dollars got a nice little camp site. The only thing I really didn’t like, was the bathrooms were dirty and smelled so bad in most of them. Can’t wait to go back, there is so much more to do.

We spent a long weekend here this past week. What a fun and relaxing time. We visted the State park and walked along some nature trails through the forest. We also climbed the fire tower. This is an old tower that is about 200 feet high. At the top, you can see the entire river valley. Can’t wait to go back again.