Family Hiking and Fun at Cook Forest State Park

Cook Forest State Park is located in western Pennsylvania and is classified as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. This Pennsylvania State Park is known for it's gorgeous scenic views and easy access.

The park is comprised of 7,182 acres and if you love canoeing and kayaking, you'll find that Clarion River borders the eastern area of the park. You'll find a lot to see and do while visiting the park: boating, swimming, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, nature walks to see the wildlife, picnicking and so forth. The park is open year round to visitors.

If you love camping, you'll find several campgrounds nearby: At the Woods Cabins & Campground, Whitehaven Campground & Cabins, Cook Forest Locust Lodge Campground, Penns Oak Campground and several others are located nearby.

Cabins and lodges are located nearby the state park should you desire those types of accommodations. You'll find Wild Turkey Riverfront Cabins, Shamrock Woods Lodge, Knotty Pines Cabins, Cherry Run Cabins, Black Bear Cabins, Al & Brenda's Country Cottage, Cook Forest Top Hill Cabins, Clarion River Suites, Kellywood Cabins, Stone Crest Cabins to name just a few.

If you're looking for some great food to eat, you'll find DB's BBQ, Vince's Tavern, Wayside Inn, Michelle's Cafe, Knotty Pines Restaurant and Bar and several others within driving distance.

My family had the opportunity two weeks ago to visit Cook Forest State Park and had a fabulous time. We were only there for the day and went hiking on some of their trails. We took along a picnic lunch and enjoyed it outdoors. During this time of the year we like to be outdoors, so that we can enjoy some of the beautiful Fall foliage that Pennsylvania has to offer. Trust me, we weren't disappointed with all of the natural beauty that we saw that day during our visit.

The park has a very active winter season that includes ice skating, cross country skiing, snow boarding, ice fishing, snowmobiling, sledding and other fun things that the family will enjoy. We are hoping to make another visit during the winter season, so that we can check out all of their fun wintertime activities and to hopefully we will see some gorgeous snow-covered scenery during our visit.

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