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Cook Forest
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Preservation area of old growth forest
with giant
White Pine, Hemlock and Beech trees
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Beginnings of Cook Forest
In
the 1920's, the Cook Forest Association was formed to save a few
areas of old growth timber. In 1927, funds raised by the association
helped the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchase 6,055 acres. Cook
Forest was the first Pennsylvania State Park purchased to preserve a
natural landmark. Today, Cook Forest State Park covers 8,500 acres
and is popular with hikers, bikers, and campers. It's located next
to the Allegheny National Forest.
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Cook Forest State Park offers:
- Scenic views of old growth
forest
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29 miles of hiking trails
- 12 miles of snowmobile trails
- 11.5 miles of bicycle trails
- 4.5 miles of bridle trails
- 7,000 acres of hunting
- Fishing & canoeing
- Cabins & camping areas
- Environmental education
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Environmental Learning
Center
with displays of logging tools
and tree growth rings |
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The Center is one of
the
log cabins built by the
Civilian Conservation Corps
in the 1930's |
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Clarion River
The Clarion River runs along the eastern border of Cook Forest State
Park and is popular for rafting and canoeing. The name was derived
by surveyor Daniel Stanard who said "the ripple of the river sounds
like a distant clarion" (a trumpet call)
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FOREST CATHEDRAL
"This wood will become a forest
monument, like those of the West, known not only in
Pennsylvania, but throughout the country. The East possesses few
scenes more impressive than this magnificent area of primeval
white pine, surrounded by giant hemlocks and hardwoods. The
venerable splendor of these trees is a heritage for the future
of the State. Many of them have lifted their heads to the
sunshine for more than two hundred summers and the largest of
them were here before the colonization of America."
(Text used
to raise funds for the purchase of Cook Forest in 1927)
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Entering the Forest
Calm quiet scene along
the
Longfellow Trail |
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Tree Growth Rings
Display uses a cross section
of a former forest giant to
graphically demonstrate
its 200-plus year age |
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Forest Cathedral
Natural Area
Cook Forest State Park
The Forest Cathedral Natural Area contains one of the largest
old growth forests of white pine and eastern hemlock in
Pennsylvania. Many of these magnificent pine and hemlock now
exceed three feet in diameter and approach 200 feet in height.
Trees of this size are often over 300 years of age; dating to
the era of William Penn, the first Governor of "Penn's Woods,"
and are often referred to as "William Penn Trees." It is perhaps
fitting that this forest remains in the midst of an area which
saw the greatest logging boom in the history of the Commonwealth
- the period of the late 1800s, when thousands of acres of old
growth forests were cut for the shipbuilding and constructions
industries. The Forest Cathedral is registered as a National
Natural Landmark and has been set aside for protection as a
State Park Natural Area under State Parks 2000.
Pennsylvania DCNR State Parks |
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COOK FOREST
THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THE COOK FOREST
ASSOCIATION IN THE YEAR 1950 IN HONOR OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO BY
LEADERSHIP, LABORS, AND GIFTS MADE POSSIBLE THE PRESERVATION OF
THIS VIRGIN WHITE PINE FOREST FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL THE
PEOPLE.
CHIEFLY BY THE VISION AND ZEAL OF THOMAS LIGGETT THE ASSOCIATION
WAS CONSTITUTED IN 1926 AND OBTAINED PRIVATE SUBSCRIPTIONS OF
$200,000. THIS SUM, ADDED TO AN APPROPRIATION OF $450,000 VOTED
BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA, MADE POSSIBLE THE
DEDICATION OF THIS STATE PARK IN 1928.
FOR YEARS ANTHONY WAYNE COOK, FROM WHOM THIS TRACT WAS ACQUIRED,
WITH RARE PATIENCE AND IDEALISM SAVED THESE GREAT TREES IN HOPE
AND FAITH THAT THEY MIGHT BECOME A PUBLIC TRUST.
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ASSOCIATION THE ORIGINAL OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS OF THE ASSOCIATION AS FORMED IN 1926 WERE:
SAMUEL Y. RAMAGE
PRESIDENT
TAYLOR ALLDERDICE VICE PRESIDENT
THOMAS LIGGETT SECRETARY
GEORGE E. BENSON TREASURER
H.M. BRACKENRIDGE
ARTHUR E. BRAUN
FRANK L. HARVEY
HOWARD H. McCLINTIC
JOHN M. PHILLIPS
HOMER D. WILLIAMS
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OTHER PIONEERS
M. I. McCREIGHT
THEO. L. WILSON
JOHN H. NICHOLSON |
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Google Map of Cook
Forest State Park
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Cook Forest Photo
Gallery
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Longfellow Trail |
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Huge hemlocks and
white pines |
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Windthrow |
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Massive Hemlock trunks |
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A peak of sky through
the giant trees |
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Towering Beech tree |
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Large trees growing
on top of rock |
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Cathedral Area Windthrow
7:00pm August 18, 1956 |
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Large timber remains
from windthrow |
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Visit Cook Forest!
Website
Cook Forest State Park:
814-744-8407
Camping:
888-PA-PARKS
Location:
Cooksburg, PA 16217 |
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LINKS
Groups debate Allegheny National Forest protection |
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