Old growth trees that are from 200- to 350-years-old and up to 5ft. wide create a towering canopy nearly 200ft off the ground
Are you a restless sleeper? Then try this visualization process:
Close your eyes. You’re in a peaceful woodland setting. Imagine the sun glinting through the leaves above, dropping splashes of bright light here and there. Hear that sound of a babbling brook nearby? Shiver at the anticipation of cold water on your feet as you step in.
Now, as night falls, breathe in the unmistakable scent of the campfire as you and your family roast marshmallows, talking and laughing about the fun times you had that day. All too soon, it’s time for bed. As you nestle into your sleeping bag, you drift off to sleep with only the sounds of nighttime nature in your ears: the crunching of leaves as an opossum lumbers by, the various bugs calling to one another, the high-pitched whine of a bat happily feasting on mosquitoes and the sound of the wind rustling through the trees.
How good a night’s sleep might you have in such a calm and quiet place? If this vision appeals to you, then head on out to Cook Forest and Clear Creek State Parks located in northwestern Pennsylvania. These beautiful state parks offer great family fun at affordable prices. A vacation to Cook Forest or Clear Creek gives you the chance to truly unplug from your busy life and reconnect with family members and nature.
Cook Forest State Park
The Cook Forest Vacation Bureau says Cook Forest is known for its 200- to 350-year-old old growth trees that are up to five feet wide and create a towering canopy nearly 200 feet off the ground. These trees are awe-inspiring – and don’t cost a cent. They’ve also earned Cook Forest the nickname “Black Forest of Pennsylvania.” Other activities you can enjoy at Cook Forest are equally money saving: swimming in the Clarion River, fishing and hiking.
The Clarion River winds through the forest and is available for canoeing and tubing as well. If the fisherman in you longs to cast a line, find a shady spot on the bank and fish to your heart’s content. If the fish are biting, you could be treated to a Northern pike, small mouth bass, walleye, trout or pan fish on the other end of your line. And when they’re not biting, you can teach your kids how to skip rocks, search for tadpoles and other water wildlife.
If sightseeing is more to your liking, scenic views abound on the 16 different hiking trails available. With nearly 7,000 pristine acres, a walking trip around Cook Forest will delight your senses and rejuvenate your spirit.
Clear Creek State Park
Explore Clear Creek State Park via hiking or canoing
Adjacent to the over 10,000-acre Clear Creek State Forest and located near Cook Forest, Clear Creek State Park encompasses nearly 1,700 acres in the valley. With 25 miles of well-maintained hiking trails, you’ll be up close and personal with the magnificent rhododendron and mountain laurel that abounds as well as the abundant wildlife.
While significantly smaller than Cook Forest, Clear Creek is no less exciting and entertaining. With fishing, hunting (in certain areas), camping, canoeing and swimming, you and your family will find plenty to do.
Just about everyone needs a getaway these days, but no one can afford big fancy trips. Well, now’s the time to get back to nature for almost zero cost. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the stress of your life fades away the longer you stay in Cook Forest or Clear Creek. Away from the din of civilization, you might find the subtle silence of the forest a bit hard to get used to. But as your ears adjust to the pleasurable sounds of forest life – birds calling to one another; the scrambling of a deer as it lopes away, startled by your unexpected presence; the laughter of your children as they discover the untold mysteries only found in the woods; you’ll likely find yourself relaxing in spite of yourself.
If “roughing it” isn’t your style, there are a variety of lodging options in and around both state parks. Susie Irwin, vice president of the Cook Forest Vacation Bureau is enthusiastic about Cook Forest and Clear Creek because she loves seeing people “realize that they don’t have to spend a ton of money to enjoy the simple things in life and to have a good time.”
Pen, not pencil, in your next getaway on the calendar right now (maybe Labor Day weekend?) to go nature-seeking in Cook Forest or Clear Creek State Parks. You never know what amazing things you might find around the next bend in the trail. And, who knows? That’s where you just may find that elusive restful night’s sleep you’ve been waiting for.
