Cook Forest State Park
Cook Forest State Park, located in Northwestern Pennsylvania, contains 8500 acres of forest land bisected by the National Wild & Scenic Clarion River. Established in 1928, it was the first Pennsylvania State Park set aside to preserve a natural area.
To date, the park has catalogued 11 different old growth forest areas comprising over 2300 acres of various types of old growth forest.
Within the park can be found some of the largest and tallest old growth conifers and black cherry in the state. The largest hemlock by volume in the Northeastern U.S. can be found here containing over 12,000BF of wood!
Sadly, due to HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid) devastating much of the original range of Eastern hemlock, it has been said that Cook Forest is now the finest remaining old growth hemlock forest in the entire Eastern U.S.
Eighteen tree species in the park have been documented over 150 years old, with many of these species commonly surpassing 300. The oldest known trees in the park are currently a 439+ year old cucumber tree, and 471+ year old hemlock.
White pine commonly reach 140ft here, with 30 being documented in the 160ft class and two 170 footers. Hemlock commonly reach 130ft with the tallest known in the Northeast at just under 150ft. Black cherry commonly reach 120ft at Cook Forest, which contains the tallest known black cherry in the Northeast at just over 140ft.
Many massive, tall, and ancient trees abide here in what is now exceptionally rare old growth forest. None of this would have been possible without the 17 year battle spearheaded by Anthony Wayne Cook, to set aside these lands so that it would eventually become a state park for all to enjoy for posterity’s sake.
Entrance to Longfellow Trail
Carl Harting next to the largest Eastern Hemlock by wood volume in the Northeastern US.
Hemlock Needles with HWA (hemlock woolly adelgid)
Dale Luthringer taking circumference measurements on Hemlocks in the park.