‘Tis the season for cozy cabin days, holidays spent with loved ones, and adventures as winter comes alive in the forest.
Explore our curated activities guide to discover unique holiday gifts. Local merchants offer a wide variety of items—including handmade crafts, distinctive apparel, specialty foods, and antiques—perfect for seasonal shopping. While you’re here, enjoy peaceful snowy forests, venture along local winter trails, and find the perfect cozy cabin for a complete cold-weather getaway.
If you’re interested in winter events or an in-depth look at outdoor recreation in Cook Forest State Park, we’ve curated information for curious travelers.
Shopping Destinations
Gifts
C&A Trees
Located a handful of minutes from exit 62 on Interstate 80. They’re not just a greenhouse! Their gift shop features lotions, home decor, accessories, stuffed animals, and more. This is a unique spot to look for more items on your Christmas checklist.
Cooksburg Dry Goods Gift Shoppe
Situated in Cook Forest, this store provides an array of rustic, seasonal, and unique housewares, toys, and children’s books. While you’re here, take advantage of their snowshoe, ice skate, and cross-country ski rentals!
Dear Heart Medicinals & Mercantile
On the adjacent Rt. 68, this tastefully eclectic antique store has a variety of oddities and must-have pieces inspired by vintage camps.
F.L. Crooks & Co.
Open for 120 years, this Main Street staple has brand names like Cotopaxi, Kavu, Johnston & Murphy, and Pendleton, as well as their original “hometown tees” for alumni and boomerangs coming back to Clarion. Stop by for premium, well-made tops, jackets, pants, jewelry, shoes, and other accessories.
Sparrow Books
Located in Downtown Clarion, Sparrow Books sells artist-made stickers and DIY activities. Not only is it a cozy stop to make on your way to Michelle’s Café, Sparrow serves as a hub for upcoming artist workshops and creative gatherings.
The Gallery at New Bethlehem Town Center
For the art lover in your life, the gallery boasts a wide selection of original pieces and prints from local artisans. Check out a walkthrough of the space from September 2025.
Three Chicks from the Sticks
On the way to Clarion, this antique shop resides within an old, grand chapel with plenty of knick-knacks
to sift through on a cold day. Check out the store with this video from September 2025.
Valley Flowers & Gifts
Stop at this flower shop to check out their selection of Candleberry candles, home decor, hand & body lotions, dip mixes, which are perfect for those in your life who appreciate self care!
Wildflowers Clarion Floral Co.
Located along PA-322, just a couple of minutes from Interstate 80, Wildflowers Clarion Floral Co. has candles, signage, home & holiday decor, bird houses, keepsakes, hand & body lotions, and wedding gifts
Stocking Stuffers & Other Sweets
Allegheny Wine Cellars
Stop by their tasting room for a few sips! While you’re there, check out their bottles and pick something special for lovers of Pennsylvania wine.
Char-Val Candies
If you’re driving north on PA-66 towards Clarion or south towards Pittsburgh, stop by Char-Val Candies to fill your sweet tooth. This spot is an equal parts candy factory and market. Shop for chocolate cordial cherries, peanut clusters, caramel marshmallows, chocolate pretzels, and more.
Clarion Coffee & Teahouse
The Clarion Tea & Coffee House greets you with a wide selection of tea leaves, coffee beans, and more. Sit down or sip on your way out. For those in your life who enjoy hot drinks, there’s plenty to choose from.
Dan Smith’s Candies & Gifts
Located along Main Street in Clarion, PA, stop by for their locally produced stocking stuffers and gifts for those with quirky taste: pet lovers, parents, or other loved ones in your life. Don’t leave without a pack of their beloved old-fashioned Christmas chocolate mints. Dan Smith’s Candies & Gifts resides on the first floor below an antique shop– Main Street Emporium.
Shopping local in Clarion County is easy with a wide array of talented artisans and business owners. To see more of where to shop, check out this page.
Hit the Trails
Clarion County boasts a variety of four-season trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Cooksburg Dry Goods Gift Shoppe offers rentals for snowshoes at $15, cross-country skis at $10, and ice skates at $5. Head to Tom’s Run Rd, Fire Tower Rd, or the natural skating pond to begin your adventure.
| Hiking Trails | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Forest Sensory Trail | This is a quarter-mile, paved, and self-guided trail loop, customized for individuals with disabilities, including low or limited vision, and features braille/raised letter signage, a guide cable, sturdy benches, and a picnic area at the trailhead. Access to this trail is near the entrance of the Sawmill Center for the Arts. For a preview of what to expect, check out this video from June 2024. | Easy |
| Rail 66 Country Trail | Explore this paved four-season trail that stretches from Shippenville to Vowinckel, PA and beyond to Kane. The village of Crown has a Cook Forest connector trail, which pops you onto the Toms Run Rd. trail. Be prepared for a hill on your way into the park! This trail has five parking lots along the way. | Easy |
| Fire Tower Rd. | Located in Cook Forest State Park, it leads to the Seneca Point Overlook and Fire Tower. Parking is available at the trailhead. Stop by the overlooks to check out the vista before you loop back for a beautiful overlook of the Clarion River under a sheet of ice and snow. | Moderate |
| Clarion Loop Trail | This trail provides a diverse terrain for curious hikers looking for a good workout. Explore this portion of the North Country Trail surrounded by trees before emerging onto the riverbank. Parking is available at the university. | Moderate |
| Clarion Highlands Trail | For experienced riders, the unpaved Clarion Highlands Trail is one of Clarion County’s horseback riding paths. Four parking lots are available along the trail, depending on where you’d like to start your adventure. | Difficult |
As always, we recommend following DCNR’s safety guidelines for your next adventure, including for activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, ice skating, and horseback riding.
For more resources on winter recreation in Cook Forest State Park, visit this link to read more.
Lodging Recommendations
In the central portion of Clarion County, we’ve hand-selected some lodging for different types of tastes. Double Boar Ranch, located along the Clarion River, is the perfect getaway for larger families or friend groups looking to celebrate a birthday or bachelorette party over the weekend. The Rt. 66 Rails to Trails Home provides convenient access to Rail 66 for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Lake Como Suite along Main Street Clarion is an upscale spot to experience a charming small town. Kellywood Cabins has a number of cozy log cabins, great for a long weekend away in the Appalachian Mountains. If you’re looking for an all-in-one bed & breakfast attached to a winery, look no further than Deer Creek Winery at Brooks Estate.
Clarion Highlands
Deer Creek Winery at Brooks Estate
Clarion Highlands
Double Boar Ranch
Clarion Riverlands
Lake Como Suite
Cook Forest
Kellywood Cabins
Clarion Highlands
Rt. 66 Rails to Trails Home
As autumn ends, Clarion County has plenty to offer this upcoming winter, from great shopping and unique antique stores to well-maintained, four-season trails. Check out our collection of winter events and recommended activities for wintertime in Cook Forest State Park.