Hosted by the Keystone Trails Association and sponsored by Discover Clarion County

Activities will be clustered within half an hour of the Cook Forest State Park area. Register for one, two, or all three days. The cost is $25 a day for adults and $10 a day for those 18 and younger. Limited scholarships are available when registering.

Mindful Outdoor Meditation: An Introduction to Forest Bathing
7:45am-8:30am; located at Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts, 140-170 Theatre Lane, Cooksburg, PA 16217
Also known as shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is a method to relieve tension, manage stress, and simply appreciate being outdoors in nature. We’ll meander slowly through the forest along the Black Bear Trail, pausing to use our senses and absorb the natural healing properties of the plants as we get to know the plant and mineral kingdoms better. We conclude with a brief tea ceremony and a sharing session. Please wear the appropriate footwear and layers.
Hosted by Eileen Crone, Certified Instructor.

Forest Cathedral Natural Area Hike
8:00am-10:00am; located at the Log Cabin Environmental Learning Center, Leeper, PA 16233
This 2.6-mile loop hike winds through the old-growth forest at Cook Forest State Park and is led by Ben Cramer, author of the upcoming PA Wilds Guidebook. The route has moderate elevation gain. Learn some of the forest’s history while you link Tom’s Run, Indian, & Longfellow Trails. View the park map here. Bring your camera, water, and snacks. Hiking poles may be helpful for the one brief strenuous portion of the trail. This hike is also offered at 10:30am. Thunderstorms will cancel this hike. This activity is suitable for all ages.
Hosted by Keystone Trails Association. 

Warm Up Yoga Stretch
9:00am-10:00am; located at Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts, 140-170 Theatre Lane, Cooksburg, PA 16217
Get ready for your busy day with yoga stretches that invigorate you and warm you. The class also emphasizes deep breathing and quieting the mind. Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat or a towel.
Hosted by Eileen Crone, Certified Instructor.

Explore Cook Forest Paved Sensory Trail
9:00am-10:00am; located at 140-170 Theatre Lane, Cook Forest, PA 16217
Check out Pennsylvania’s first sensory park in the state park system! This paved trail includes signs in braille, benches, a guide cable, and a picnic area. Take a guided 0.25-mile tour with some of the people who helped bring the sensory trail to fruition, and learn how to create a sensory trail in your home. A map of Cook Forest State Park is here; look for the “Paved Loop.” Thunderstorms will cancel this hike. This activity is accessible to individuals with limited to no vision and is suitable for all ages and dogs on leash.
Hosted by Friends of Cook Forest Board of Directors.

Hike the North Country Trail Into Cook Forest
9:00am-1:00pm; located at the Log Cabin Environmental Learning Classroom, Leeper, PA 16233
Hit the North Country Trail for 8 miles through Clear Creek State Forest, Swamp Natural Area, and into Cook Forest State Park. Crossing through the woods and traveling over a suspension bridge, this shuttle hike will primarily be on level terrain. We will move at a leisurely pace over moderate terrain. Please review the map of the route here. Participants will meet at the finish point for our hike before being shuttled to the start of our hike on Route 66. Hiking poles are suggested. Thunderstorms will cancel this hike. This activity is suitable for all ages and dogs on leash.
Hosted by Clarion County Chapter of the North Country Trail Association.

Mushroom Walk in Cook Forest’s Old Growth Forest
10:00am-12:00pm; located at the Log Cabin Environmental Learning Center, Leeper, PA 16233
Join Barbora Batokova—president of the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club, author of Hunting Mushrooms, and the photographer behind @fungiwoman on Instagram—for a guided 3-mile mushroom walk beneath ancient hemlocks and along mossy trails as you explore diverse habitats and uncover the fascinating world of fungi. This walk welcomes beginners and nature enthusiasts alike—no prior experience needed. Learn about mushroom identification and ecology. Bring your curiosity, your camera, and a love for the forest! This leisurely, easy-to-rugged loop hike will include Liggett Trail and Tom’s Run Road. View the route here. Hiking poles, long-sleeved shirts and pants, a hat, and tick spray are recommended. Thunderstorms will delay this hike; severe heat is forecasted for the entire day and will cancel this hike. We will not forage on this hike. This activity is suitable for all ages.
Hosted by Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club.

Southern Cook Forest Loop Hike
10:00am-1:00pm; located at the Log Cabin Environmental Learning Center, Leeper, PA 16233
This rugged 6.5-mile loop hike in southern Cook Forest State Park links Tom’s Run, Ridge, Mohawk, North County, and Birch Trails. Highlights include giant hemlocks and black cherry trees, ruins, riverside walking, and Seneca Point Vista while covering several hundred feet of elevation gain. Expect a brisk pace of 2-2.25 miles per hour. View a map of Cook Forest State Park here. Bring lunch and water. Hiking poles and sturdy hiking shoes/boots are recommended. Severe flooding will cancel this hike.
Hosted by Keystone Trails Association.

Cook Forest Fire Tower & Seneca Point Lumber Heritage Loop Hike
10:00am-1:30pm; located at Fire Tower Road, Leeper, PA 16233 or Historic Fire Tower #9 Parking Lot, 41.322250, -78.393944
Take a leisurely 3-mile hike with stops, including Seneca Point, the Fire Tower, and Henry Run Falls. This hike features both flat areas, including the steep River Trail descent to the valley floor and subsequent uphill climb, with an elevation drop of ~600-1000 feet and rugged terrain. You can view a map of the route here. Participants should bring ample water, food for lunch, hiking poles, and binoculars. Heavy rain/wind, thunderstorms, or natural disasters will cancel this hike. Should that happen, we could set up our Wood on Glass photo displays at a location near the day’s events and give a brief presentation. This activity is suitable for all ages and dogs on leash.
Hosted by Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania, Inc.

North Country Trail Shuttle Hike
10:00am-2:00pm; located at Highland Drive Trailhead: 41.299267, -79.280567
Hikers will park at the Highland Drive trailhead before shuttling to Gravel Lick trailhead to hike 4.7 miles back to their cars. Climb very steep Thompson Hill and then kick back on a bench to enjoy a nice view. At the top of the hill, the trail follows a gas company road down the other side to the banks and then follows the remote section of the Wild and Scenic Clarion River for a mile. A bench on the river offers a scenic view. Once we part from the river, we’ll hike uphill through a “tunnel” of Mountain Laurel. At the top of the hill is the Highland Drive shelter and trailhead. View the route here. Be sure to bring water, snacks, and wear hiking footwear. Hiking poles may be useful for two small stream crossings. Thunderstorms will cancel this hike. ​
Hosted by Clarion County Chapter of the North Country Trail Association.

Forest Cathedral Natural Area Hike
10:30am-12:30pm; located at the Log Cabin Environmental Learning Center, Leeper, PA 16233
This 2.6-mile loop hike winds through the old-growth forest at Cook Forest State Park and is led by Ben Cramer, author of the upcoming PA Wilds Guidebook. The route has moderate elevation gain. Learn some of the forest’s history while you link Tom’s Run, Indian, & Longfellow Trails. View the park map here. Bring your camera, water, and snacks. Hiking poles may be helpful for the one brief strenuous portion of the trail. This hike is also offered at 8:00am. Thunderstorms will cancel this hike. This activity is suitable for all ages.
Hosted by Keystone Trails Association.

Leaf Impressions: Watercolor Memories from the Trail
Drop-in art workshop from 12:00pm-4:00pm; located at Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts, 140-170 Theatre Lane, Cooksburg, PA 16217
Capture your hike in color! Stop by this drop-in art station to learn how to stamp and paint leaves using watercolor while on the trail. Create your own take-home keepsake from nature. You don’t need any experience; supplies are provided. Just bring your curiosity! This activity is accessible and suitable for all ages.
Hosted by Julie Mader, Artwork by Julie Mader LLC.

Untold Stories: Pioneering Appalachian Trail Women
4:00pm-5:00pm; located at Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts, 140-170 Theatre Lane, Cooksburg, PA 16217
Author Gwenyth Loose recounts her research of Appalachian Trail history spanning the years 1920-1980 and her search for the little-known contributions of women who played pivotal roles in the completion, protection, and preservation of this iconic American trail. Copies of her book, We Were There, Too. Pioneering Appalachian Trail Women will be available for sale at this event and at the evening’s dinner, or purchase one from Keystone Trails Association’s store. This activity is accessible and suitable for all ages.
Hosted by the Appalachian Trail Museum.