Where can one go to experience the gentle sound of clear river water rippling, echoed by the surrounding forest, and embellished by the sounds of wildlife? Follow me to the Clarion River Lands.
The Clarion River Lands is a 3,136-acre tract of Clear Creek State Forest, bordering Cook Forest State Park. One can canoe or kayak all the way through it in a day via ten miles of the Clarion River. There is even a designated campsite for river travelers at Thompson Eddy. Another equally thrilling way is to traverse it on foot via the North Country Trail. Can one fall in love with a trail? It’s a 4,800-mile path that runs through eight states. It’s very well maintained and marked with bright blue blazes. How lucky we are that 96 miles pass through Clarion County?
Moving upriver, this five-mile hike entails two elevation descents and ascents of roughly 400 feet. There is designated parking at each end, one on Highland Drive and one on Gravel Lick Road, which makes for an excellent shuttle hike. There is also an Adirondack style shelter less than a mile from Highland Drive before the first descent to the river. (Through hikers take note: the next shelter is 17 trail miles NE at Maple Creek.) Once you are down along the river, the experience of just being there is sublime in itself. Mother nature has her own natural rhythms and sounds. Let go of modern day worries as you walk and find a quiet place to sit still, like the bench along the river, and listen to nature’s own music. An early 1800s surveyor likened the river sounds to a distant clarion, which refers to a historic style of trumpet. Composers have written music inspired by nature, and it’s easy to see why as you sit along the Clarion River.
My favorite time of year is summer, and that includes hiking. The mountain laurels bloom early on, with the rhododendrons to follow. Virtually every type of wildlife in Pennsylvania can be found here, and more often than not I have seen no other people. One may encounter bears, venomous snakes, ticks and various stinging insects. There are other intersecting trails along the way, including equestrian trails (one must note that they have the right of way over pedestrians). The NCT’s bright blue blazes are easy to follow, keeping one on the proper trail.
My favorite trail snacks are jerky and crispy apples, with sandwiches for more strenuous hikes. I will bring a thermos of coffee or tea in colder seasons but always have water as my drink of choice. It took me five years to complete the NCT in PA, with a lot of driving to trailheads. I started in Clarion and worked my way in both directions. Reaching the NY state line was more thrilling as NY was the land of my birth. When I later reached the Ohio State line, the sense of accomplishment was complete.
Bud’s Hiking Tips
- Practice situational awareness and pay attention to your surroundings.
- Pay attention to the trail blazes as you hike.
- DEET is best to prevent biting flies and mosquitoes (especially along the river), but not really effective as a tick repellant.
- Permethrin is the best form of tick repellant but should be used responsibly because it is highly toxic. Read the instructions before using!
- You can avoid ticks by avoiding tall grass and branches on your hike. Be sure to perform occasional tick checks as you hike and do a thorough one once you’re home.