OVERNIGHT OUTING: Cook’s Forest and the Allegheny National Forest
Date & Time: Saturday, June 20 - Sunday, June 21, meet Saturday at 10:00am
Leader: Alex Busato, busatoalex67@gmail.com, 724-963-6612
Directions: Meet at the Cook Forest State Park Office in Cooksburg. From rt. 66 north from Delmont, follow 66 to Clarion where you will eventually merge with S Eighth Ave. Turn left onto Main St. and follow through town to make a right turn onto N. Fifth Ave. Follow north past Scott’s Hill to juncture with rt. 36, and turn right. Follow to the park office.
Description: Join us on this overnight outing to explore the PA Wilds and some of the most untouched forests in the Commonwealth. We will begin by meeting at Cook’s Forest, a nationally-recognized area and one of the few remaining tracts of old-growth woodlands in the region. Here we will explore the ‘forest cathedral’ trail network, slowly working our way through this mature ecosystem. Please note, some sections of trail here are relatively steep but we will be moving slowly overall. Arrive with a packed lunch to enjoy along the Clarion River. For the afternoon, we will visit the Buzzard Swamp area of Allegheny National Forest for chances at Alder Flycatcher and Red Crossbills, among others, before joining up for a group dinner in the Marienville area. Lodging will be on an independent basis, and there are a variety of cabin-style options in the Marienville area as well as a few hotels to the north and west (consider booking lodging sooner than later, as it can fill up well in advance in this area). In addition, there are many camping options throughout the National Forest.
The following morning, we will begin with a walk through the Heart’s Content Recreation Area, another section of old-growth known for rare breeding birds within the state such as Swainson’s Thrush, Mourning Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Pine Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Saw-whet Owls, and even American Goshawk . We can additionally explore more of the National Forest for other bird and mammal targets including river otters, beavers, porcupines, and snowshoe hare. We will depart for home Sunday afternoon.
For updates and interest in this outing, including additional information on lodging, carpooling, and dinner options, please RSVP to Alex Busato (contact info above) by May 30th.