Cook Forest State Park and its environs in the PA Great Outdoors are home to many hiking trails, and some of them are downright challenging. However, not everyone is looking for a challenge – just a little peace and quiet.
The Black Bear Trail is one of those trails that just about anyone can enjoy.
Recently, my dad, my dog Brandi, and I took our first walk on the trail, and it proved to be perfect. My dad, who turns 79 in November and is a little more than two years removed from a severe heart attack, loves getting outside. Still, the heart attack has forever hampered his ability to tackle inclines of much degree. So, before we headed out, a quick web search provided us with a list of trails at cookforest.com that gives a selection of more than two dozen trails in the area.
The listing describes each trail, the distance, and the difficulty rating.
The Black Bear Trail is 1.1 miles long and is rated easy. The loop trail begins at the Sawmill Center for the Arts. It is heavily wooded with mature trees, including beech, white pine, maple, and oak. These provide plentiful shade, which makes for nice walking even on warm days.
The trail description says some of the beech trees are marked by black bear claws. Although a few show signs of a bear’s presence, from our observation, it’s been more than a few years since a bear left claw marks. Not that the area isn’t bear country, it is; but, it’s not an area where you are going to see a bear on a regular basis.
As we walked, we could hear a pileated woodpecker rattling away on a dead tree nearby; however, we weren’t fortunate enough to see it.
The trail proved to be perfect to negotiate for my dad, who often uses a cane.
The 1.1-mile distance is also ideal for those who might not have much time
to dedicate to a longer hike.
For other trails and trip planning, including places to stay, places to dine, and other things to do in the Great Outdoors Region, go to VisitPAGO.com.
“The Great Outdoors,” sponsored by the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors, is a weekly blog by exploreClarion.com’s Scott Shindledecker. Plan your next outdoor adventure at VisitPAGO.com or call (814) 849-5197 for more information.
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