Hotel at a Glance: Clarion River Suites

When you’ve spent all day hiking, there are few things better than sitting on a deck with your feet up. Clarion River Suites seems to know: every suite has a private balcony with a pair of chairs, and there’s a large community deck with a fire pit that brings people together at night.

• What a view!: The property is set nearly 200 feet above the Clarion River, with abundant views of the water and the forested hills.
• Nearby adventures: The hotel is surrounded by Cook Forest State Park, where you can go hiking or canoeing; Allegheny State Park is a short drive away.
• Whip up a meal in the full kitchen of your family suite.
• You can pack light: Don’t worry about your suitcase about running out of clothes: there’s a laundry room onsite.

Cooksburg, Pennsylvania: Riverside Splendor in Cook Forest State Park

Cooksburg is set right in Cook Forest State Park, an 8,500-acre swath of old growth forest. Many of the trees here are 300 to 400 years old. You can see them up close while trekking along the park’s hiking trails—there’s 29 miles of them, with varying degrees of difficulty. Hike to the Seneca Point Overlook, a rocky outcropping in the southeastern corner of the park, to take in a panoramic view of the Clarion River valley. If you climb to the top of the Cook Forest Fire Tower on a clear day, you can see 15 to 20 miles into the distance.

Canoeing down the Clarion River is a popular activity in spring, summer, and fall. The river’s leisurely flow—4 miles per hour on average—makes it especially well-suited for beginning paddlers. There are two designated canoe routes, clocking in at 4 miles and 10 miles in length. A handful of outfitters are around town to set adventurers up with rental canoes and other equipment for a day in Cook Forest.

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