Cook Forest State Park

 

     Located in Clarion, Forest, and Jefferson Counties in northwestern Pennsylvania, Cook Forest State Park contains some of the finest examples of

     old-growth forest in the eastern United States.  Named for the Cook family, from whom the land was purchased in 1927, the park comprises

     7, 949 acres, of which approximately 1300 acres is considered old-growth forest, using the Allegheny National Forest definition (185+ years old).

     This includes areas that have been selectively cut in the past but are now showing old-growth characteristics.  Most of the old growth is in the

     following five designated areas:

 

                                                                Cook Forest’s Old Growth Areas

 

1.      Forest Cathedral Natural Area:  Probably Pennsylvania’s finest and largest intact old-growth forest, this site is noted for its old-growth

     white pine and hemlock, and has one of the highest concentrations of tall white pine in the entire eastern United States.  Approximately 315 acres

     in the Forest Cathedral’s 448 acres are classified as old growth, including some areas that have been selectively cut in the past.  About 171 acres

     have remained untouched, with numerous 225-450 year-old trees.  In 1969, the Secretary of the Interior designated the Forest Cathedral a

     registered National Natural Landmark.

 

     2.  Swamp Forest Natural Area:  This 246-acre tract includes a large forested wetland at the headwaters of Brown’s Run, in the northeast

     section of the park.  The entire area is classified as old growth, with a handsome stand of old northern red oak, white oak, red maple, hemlock,

     black cherry and American beech.  Dr. David A. Orwig of Harvard Forest, Harvard University has dated some white oaks to over 283 years.  He

     also determined that much of the area has been selectively cut and burned-over possibly two times in the last 200 years.

 

     3.  Seneca Forest Special Management Area:  Old growth accounts for approximately 305 acres of this 313.5-acre area, of which about 100

     acres have never been touched.  A handsome stand of old-growth white pine and hemlock occupies the steep slopes overlooking the Clarion River,

     which flows through the southern portion of the park.  Historically part of the original Forest Cathedral tract, much of the Seneca Forest dates to a

     forest fire following a severe drought in 1644.  Ancient pitch pines located here started growing after the 1644 fire.  In July 1976, many of the pitch

     pines were destroyed by a tornado.  Other old growth includes red, chestnut, and white oak along with beech and old-growth white pine and

     eastern hemlock.  Certain areas within this section  were selectively cut and burned over one time in the late 1880’s.

 

4.  Cook Trail Area:  Located in the southeast section of the park, between Cemetery and Troutman Run Roads, behind the River Cabins, and

near the Cook family cemetery, this stand was selectively cut but is now showing old-growth forest characteristics.  The total area is about 200-

300 acres, of which approximately 150 acres are considered old-growth.  Some very fine old-growth eastern hemlocks, ancient red, white, and

chestnut oaks, a few tall white pines, beech, and old-growth black gum remain in this area.  A one-acre study plot has been fenced to exclude

deer in order to determine the effect of deer density on old-growth forest characteristics.

 

     5.  Deer Meadow Trail Area:  This very lightly traveled portion of the park is in the Upper Tom’s Run Valley, and totals about 200-300 acres.

     Once selectively cut, 150 acres are now showing old-growth characteristics, and contain old-growth eastern hemlock, white oak, and beech.

 

                                                                      Tall Trees of Cook Forest – A Forest Profile

 

All tree heights were accurately measured by Dale J. Luthringer, Environmental Education Specialist, Cook Forest State Park, and other members of the Eastern Native Tree Society, using laser-clinometer based techniques.   Compilation by Dale J. Luthringer and Colby B. Rucker, corrected to July 2003.

 

1.  Upland dominants – upper slope

  Eastern white pine      180.9’a    11’  1.5”     “Longfellow Pine,” Longfellow Trail, Forest Cathedral Natural Area, Clarion Co.

                                                                     (181.3’a   Luthringer and Schaffner 3/7/02)                                                       Blozan & Busch 4/20/02

  Eastern hemlock        143.9’      11’  9.5”     Ca. 25 yds. to n.  side Seneca Trail, Seneca Forest Special Mgt. Area, Clarion Co.     Luthringer 3/3/03

  Black cherry              137.0’e        0.5”     Off west side of Ridge Trail, Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion Co.        Blozan 4/20/02

  Red maple                 126.0’e                Near Joyce Kilmer Trail and Indian Springs, Forest Cathedral NA, Clarion Co.         Luthringer 3/18/02

  Cucumbertree           122.9’t         3.0”      Ridge Trail, Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion Co.                         Luthringer Oct 2001

  Sugar maple              111.9’e        4.0”      Breezemont Drive, Clarion Co.                                                                                 Luthringer 2/12/02

  Yellow birch               92.2’e        7.5”      West side Forest Road (formerly Vowinkle Road), opposite Shelter #1,

                                                                      Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion Co.                                            Luthringer Oct 2001

2.  Upland dominants – mid-slope

  White oak                 124.8’k    10’  7.0”      Near Indian Springs, Forest Cathedral Natural Area (e. of Route 36), Clarion Co.     Luthringer 2/20/03

  American beech        124.3’e        5.0”      Ridge Trail, Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion Co.                                 Blozan 4/20/02

  Northern red oak      122.9’e        6.0”      Hemlock Trail side of ridge off Ridge Trail,

                                                                      Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion Co.                                  Leverett & Diggins 4/20/02

  Chestnut oak            111.1’e       5.0”       River Cabins Flats (second bench), upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.      Luthringer 12/18/02

  Black oak                104.5’k     5’ 11.5”      Headwaters of Little Heffern Run, Upper Tom’s Run Valley, Clarion Co.                     Luthringer 2/18/02

  Blackgum                 104.3’e       1.0”       Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion Co.                                              Luthringer 10/29/02

 

3.  Upland dominants – lower slope

  Tuliptree                   136.6’e        2.0”       River Cabins Flats (first bench), upstream of River Cabins area, Forest Co.                Luthringer 11/8/02

  White ash                 128.3’e        7.0”       River Cabins Flats (first bench), upstream of River Cabins area, Forest Co.                Luthringer 11/8/02

  Black birch               107.8’e        5.0”       River Cabins Flats, upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.                                Luthinger 11/8/02

  American basswood 110.2’     10’  0” d        South bank of Clarion River, Jefferson Co.                                                               Luthringer  6/23/03

  Bitternut hickory       106.2’e       3.5”        River Cabins Flats, upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.                               Luthringer 12/9/02

  Black walnut              84.2’e       6.0”        River Cabins area, Forest Co.                                                                                    Luthringer 10/1/02

  Shagbark hickory       83.9’e       1.0”        River Road, near canoe launch, Forest Co.                                                                 Luthringer 10/1/02

 

4.  Upland/riparian interface

  American sycamore  105.9’t    20’  7.0”       South side of Clarion River across from River Cabins (double tree), Jefferson Co.     Luthringer 11/21/00

  Black locust             104.6’e       3.5”        River Cabins area, Forest Co.                                                                                    Luthringer 10/1/02

  Slippery elm               78.5’e                 Clarion River, Forest Co.                                                                                            Luthringer 10/1/02

 

5.  Xeric exposure

  Pitch pine                   81.9’e       2.5”       Fire Tower, Clarion Co.                                                                                            Luthringer 12/18/02

  Red pine                    42.1’e       9.5”       Fire Tower, Clarion Co.                                                                                            Luthringer 12/18/02

 

6.  Understory – arborescent specialists

  Witch hazel                 37.8’         9.5”     1976 tornado opening, Seneca Forest Special Mgt. Area, Clarion Co.            Cohen & Luthringer 7/9/03

  Great rhododendron   20.0’e     0’ 11.0”     Fire Tower, Clarion Co.                                                                                            Luthringer 12/18/02

  Mountain maple         19.3’e        1.0”      Tom’s Run Trail, Forest Co.                                                                                      Luthringer 12/18/02

  Mountain laurel          14.6’e        5.0”      Fire Tower, Clarion Co.                                                                                            Luthringer 12/18/02

 

 

                                                            Largest of Species by Trunk Circumference  

 

  American sycamore    20’  7.0”    105.9’t     South side of Clarion River across from River Cabins  (double tree), Jefferson Co.     Luthringer 11/21/00

  Northern red oak       16’  8.5”    120.4’k    Upper Little Heffern Run, Upper Tom’s Run Valley, Clarion Co.                                  Luthringer 2/18/02

  White oak                  13’  3.5”     92.9’e     Deer Meadow Trail, ca. 200 yds. south of Deer Meadow Campground, Clarion Co.      Luthringer 7/8/02

  Eastern white pine      13’  2.5”    131.3’e    Seneca Pine Grove, Clarion Co.                                                                                 Luthringer 12/18/01

  Eastern hemlock        13’   2.5”   103.7’k    Forest Cathedral Natural Area, Forest Co.                                                                   Luthringer 9/11/02

  Black cherry              13’         110.9’e    Ridge top, Deer Meadow Old Growth Area, Tom’s Run Valley, Clarion Co.               Luthringer  6/29/02

  Cucumbertree            11’  7.0”    117.3’t     Longfellow Trail (near Longfellow Pine) Forest Cathedral NA, Clarion Co. Luthringer & Schaffner 3/7/02

  American beech         10’  5.0”   111.3’e     River Cabins Flats (first bench) upstream of River Cabins, Forest Co.                         Luthringer 11/20/02

  American basswood  10’  1.0”    107.4’e    River Road, Forest Co.                                                                                                Luthringer 10/1/02

  Red maple                 10’  1.0”    104.1’e    Mohawk Trail-Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion  Co.                       Luthringer 10/29/02

  Red maple                 10’         114.1’e    River Cabins Flats (second bench), upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.        Luthringer 12/10/02

  Red maple                 10’           95.4’e     Swamp Forest Natural Area                                                                                        Luthringer 8/10/02

  White ash                      2.5”     120.7’e    River Cabins Flat (first bench), upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.                Luthringer 11/8/02

  White ash                      2.5”     118.3’e    Ridge top, Deer Meadow Old Growth Area, Tom’s Run Valley, Clarion Co.                Luthringer 6/29/02

  Chestnut oak                         101.1’e    River Cabins Flat (second bench), upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.         Luthringer 12/10/02

  Tuliptree                        2.5”    124.1’e    River Cabins Flat (first bench), upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.                 Luthringer 11/8/02

  Black birch                             74.5’e    Indian Springs-Forest Cathedral Natural Area, Clarion Co.                                           Luthringer 8/15/02

  Black locust                 7’ 11.0”   104.1’e    River Cabins area, Forest Co.                                                                                      Luthringer 10/1/02

  Yellow birch                  7.5”      92.2’e    West side Forest Road (formerly Vowinkle Road), opposite Shelter #1, Clarion Co.  Luthringer Oct 2001

  Shagbark hickory        6’ 11.0”     82.3’e    River Road, Forest Co.                                                                                                 Luthringer 10/1/02

  Black walnut                 6.0”      84.2’e    River Cabins area, Forest Co.                                                                                       Luthringer 10/1/02

  Black oak                   5’ 11.5”   104.5’k    Headwaters of Little Heffern Run, Upper Tom’s Run Valley, Clarion Co.                      Luthringer 2/18/02

  Slippery elm                  3.5”      55.1’e    River Road, Forest Co.                                                                                                 Luthringer 7/25/02

  Blackgum                      1.0”    104.3’e    Seneca Forest Special Management Area, Clarion Co.                                                Luthringer 10/29/02

  Pitch pine                      9.5”      72.4’e    River Cabin Flats, upstream from River Cabins area, Forest Co.                                  Luthringer 12/18/02

  Sugar maple                  4.0”    111.9’e    Breezemont Drive, Clarion Co.                                                                                     Luthringer 2/12/02

  Bitternut hickory            3.5”    106.2’e    River Cabins Flat (first bench), upstream from River Cabins, Forest Co.                        Luthringer 12/9/02

  Red pine                       9.5”      42.1’e    Fire Tower, Clarion Co.                                                                                              Luthringer 12/18/02

  Mountain maple            1.0”      19.3’e     Tom’s Run Trail, Forest Co.                                                                                       Luthringer 12/18/02

  Witch hazel                             27.4’     Troutman Run, Forest Co.                                                                                            Luthringer 6/23/03

  Great rhododendron    0’ 11.0”     20.0’e    Fire Tower, Clarion Co.                                                                                             Luthringer 12/18/02

  Hercules club                8.5”       24.2’      Seneca/Mohawk Trail, Clarion Co.                                                                                Luthringer 5/1/03

  Mountain laurel             5.0”       14.6’e    Fire Tower, Clarion Co.                                                                                             Luthringer 12/18/02

 

a - laser/clinometer (sine top + pole) measurement

b – Impulse laser measurement

d – tentative measurement

e – laser/clinometer (sine top + sine bottom) measurement

k – 5.0’ + near-vertical laser measurement

t – laser/clinometer (sine top + tangent bottom) measurement

 

  

 July 2003