Cook Forest Camping Adventure {Wanda The Wander Wagon}

 We recently took our new-to-us pop up camper, Wanda the Wander Wagon, on an adventure to Cook Forrest in Western PA.  Cook Forrest is a PA State Park that encompasses nearly 12,000 acres and is bordered by the beautiful Clarion River. We've visited the Cook Forrest area many times, but this was our first camping adventure.  We stayed at site 055 in Ridge Camp campground.  The site had the perfect amount of shade and was very close to the bathrooms which is important when you have a three-year-old (or a 41-year-old on a diuretic). Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. This site also has electric hook ups and is pet friendly though we decided at the last minute not to take our dogs.  I personally loved the site because of the large wooded area behind it.  It made the perfect space for glow stick hide and seek!  The campground is large and has several campground hosts to answer questions and help out if you need it.  There is a large field with a playground and an amphitheater where events are held.  Sadly we missed the signups for the Perseid Meteor shower presentation, but we made up for it with a night-time adventure of our own.

A must do adventure when visiting Cook Forrest is a trip to the fire tower. The access road for the fire tower is just across the road from Ridge Camp, so it's an easy find if you're looking for a great view of Cook Forrest.  The hike up to the tower is quick and easy and you can take your time getting to the top of the fire tower.  Our three year old was able to handle it pretty easily.

Thanks to Jim Cheney at Uncovering PA  and his amazing article on Henry Run Sawmill Dam Falls, we were able to take an adventure to the only waterfall in Cook Forrest.  If you're feeling up to a bit of a hike and have several extra hours to spare, it's totally worth it.  I highly recommend taking extra water and using a walking stick.  Parts of the trail are fairly steep and a little slippery.   Go slow and enjoy the beautiful scenery!

After our hiking adventure we enjoyed some delicious food.  I pre-made foil chicken packets with potatoes and corn based on a recipe I found at Taste of Lizzy T.  The were delicious.  The kids were more interested in pizza mountain pies and dessert mountain pies.  We stuffed crescents with cherry pie filling, hazelnut spread, and marshmallow and cooked them in our pie irons.  It was so so good!

No visit to Cook Forrest is complete with out a trip to Cook Forrest Fun Park. We have always loved mini golf and go carts at the fun park, but this year we were able to try the bumper boats too!  The kids couldn't decide which was more fun. 

We finished up our camping trip with a lazy float down the Clarion river via Pale Whale Canoe Fleet.  The river was on the low side, but it didn't stop the fun!  I was a little worried about taking Grayson out in a tube but he did wonderfully! 

IF you're looking for a fun family adventure in western PA, consider Cook Forrest. If you're camping or just going for the day, there is so much to do! Don't forget to stop by Cooksburg Cafe for great food and ice cream!  We certainly had our fair share of their ice cream on our trip. And if you're traveling to Cook Forrest by way of  route 66, stop by DB's Smokin' BBQ for a really good meal.  We stopped on our way in and had wonderfully full bellies our fist night of camp. 

Until next time!  We're already planning our next adventure with Wanda.