*Perfect place to re unite with family CANT WAIT TO COME BACK…read more My wife and I reside in north jersey and we searched at length for the perfect location that was midway between Ohio and New Jersey and our cabin at CFTHC was the perfect spot. "Hidden Oaks" was the perfect fit for the combined families (My wife and I + My sister and brother in law and their 2 year old twin girls and 7 year old son plus the fact that my sister in law is 8 months pregnant so we are a tough group with multiple needs. Hidden Oaks was roomy and comfortable, offering both families their own space in addition to excellent common areas which made relaxing by the fire, watching a movie, or just sitting on the back porch swing watching the snow fall with all of us together and laughing a weekend to remember, and well worth the price. We were delayed in NJ in midst of a snowstorm so we arrived after midnight and the staff had a key waiting as well as a map to the cabin which we found easily. Every one we met couldn't have been nicer. My advice would be to review the list of what they recommend to bring. The cabin had everything we needed pots, pans, cork screw, wine glasses etc....we are already planning our trip back in a couple months. Great people,Great place, great time, great price.

We stayed in Douglas fir cabin. It was clean, but not very comfortable. There's no pantry space…read moreif you do bring groceries. No air conditioning makes this cabin a little too humid and so nothing dries inside (like your hair). The lighting is poor, with dim yellow light bulbs. Also it is very dog friendly here. The floor, bedding and curtains had plenty of pet hair. Investing a couple hundred bucks and a little more TLC could make a huge difference.

NOTE: THE YELP TEAM HAS MIS-POSTED MY REVIEW. THEY ATTACHED IT TO THE INCORRECT BUSINESS AND I…read moreCANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTACT THEM TO ASK THEM TO CORRECT IT. THIS REVIEW IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE "RUSTIC" CABINS INSIDE THE PARK AND OWNED/OPERATED BY THE PA STATE PARK SYSTEM. THERE IS ANOTHER PRIVATE CABIN BUSINESS OUTSIDE THE PARK WITH A SIMILAR/IDENTICAL NAME We stayed in the rustic river cabins (R1 and R6) They are classic log cabins almost 100 years old built from American chestnut. We are not actually campers so two nights was probably enough for us. There are large front porches on each cabin of varying design. Some porches had roofs while others did not. There are multiple beds and bunkbeds in each bedroom. The kitchens are equipped with full refrigerators and full gas ranges and a microwave. You have to bring your own coffee pot. There is no internal plumbing at all. Water was accessible at a spigot outside of the cabin next to the porch, but I do not know if it was safe or drinkable. I recommend bringing along a few gallons of bottled water. There was no sort of a sink or drain either. So tasks like washing dishes, brushing teeth, etc were awkward even if you had water. I suppose it's because they don't have any sort of drainage system. ‍You really need to bring dishpans or buckets. We used paper products for pretty much everything. River cabin 6 had an outhouse a few feet away across a small parking lot. There was a larger running-water shower facility downhill from us (a five minute walk). Again, we were not experienced campers so the lack of running water was definitely something we couldn't get used to. Each porch and cabin came with internal and external picnic tables and benches, but you might want to bring your own folding/camping chairs. There weren't even logs to sit on around the fire ring. Firewood was readily available on site within the cabin area. Also highly recommend bringing along a fan as cabins can get quite warm on hot days. Did lose electric one day so as many rechargeable things as possible would be very advantageous. The park itself is beautifully maintained and really a great place to enjoy the Clarion river and hike in the hills of the surrounding Cook Forest with well-marked, well-established easy/moderate trails. We took the Longfellow trail into the forest area known as "The Cathedral" to see some of the oldest growth/uncut trees on the east coast, if not the entire US. Pale Whale activity rentals was a short walk/drive away where you could rent kayaks, canoes or floats. The river was very low when we were there, but we did the 2 mile float trip which was just about 2 1/2 hours and perfect for our group. ($15 pp) One of the units (R6) had a bat inside one night and the other unit's (R1) front porch was besieged by some kind of bee or yellow jacket which prohibited us from eating outdoors at that unit. That said we still managed to have a great time and ate very casually on site. We had intended to go out to eat at least one night at a local establishment, but that never panned out. Alcohol is strictly prohibited on site. I found little or no information or reviews about these cabins online prior to booking so felt we were really going in blind but still happy that we did it. To check availability or make a reservation click on the https://pennsylvaniastateparks.reserveamerica.com/ website. Choose Cook Forest State Park then choose "Rustic cabins" under the campsite type pull down. It's a very user UNfriendly website IMHO The cost was approximately $250 total per cabin for a two night weekend stay in August. As far as I could tell, none of the River cabins actually had a view of the river, although it was nearby brush and trees prohibited the view.

Tip #1: Try your best to arrive before dark. Because when it's dark in Cook Forrest, it's DARK…read more.. Tip #2: Don't even THINK that you're going to have any cell service. You won't. Zero. For miles. Tip #3: Don't over-pack. Riverside gives you almost everything you could possibly need and it's awesome - firewood, dishes, etc. DO pack dish soap, a dish sponge/scrubber, paper towels, bathroom soap and trash bags. We forgot. It was sad. Tip #4: Bring lots of grill-able food, s'mores ingredients and beer. We did and it was glorious. Tip #5: Plan to go tubing. Forget canoeing; the water is just too shallow for the most part. Tubing is AMAZING. The signs say "no alcohol," but I'll let you decide whether or not to obey that one... We took the 2.5 miles journey (approx. 2.5 hours), but could've stayed in the water for days, it was THAT wonderful. Bring as many beverages as you can possibly handle and maybe a snack or two. Tip #6: Don't plan on a great shower. The water pressure is, well, not great. But who cares? Don't shower at all and go primal. Tip #7: Bring great company. I went with 6 other friends and we had a totally memorable weekend. Have a dog? Bring it! The cabins are pet-friendly for a very nominal ($20 charge). Cashier Cindy from the Dry Goods Store gets 5 stars all by herself. We had a brief emergency situation during our stay and she could not possibly have been any more helpful. The staff is so welcoming, we can't wait to see them again next year!

I stayed in #4 Little Bear in March and it was so cozy and comfortable! The gas fireplace kept the…read morecabin warm and there was plenty of space for my solo trip. I am working on a book and needed a place in the area to work quietly (as I had a few nearby locations to visit for research) and this cabin was just right! The owners were extremely good at communication and the checkin/checkout price was so smooth. I did not have the opportunity to use the fire pit or grill during this stay, and cannot comment on those, but they are available! A generous stack of firewood was made available for the fire pit, I had noticed. The cabins are easy to find right off of 36, and they are private. I might have been the only one there this time (which is fine!) but even if you have "neighbors" I think there'd be plenty of privacy and quiet solitude. I am definitely hoping to come back in the future, and bring my husband along next time!

had a great weekend camping here!…read more evergreen cabins in the off-season is amazing. we had a cute cabin weekend and really enjoyed ourselves. plus, it snowed right after we got there so we woke up to a white blanket! the folks who run the cabins are so nice and accommodating, they even let us bring our 3 dogs when their limit is usually 2. we didn't see any wildlife during our trip. but we did see some bear prints in the snow when we were leaving. overall a really cool weekend

We have stayed at Hominy Ridge for three years in a row now and it is by far our favorite place to…read morestay for a long weekend in Cook Forest. We have stayed at other places but nothing beats Cabin 1! It is extremely clean, well maintained and has enough privacy you feel like you're the only one there. Huge bonus points for having a large playground area for kids! They have play equipment suitable for all ages. It has now become a tradition to stay here during special occasions because we know it'll be a relaxing trip! Make sure you checkout the gift shop, we always find something special to bring home to remind us of our trip. The owners are always beyond friendly and kind, I cannot recommend this place enough.

Very clean place, lots of beds for the guys. Nice campfire ring and plenty of picnic tables. Staff…read moreperson friendly. Going into bathroom a little scary at night, motion sensor helpful, but step down in bathroom awkward. Maybe a nightlight or two would help out.

I decided to write my first yelp review because of how awesome this place is. If a spacious…read moremodernized cabin/lodge is your thing then you won't be disappointed. Even though it feels very remote, the grocery store is only 2 miles away. A fireplace on each level and updated appliances make it very inviting. There was more then enough wood stockpiled for us. Its pricey but can easily accommodate multiple families to make the cost reasonable. There is a ping pong table in the basement and my only suggestion would be to add a pinball machine and/or arcade style game. We went to nearby Hawn's Overlook of Raystown lake. Absolutely beautiful. We hope to make Bear's Paw Lodge a pre-christmas tradition. Though I can see this place growing in popularity.

From the owner: Enjoy the magnificent custom log lodge perched on a private mountaintop with spectacular views!…read moreLook through the wall of windows and enjoy the passing wildlife. Prepare meals in the gourmet kitchen or relax in front of the soaring stone double-sided fireplace. The unique setting, first-class amenities, and dedication to customer service combine to provide a truly memorable experience for guests. Whether relaxing at the lodge, heading out on the lake, or exploring the 40 private wooded acres, Bear's Paw Lodge will exceed your expectations. Six bedrooms, six baths, vaulted living room, loft, and garden level with a sauna make this a luxury retreat for family and friends.

what a beautiful room and so quiet. I love the barndoor separater. and great rates. and the shower…read moreis so relaxing. the bowl sink is beautiful. and the tiny refrigerator with freezer. so cute looking.

From the owner: Sweet Forest Breeze has eight updated motor lodge-type rooms with great grounds and the feel of an…read moreinn. The inn sits on over 5 acres near Cook Forest, Allegheny National Forest, and the Clarion River. It is close to local restaurants, outdoor activities, and shopping. Sweet Forest Breeze also hosts one off-site cabin on River Road!

We stayed in the Whitetail Lodge. It has a master bedroom, bathroom, and loft. Bathroom has a…read moretub/shower, sink & toilet. My son fell in love with the loft area. There was a small couch, tv, and the 2nd bed (full size). The steps to the loft are quite steep. We didn't let the two kiddos under 5 on them. The cabin is fully furnished. All the linens, and towels were there. Plenty of pillows & blankets as well. There is an outside fire pit with tables and chairs. You can purchase wood there for $7 a bundle. The grounds have shower houses, a swing set, a kennel fence to contain pets, lodge cabins, and overnight cabins. The lodge owners, John & Liz, are super nice. They were on the grounds daily to repair things and clean. They stopped by once to let us know Elk were up on the main lodge's yard. We saw a good many elk in the area, none near our cabin tho. We were told there are a few family of bear living around the cabins. We didn't see them. However, you could find random pieces of garbage with claw & teeth marks, and the dumpster has obvious bear damage. There is no cell phone reception anywhere on the camp grounds, and there is no wifi in the cabins. There is wifi at the main lodge, you just have to ask for the password. The nearest cell reception is roughly a 1.5 miles up the road from the camp. Its only a few bars, however. There was a motion sensor light on the one shower house that was directly across from our cabin. It would detect out movement when we were at our firepit. It also would detect every movement from the firepit of the trout lodge. It was nice for loading & unloading the car at night, but was annoying while having our campfire. There are a few signs posted around camp that say to call John & Liz if you need anything. Only problem is, no phones. They should install one in each cabin for emergencies, even if they only connect to the main lodge. The camp had everything we needed. We really enjoyed our stay. If we are back in the area, we will stay again.

I would recommend this place to everyone!!!!! This place has absolutely beautiful scenic views…read more Very clean with great service!!!!! Truly the best lodges that I've ever stayed at. I cant wait to come back!!!!