This is one of the nicest rest areas we have been to. It's basically a visitor center and rest area…read morein one. There is lots of information inside on things to do in the area. I probably spent 30 minutes looking through the brochures here. They also have a bulletin board with events in the area but unfortunately it doesn't look like it gets updated . The majority of the flyers were from July and it is now October . It would have been nice to see current events and things happening in the area . They have vending machines and they even have a microwave for people to use, which is unique and very thoughtful. There is a button you can push inside if you need the police, so that helps with a feeling of safety and I did see a red and white sheriff's vehicle parked there with two deputies inside on my visit. There are lots of tables outside with chairs and a grassy area where you can take your pets. Plus the view of the water is very beautiful, especially right now with all the fall foliage.

This is one of the prettiest and nicest rest stops I have been too! Not only that but it has such…read morean amazing view of the lake. The bathrooms were super clean and there are a surplus of roadmaps, and vending machines.

This one is going to be a partial review. Why partial? Well, we barely scratched the surface of…read morewhat's at this beautiful state park and I want to come back to see more. On our way from Ohio to the other side of PA, we took a detour to get a look at where the modern petroleum industry got its start in this country. One big downside is that because this was ad-libbed, we entered the per se, "wrong side" of the park which doesn't have a much to see as the other side. Let me explain: As the below map shows, the park is laid out in a thin vertical line. Instead of arriving at the northern end where the Drake Well Musuem is, we showed up at the southern tip by the Egbert Farm Day Use Area. The big problem with that goes back to the adlibbing and not knowing that the bridge that leads over Oil Creek is long term closed to vehicles. It's possible to go around but it's a PIA and we didn't have enough time. www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/OilCreekStatePark/pages/maps.aspx We saw Coal Oil Johnny's House, some of the Blood Farm Area and walked a bit of the snowy/muddy Gerard Trail before we ran out of daylight. uncoveringpa.com/things-to-do-oil-creek-state-park Jim at unoveringpa.com has a great list of stuff to do in the park and later this year I'm hoping to do a longer tour of the area and hit this place up for a few days along with Cherry Springs and Hyner Run. We didn't spend a long time here, but the appetite has been whet for more.

This park is an intriguing blend of history and nature. This is the site of an oil boom town, and…read morethere are a number of historical indicators left memorializing it. An interpretive trail is located near the visitor's center that lets you stroll what used to be an old street in the town. None of the actual buildings remain, but the signage is great. There is a train visitor center where a train still runs through at times. There is also a nice playground and picnic tables available. The Blood Farm area is also beautiful - there's a nice large green space near the Oil Creek, with picnic tables, a playground, and shelterhouses. The Blood Farm Interpretive Trail provides an enjoyable short hike with some information about how the Blood Farm became a site where oil was discovered, and you can still find stopped off oil wells, old equipment and old farm buildings to view. Several waterfalls can be found here during certain times of year; unfortunately, the friendly staff told us that they weren't really running at the time of our visit. Very interesting park!

This is located very close to Rimrock Overlook, so you can visit them both the same day…read more This is free to explore and great places to pull over and get some wonderful photos. Highly recommend that if you are in the area stop and check it out.

The Kinzua Dam & Allegheny Reservoir are located near the Allegheny Forest, and we had originally…read morebeen checking out various forest locations when we came by the parking area for the dam and decided to check it out. There was an impressive amount of things to see and do here! There are multiple viewing areas of the dam and reservoir area. We had come around from Kinzua Point and thus encountered the parking lot along the road near the top of the dam first. The views were great, and the dam was an impressive sight. There is also a restroom facility available in this area. A short walk from the parking lot also revealed an intriguing sign that read, "Smorgasbord Forest 1/3 mile Long Trail to Nature Center," which we decided to explore. It turns out there is a lot of neat stuff on the lower dam section, as well. There were several nice overlooks down there, plus a variety of amenities including picnic tables and grills, a playground with slides, swings, and more, and the aforementioned nature center, called the Big Bend Visitor Center. Unfortunately, the visitor center was labeled closed on our visit with no indication of hours. There is additional parking available on this lower section if one would rather drive there directly, rather than take the trail from the upper section, though part of it was under construction at our visit. Very nice area!

Another great visit to cook forest in the books!!! I grew up, coming to cook forest and fall in…read morelove again every time I visit. The fire tower is an absolute must, and although there are trails to take to reach the fire tower, I love the drive through the forest, the best. Since many are visiting the fire tower along with Seneca point I always try and visit earlier in the mornings when there's not a lot of people. I also am a fan of the lodging in the area. The cabins (River & McBeth) are very affordable & comfortable and sometimes we even stay nearby in Brookville. A lot to book up fast but they do have availability from time to time so even if its last minute, still check their websites. The sawmill is so fun to shop at as well as Parkers Indian trading Post. We love Cook Forest & will always return!!

I love visiting Cook Forest State Park! If you enjoy being outdoors, this is a place you should add…read moreto your bucket list. There is truly something here for everyone. If you're the hiking type, there are 52 miles of trails to explore. If you're a birder, you'll definitely want to grab your binoculars and check out different parts of the park, as numerous birds inhabit the forest. If you prefer spending a day on the water, you can go swimming in the Clarion River, as well as rent kayaks, canoes, and river tubes. It's not hard to find a good spot to fish, and in the winter you can also enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, and ice-skating. In my case, Cook Forest is just a couple of hours away - a day trip isn't out of the question. Still, it's so much nicer to spend an entire weekend in this beautiful place. Fortunately, that's pretty easy to do! Campgrounds and log cabins alike are available within the park. The cabins are very popular, but have no fear: there are hotels within driving distance of the park as well. Do keep in mind that cell service is not guaranteed here; this is totally OK in my book, but it does mean that having a rough idea of where you'll be driving is essential. Grab a map or write down some directions from Google Maps - then go forth and enjoy your time in this beautiful place!

The Allegheny National Forest is beautiful and covers a lot of ground. There is so much to explore…read morehere, with so many amazing sights. There are two ranger sections here: Bradford and Marienville. We stopped by the Bradford office, where we were able to pick up maps and informational brochures and sheets that were helpful for our explorations. The Allegheny Reservoir, created by the Kinzua Dam, provides some great opportunities and views from the forest - Rimrock Overlook and picnic area looks out at this area, and a hike is available from Kinzua Beach to the overlook. Nearby Kinzua Point also looks out at the water, as well as an information center (limited hours). All of these areas were great for sunset viewing too. Another extraordinary area within the forest is the Hearts Content Scenic Area, which is absolutely stunning. Camping and cabins are also available in the forest.

I've only just begun exploring this wonderful place, but so far I have enjoyed it very much. I…read morejust go out and find a mountain dirt road, and explore it till I get lost, and then try to find my way back afterwards. You can explore to "your heart's content," which also happens to be the name of a road I found. There are streams and creeks and trees galore (as would be expected in a forest... lol). Fantastic adventures await ... Cheers!!!

I'm a fan of this park. Come here often for hiking. I've never done any of the camping…read moreopportunities here. It's a large park, there are many different kinds of hikes, many different places to park and do different things. It's lovely to have these large state parks, so close to Buffalo

Beautiful State park in Cattaraugus County, Salamanca, NY. I visited the park on a weekend in…read moreMid-October, too early for the fall foliage peak show. However, the rain and cold misty morning with patches of Sun breaking through the clouds gave the scenery a magical enchanted aura. The covered bridge was a great photo spot. An anxious dog running to jump in the lake was a happy sight.