This cache is part of the 25 cache Pennsylvania State Parks America250PA GeoTrail. Have fun exploring and discovering Pennsylvania's history!
Old Growth Forests
Cook Forest State Park is home to over 2300 acres of old growth forests currently documented in at least 11 different old growth forest areas. The area that you are in, the 391 acre Seneca Forest old growth area, is home to at least 11 different tree species that are greater than 150 years old. The large white oak near this cache, is one of many in this area that are routinely over 300 years old, easily dating back into the 1700’s or older.
The vast majority of Cook Forest’s old growth forests likely started to grow after a large scale disturbance in the mid 1600’s. Many of the trees here were already 125 years old at the founding of our nation. Some even started to grow during Christopher Columbus times in the late 1400’s!
How do you know you’re in an old growth forest? Old forests often show distinguishing characters that you can actually see around you. There are many old growth forest physical characteristics. See if you can see these while you stand at the cache:
- Large dead downed trees in various states of decay
- Large dead standing snags (dead trees)
- Pit and mound topography
- Deep bark furrows (like those found on the nearby large ancient white oak, or on nearby ancient white pine)
- Staghead branching (mostly branch free trunks with all major branching at the top that might resemble a head of broccoli or deer antlers)
- Buttressed bases of tree trunks
- Balding sections of bark
To learn more about Cook Forest and its old growth, please go to the Park Office to review the multitude of new interpretive panels describing many aspects of the park and its ancient forest features.
For more information about this state park and its amenities please visit the website: Cook Forest State Park | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
