Clarion was originally settled around 1840 and named after the Clarion River, which received its name for the water's loud, clear sound. Clarion is full of small town charm, peaceful living, and a welcoming family friendly atmosphere. The town plays host to an annual Autumn Leaf Festival, which celebrates the transient beauty of fall and draws in crowds estimated over 500,000 people each year. Clarion is home to PennWest Clarion, the local university, with around 3,000 students enrolled.
Clarion is a nature lover’s paradise with hiking and biking trails, golf courses, the Clarion and Allegheny Rivers, kayaking, canoeing, Cook Forest State Park, Clear Creek State Park, Clarion County Park, campgrounds, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and more! The 6,000-acre Cook Forest State Park spans eight miles of the Clarion River. Its home to the largest stand of virgin white pine east of the Mississippi. Walking tours are available and showcase the architectural styles of its historic downtown.
Clarion provides a beautiful backdrop to your education with rolling hills, national and state parks, theater, 50 miles of boating and fishing on the Clarion River, a thriving downtown, safe neighborhoods, and top-rated schools. It is conveniently located between Erie, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. For more information on Clarion County, click here.
Known as a land of giants because of the “forest cathedral” of ancient pines and hemlocks, this landscape is an ode to the majesty of the Pennsylvania Wilds and home to many of the tallest hemlock and pine trees in the Northeast. If an adventure among Cook Forest & The Ancients sounds mystifyingly exciting to you, rest assured that you’ll rest well during your exploration. To learn more, click here.