COOKSBURG, Pa. (EYT) – The Friends of Cook Forest is hosting an interpretive hike to visit the largest Eastern hemlock in the Northeastern United States on Saturday, June 17.

Everyone is invited to take a short hike through the woods on this interpretive walk, led by Cook Forest State Park’s environmental education specialist, to find out more about this beautiful tree.

Hikers should meet at the Deer Meadow Campground pavilion on Forest Road in Cook Forest at 1:00 p.m. — rain or shine. The hike ends by 2:30 p.m.

This educational hike is a celebration of the Susquehannock Hemlock, the largest known Eastern hemlock by volume north of the Great Smoky Mountains. There will be a discussion about what’s threatening its existence and all Eastern hemlocks across their range, and what the Bureau of Forestry and Friends of Cook Forest are doing in an attempt to protect these trees.

There will be refreshments available, along with a bake sale, a 50/50 raffle, and gift basket drawings.

All proceeds from the event will go directly toward the program to protect the Eastern hemlocks in Cook Forest State Park.

The Friends of Cook Forest have organized other events in the park, such as the springtime garlic mustard pull, 4-mile canoe launch path workdays, hemlock woolly adelgid surveys, and interpretive programs. The group has also organized fundraisers for park equipment.

Friends of Cook Forest is a non-profit organization under the Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Foundation.