Troups Creek facts for kids
Troups Creek is a small river, also called a tributary, that flows into the Cowanesque River. It starts in Steuben County, New York and then flows into Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Troups Creek is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) long. It passes through towns like Troupsburg in New York and Brookfield Township, Deerfield Township, and Knoxville in Pennsylvania. When the water level is right, you can even go canoeing on some parts of the creek!
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Where Troups Creek Flows
Troups Creek begins its journey in the northern part of Troupsburg, which is in Steuben County, New York.
Journey Through New York
First, the creek flows southeast for a few miles. Then, it turns and flows east for a bit. After that, it turns south and starts flowing next to New York State Route 36. As it continues, it passes by areas called Young Hickory Hollow and Squab Hollow. The creek then turns to flow south-southeast and later southeast. After several more miles, Troups Creek leaves Troupsburg and Steuben County.
Entering Pennsylvania
When Troups Creek leaves New York, it enters Brookfield Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Almost right away, another small stream called North Brook joins it. Here, the creek also starts flowing next to Pennsylvania Route 249. A short distance downstream, two more streams, South Brook Troups Creek and Biscuit Hollow, flow into it.
Through Deerfield and Knoxville
Next, the creek enters Deerfield Township in Tioga County. It keeps flowing southeast, and more streams like Christie Run and Crotch Run add their water to it. After a while, the creek turns south and flows into the town of Knoxville. In Knoxville, Troups Creek flows under Pennsylvania Route 49. This is also where it meets and joins the Cowanesque River.
About the Creek's Area
The land around where Troups Creek joins the Cowanesque River is about 1,233 feet (376 meters) above sea level.
The Creek's Valley
The valley around Troups Creek is quite narrow. You can see pastures, which are fields where animals graze, along its banks. There are also flat areas called Floodplains near the creek, where you might find sycamore trees. The creek itself has low banks. In some places, these banks have riprap, which are rocks placed there to stop the land from washing away.
Creek Bed Features
The bottom of Troups Creek has thick layers of cobbles (round stones), gravel bars (piles of small stones), and areas with many rocks, sometimes called rock gardens. However, there are not many "strainers" in the creek. Strainers are obstacles like fallen trees that can trap things floating in the water.
Monitoring the Creek
There is a special place on Troups Creek, located on Pennsylvania Route 49, where scientists can measure the water level and flow. This is called a gauging station.
Fun Activities on Troups Creek
If you enjoy canoeing, you can paddle about 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) of Troups Creek. The best times to go are when there has been a lot of snowmelt (when snow melts quickly) or within two days after heavy rain.
Canoeing Difficulty and Scenery
The creek is rated as a difficulty level 2 for canoeing. This means it has some easy rapids but is generally suitable for people with some canoeing experience. Edward Gertler, who wrote a book called Keystone Canoeing, describes the views along Troups Creek as "good."
