Wyalusing Creek facts for kids

Wyalusing Creek is a cool stream that flows into the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. It runs through parts of Susquehanna and Bradford counties. This creek is about 19.1 miles (30.7 kilometers) long.

The water from a large area, about 219 square miles (567 square kilometers), drains into Wyalusing Creek. This whole area is called its watershed. A big part of the creek is great for canoeing, which means you can paddle a boat down it!

Where Does Wyalusing Creek Flow?

Wyalusing Creek starts in Rush Township where two smaller streams, East Branch Wyalusing Creek and South Branch Wyalusing Creek, meet.

At first, the creek winds its way west. Soon, another stream called North Branch Wyalusing Creek joins it. Then, Wyalusing Creek turns southwest. It quickly crosses a road called Pennsylvania Route 706 and leaves Susquehanna County.

The Creek's Journey Through Bradford County

After leaving Susquehanna County, Wyalusing Creek enters Stevens Township in Bradford County. It briefly turns northwest and picks up Ross Creek. Then, it turns southwest again.

Further along, Rockwell Creek adds its water to Wyalusing Creek. The creek slowly starts to turn west and flows past a small place called Stevensville.

Passing Through Towns and Communities

After Stevensville, the creek suddenly turns south and enters Tuscarora Township. It then turns west, briefly re-enters Stevens Township, and then goes back into Tuscarora Township.

A short distance later, the creek leaves Tuscarora Township and enters Wyalusing Township. Here, it turns south-southwest and then west, passing the community of Camptown. In Camptown, Camps Creek and Billings Creek join Wyalusing Creek.

The creek then turns south and receives Patton Creek. It continues south for several miles, flowing past Merryall and crossing Pennsylvania Route 706 again. Finally, it flows into the community of Wyalusing. In Wyalusing, it crosses U.S. Route 6 and soon after, it meets the big Susquehanna River.

Wyalusing Creek joins the Susquehanna River about 253 miles (407 kilometers) before the Susquehanna River reaches its own mouth.

What is Wyalusing Creek Like?

The part of Wyalusing Creek upstream from Rush has many small channels that weave together, like a braid. There are also places where logs have piled up, but no fences block the way. The creek flows over smooth, rounded stones called cobbles.

The water in the creek moves fairly fast, creating small, bumpy sections called riffles. Even though it's not super long, the creek is quite wide. The land around the creek is "rough and hilly," with narrow valleys and steep, rounded hills. Long ago, huge sheets of ice called glaciers moved through this area, shaping the land.

Rocks and Water Flow

The rocks found in the area around Wyalusing Creek are mostly shale (a soft, layered rock) and sandstone (a rock made from sand). There are also deposits left behind by glaciers, called glacial drift. The creek's path is curvy, and its banks (the sides of the creek) are steep.

There are special measuring stations on Wyalusing Creek at Lawton and Stevensville. These stations help scientists keep track of how much water is flowing in the creek.

On average, the area around Wyalusing Creek gets between 35 and 40 inches (89 to 102 centimeters) of rain or snow each year.

What is a Watershed?

The watershed of Wyalusing Creek is the entire area of land where all the rain and snow eventually drain into the creek. This watershed covers about 219 square miles (567 square kilometers).

It is located in western Susquehanna County and southeastern Bradford County. All the water from this area eventually flows into the Upper North Branch Susquehanna River system.

The valley around Wyalusing Creek is narrow and doesn't have many people living there. You can often see green fields where animals graze, called pastures. There is also a lake called Camp Pond in the watershed, which covers about 28 acres.

History of Wyalusing Creek

The name Wyalusing comes from a Native American language. It is believed to mean "home of the old warrior."

The first settlers, or pioneers, arrived in the Wyalusing Creek valley in the late 1700s. They came from a region called New England. A special station to measure the creek's water flow was set up in Wyalusing in October 1908.

In 1921, some of the biggest communities in the Wyalusing Creek watershed were Montrose, Wyalusing, Stevensville, Le Raysville, and Camptown.

Industries and Uses of the Creek

In the early 1900s, the main jobs and businesses in the Wyalusing Creek area included a foundry (where metal is melted and shaped), a furniture factory, and a planing mill (for wood). Farming and dairy farming were also very important.

Even today, dairy farming is still a big industry in the Wyalusing Creek watershed. However, not many crops are grown right near the creek anymore.

Long ago, in the early 1900s, the power of Wyalusing Creek's flowing water was used to run gristmills (which grind grain), a roller mill, and a sawmill (which cuts wood). The creek also provided drinking water for the community of Wyalusing.

Fun Things to Do at Wyalusing Creek

Wyalusing Creek is a great place for canoeing! You can go canoeing when the snow melts in spring or within four to seven days after a lot of rain.

The creek is pretty easy to canoe on, so it's good for beginners. It has a difficulty rating of 1, which is the easiest. Edward Gertler, who wrote a book called Keystone Canoeing, says the scenery along the creek is "good."