is a
Tributary of the
West Branch Susquehanna River located chiefly in
Sullivan and
Lycoming counties in
Pennsylvania in the
United States .
As The Crow Flies , Lycoming County is about northwest of
Philadelphia and east-northeast of
Pittsburgh .
Loyalsock Creek is about 63.6 mi (102 km) long. The
Source is in western
Wyoming County near the Sullivan County line and its
Confluence with the West Branch Susquehanna River is at
Montoursville . The area surrounding the confluence with the Susquehanna River has been flooded numerous times over the past decade devastating many local homes and businesses.
The name is a corruption of a word in the language of the
Local Indigenous Peoples meaning "middle creek" (the original was something like ''Lawi-sahquick''). This refers to Loyalsock Creek's location between
Lycoming Creek and
Muncy Creek , with the mouths of each about 6 mi (10 km) up- and down-stream of the mouth of the Loyalsock. Several important trails used by the local indigenous peoples ran along parts of the Loyalsock or crossed it. Two important villages of the local indigenous peoples were located on its banks, one of which, Ots-ton-wak-in, was the home to
Madame Montour and her son
Andrew Montour , and later became Montoursville.
(yellow) and
Muncy Creek (light blue) watersheds. Its major tributary, , is shown north of Loyalsock Creek (in green, number 5). They meet at Forksville, Pennsylvania in Sullivan County.]]
Its main tributary is , which has its confluence at
Forksville in Sullivan County. The names of Forksville and the surrounding
Forks Township come from the fork of the creek there.
Pennsylvania receives the most
Acid Rain of any state in the United States. Because Loyalsock Creek is in a
Sandstone ,
Limestone ,
Shale ,
Conglomerate , and
Coal mountain region, it has a relatively low capacity to
Neutralize added
Acid . This makes it is especially vulnerable to increased acidification from acid rain, which poses a threat to the long term threat to the health of the plants and animals in the creek.
Loyalsock Creek is used for
Trout Fishing ,
White Water Kayak ing, and the Loyalsock Trail which runs along it is an opportunity for
Hiking .
Worlds End State Park is located on the Loyalsock in Sullivan County, near Forksville.
U.S. Route 220 runs through the Loyalsock valley and in the autumn the
Fall Foliage is quite spectacular.
