Penn’s Creek is recognized as the longest limestone stream in Pennsylvania. This picturesque creek begins near Penn’s Cave in Centre County and is celebrated for its premier fly-fishing opportunities.

The creek spans 67 miles and is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, draining a watershed of about 163 square miles across Centre, Snyder, and Union counties. It is fed by several streams, including Elk Creek, Pine Creek, and Sinking Creek in Centre County.

Originally called Karoondinha by the Iroquois, who lived in the Susquehanna Valley from the mid-1600s to the mid-1700s, the creek later became known as John Penn’s Creek (named after William Penn’s younger brother) after the tribe ceded the land to the Pennsylvania government. Over time, it became simply Penn’s Creek.

Winding through Penns Valley in Centre County, Penn’s Creek is a prime destination for fly-fishers in the Northeast. Its large Green Drake hatch each May is a particularly famous event. Access to much of the creek is restricted, making parts of it feel as if they are untamed wilderness, offering a rare sense of isolation in the state.

Although the creek’s water quality is generally excellent, historical pollution and ongoing soil erosion are persistent challenges, particularly in the farming regions of Brush and Penns valleys in the creek’s upper reaches.

The Penns Valley Conservation Association, based in Aaronsburg, is committed to protecting the Upper Penns Creek watershed in Centre County. Through collaborative efforts with other groups, the association works on various projects to improve stream health, restore wetlands, reduce sediment, and stabilize stream banks.

Sources:

Macneal, Douglas. A Penns Creek Companion: A History and Guide (Aaronsburg: Penns Valley Conservation Association, 2005).

Penns Valley Conservation Association, www.pennsvalley.net. (Accessed February 28, 2025).

U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System. https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names (Accessed February 28, 2025).