Penns Creek
About
From Penns Cave through 70 miles of Pennsylvania limestone country, Penns Creek cuts through Centre, Mifflin, and Union counties as one of the state's premier wild trout waters. Classified as Pennsylvania Class A Wild Trout water, the creek maintains cold spring-fed temperatures that support native browns and wild rainbows. The upper 12 miles from Penns Cave to Coburn run intimate and spring-fed through tight corridors. Below Coburn, the middle section stretches 15 miles to Cherry Run and holds the creek's famous green drake hatches that draw fly fishers from across the mid-Atlantic. The lower reach from Cherry Run to Selinsgrove opens into Class I water through a wider valley. At 380 CFS average with an optimal range of 150–700, Penns Creek rewards anglers who time their visits to the flows and the bugs. The Bald Eagle State Forest protects much of the upper watershed. USGS gauge 01555000 tracks conditions, and outfitters like Feathered Hook and TCO Fly Shop serve visiting anglers.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.