Pine Creek (Pennsylvania)

Pine Creek
Pine Creek from the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Lycoming County
Country	Potter, Tioga, Lycoming and Clinton counties in Pennsylvania, United States
Basin features
Main source	Ulysses Township, Potter County 2,420 feet (740 m)
River mouth	West Branch Susquehanna River between the boroughs of Avis and Jersey Shore 41°10′16″N 77°16′09″W / 41.1710°N 77.2691°W / 41.1710; -77.2691Coordinates: 41°10′16″N 77°16′09″W / 41.1710°N 77.2691°W / 41.1710; -77.2691
Basin size	979 square miles (2,540 km2)
Physical characteristics
Length	87.2 miles (140.3 km)

Pine Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, and Clinton counties in Pennsylvania in the United States. The creek is 87.2 miles (140.3 km) long. Within Tioga County, 23.25 miles (37.42 km) of Pine Creek are designated as a Pennsylvania Scenic River.

Pine Creek is the largest tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River and has the largest watershed of all the West Branch’s tributaries.

Pine Creek is named for the many pine trees that lined (and now again line) much of its banks. The Iroquois called Pine Creek Tiadaghton, which according to Owlett, either meant "The River of Pines" or "The Lost or Bewildered River". Pine Creek is the largest "creek" in the United States.

Pine Creek's source is in Potter County, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Ulysses. It flows southeast 16 miles (26 km) to Galeton, where it receives its first major tributary, the West Branch Pine Creek. It then flows east 12 miles (19 km) to Tioga County and the village of Ansonia. Here it receives its second major tributary, Marsh Creek, and turns south again for 16 miles (26 km). This stretch is the start of the Pine Creek Gorge, which is about 1,000 feet (300 m) deep in places.

At the village of Blackwell, Pine Creek receives its third major tributary, Babb Creek. It continues southwest 14 miles (23 km) and enters Lycoming County, where it turns southeast for 28 miles (45 km) to its mouth. At Waterville it receives its fourth major tributary, Little Pine Creek. Pine Creek continues south and forms part of the border between Lycoming and Clinton counties.