River in Pennsylvania, United States of America
Slippery Rock Creek [ 1] is a stream in western Pennsylvania , a tributary of Connoquenessing Creek .
Course and history
From its source in Hilliards in Butler County , it flows through McConnells Mill State Park before flowing into the Connoquenessing in Ellwood City . Then, the Connoquenessing flows into the Beaver River just three miles south from the mouth of Slippery Rock.
There are multiple stories about the origin of the creek's name. In one story, the indigenous Seneca Indians called the creek Wechachapohka or "Slippery Rock", denoting the rocks at the bottom of the stream that could be easily crossed by natives wearing moccasins but not by soldiers wearing heavy boots.[ 6] In another more prosaic story, the Native Americans coined the name due to natural oil seeps in and around the present-day McConnells Mill State Park that made the rocks slippery; those seeps were later eliminated by fossil fuel extraction.[ 7]
Recreation
Slippery Rock Creek is a favorite for whitewater kayakers and canoeists from the region. With Class-II and -III rapids and engaging beauty, it attracts regular paddlers from novice to advanced level. Slippery Rock Creek, however, can be very dangerous. The rocks are indeed deceptively slippery, and throughout the year, there are numerous reports of drowning incidents, mostly near the McConnells Mill State Park.[ 8] In and around that state park, the creek formed a rugged gorge that is popular with hikers, and the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail along the creek and its Hell Run tributary has been named as one of the best hiking trails in Pennsylvania.[ 9]
Watershed
Tributaries
Tributaries of Slippery Rock Creek
Name, bank[ 10]
River mile (km)[ 11]
Watershed area in square miles (km2 )[ 12]
Average discharge[ 12]
Mouth coordinates[ 13]
Mouth elevation[ 10]
Source coordinates[ 13]
Source elevation[ 10]
Remarks
Mouth
409.79 square miles (1,061.4 km2 )
611.19 cu ft/s (17.307 m3 /s)
40ยฐ51โฒ31โณN 80ยฐ15โฒ24โณW / 40.85861ยฐN 80.25667ยฐW / 40.85861; -80.25667
810 ft (250 m)
41ยฐ06โฒ51โณN 79ยฐ48โฒ15โณW / 41.11417ยฐN 79.80417ยฐW / 41.11417; -79.80417
1,400 ft (430 m)
Slippery Rock Creek enters Connoquenessing Creek at Wurtemburg, Pennsylvania , in Wayne and Perry townships (Lawrence County).
Skunk Run , right bank
4.42 mi (7.11 km)
1.86 square miles (4.8 km2 )
2.35 cu ft/s (0.067 m3 /s)
40ยฐ54โฒ11โณN 80ยฐ13โฒ31โณW / 40.90306ยฐN 80.22528ยฐW / 40.90306; -80.22528
870 ft (270 m)
40ยฐ55โฒ21โณN 80ยฐ15โฒ53โณW / 40.92250ยฐN 80.26472ยฐW / 40.92250; -80.26472
1,260 ft (380 m)
Skunk Run enters Slippery Rock Creek in Wayne Township, Lawrence County .
Hell Run , right bank
5.52 mi (8.88 km)
5.78 square miles (15.0 km2 )
7.24 cu ft/s (0.205 m3 /s)
40ยฐ54โฒ57โณN 80ยฐ12โฒ55โณW / 40.91583ยฐN 80.21528ยฐW / 40.91583; -80.21528
880 ft (270 m)
40ยฐ56โฒ02โณN 80ยฐ15โฒ48โณW / 40.93389ยฐN 80.26333ยฐW / 40.93389; -80.26333
1,220 ft (370 m)
Hell Run enters Slippery Rock Creek in Slippery Rock Township , Lawrence County , Pennsylvania, within McConnells Mill State Park . It is the only Exceptional Value (EV) classified stream in Lawrence County.
Grindstone Run , left bank
6.44 mi (10.36 km)
1.0 square mile (2.6 km2 )
1.32 cu ft/s (0.037 m3 /s)
40ยฐ55โฒ13โณN 80ยฐ12โฒ01โณW / 40.92028ยฐN 80.20028ยฐW / 40.92028; -80.20028
920 ft (280 m)
40ยฐ54โฒ28โณN 80ยฐ10โฒ49โณW / 40.90778ยฐN 80.18028ยฐW / 40.90778; -80.18028
1,260 ft (380 m)
Grindstone Run enters Slippery Rock Creek in Perry Township , Lawrence County, Pennsylvania , within McConnells Mill State Park .
Cheeseman Run , left bank
8.4 mi (13.5 km)
2.4 square miles (6.2 km2 )
3.20 cu ft/s (0.091 m3 /s)
40ยฐ56โฒ19โณN 80ยฐ10โฒ43โณW / 40.93861ยฐN 80.17861ยฐW / 40.93861; -80.17861
940 ft (290 m)
40ยฐ55โฒ22โณN 80ยฐ08โฒ52โณW / 40.92278ยฐN 80.14778ยฐW / 40.92278; -80.14778
1,275 ft (389 m)
Cheeseman Run rises in Muddy Creek Township of Butler County and flows west into Perry Township of Lawrence County .
Muddy Creek , left bank
11.82 mi (19.02 km)
80.66 square miles (208.9 km2 )
80.66 cu ft/s (2.284 m3 /s)
40ยฐ58โฒ48โณN 80ยฐ10โฒ46โณW / 40.98000ยฐN 80.17944ยฐW / 40.98000; -80.17944
1,040 ft (320 m)
40ยฐ59โฒ29โณN 79ยฐ52โฒ31โณW / 40.99139ยฐN 79.87528ยฐW / 40.99139; -79.87528
1,370 ft (420 m)
Muddy Creek rises in western Butler County and flows west into eastern Lawrence County, Pennsylvania . Lake Arthur is a prominent impoundment of this stream. Muddy Creek is the second largest tributary by average discharge.
Taylor Run , right bank
16.66 mi (26.81 km)
12.96 square miles (33.6 km2 )
17.9 cu ft/s (0.51 m3 /s)
41ยฐ01โฒ44โณN 80ยฐ09โฒ28โณW / 41.02889ยฐN 80.15778ยฐW / 41.02889; -80.15778
1,075 ft (328 m)
41ยฐ07โฒ15โณN 80ยฐ10โฒ24โณW / 41.12083ยฐN 80.17333ยฐW / 41.12083; -80.17333
1,340 ft (410 m)
Taylor Run rises in southwestern Mercer County and flows south to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania , where it joins Slippery Rock Creek.
Jamison Run , right bank
18.06 mi (29.06 km)
12.76 square miles (33.0 km2 )
18.01 cu ft/s (0.510 m3 /s)
41ยฐ01โฒ58โณN 80ยฐ08โฒ26โณW / 41.03278ยฐN 80.14056ยฐW / 41.03278; -80.14056
1,085 ft (331 m)
41ยฐ06โฒ34โณN 80ยฐ09โฒ28โณW / 41.10944ยฐN 80.15778ยฐW / 41.10944; -80.15778
1,250 ft (380 m)
Jamison Run rises in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania , and flows south into Slippery Rock Creek.
Black Run , left bank
18.90 mi (30.42 km)
7.67 square miles (19.9 km2 )
10.83 cu ft/s (0.307 m3 /s)
41ยฐ01โฒ29โณN 80ยฐ07โฒ55โณW / 41.02472ยฐN 80.13194ยฐW / 41.02472; -80.13194
1,090 ft (330 m)
40ยฐ00โฒ26โณN 80ยฐ04โฒ48โณW / 40.00722ยฐN 80.08000ยฐW / 40.00722; -80.08000
1,195 ft (364 m)
Black Run originates in a wetland upstream of Tamarack Lake and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Elliotts Mills, Pennsylvania.
Wolf Creek , right bank
21.28 mi (34.25 km)
102.86 square miles (266.4 km2 )
145.08 cu ft/s (4.108 m3 /s)
41ยฐ02โฒ28โณN 80ยฐ06โฒ06โณW / 41.04111ยฐN 80.10167ยฐW / 41.04111; -80.10167
1,100 ft (340 m)
41ยฐ17โฒ43โณN 80ยฐ05โฒ12โณW / 41.29528ยฐN 80.08667ยฐW / 41.29528; -80.08667
1,360 ft (410 m)
Wolf Creek originates in Pine Swamp in Mercer County and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Moores Corners, Pennsylvania. Wolf Creek is the largest tributary by average discharge.
Hogue Run , left bank
23.76 mi (38.24 km)
7.41 square miles (19.2 km2 )
10.70 cu ft/s (0.303 m3 /s)
41ยฐ01โฒ44โณN 80ยฐ04โฒ20โณW / 41.02889ยฐN 80.07222ยฐW / 41.02889; -80.07222
1,100 ft (340 m)
40ยฐ59โฒ04โณN 80ยฐ05โฒ51โณW / 40.98444ยฐN 80.09750ยฐW / 40.98444; -80.09750
1,320 ft (400 m)
Hogue Run rises near Shawood Park, Pennsylvania, and then flows north to meet Slippery Rock Creek near Camp Crestview.
Big Run , left bank
26.94 mi (43.36 km)
7.14 square miles (18.5 km2 )
10.36 cu ft/s (0.293 m3 /s)
41ยฐ01โฒ14โณN 80ยฐ02โฒ07โณW / 41.02056ยฐN 80.03528ยฐW / 41.02056; -80.03528
1,130 ft (340 m)
40ยฐ59โฒ14โณN 79ยฐ59โฒ14โณW / 40.98722ยฐN 79.98722ยฐW / 40.98722; -79.98722
1,370 ft (420 m)
Big Run rises near Elora, Pennsylvania, and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek near Crolls Mills.
Glade Run , left bank
30.32 mi (48.80 km)
7.62 square miles (19.7 km2 )
11.12 cu ft/s (0.315 m3 /s)
41ยฐ01โฒ30โณN 80ยฐ00โฒ50โณW / 41.02500ยฐN 80.01389ยฐW / 41.02500; -80.01389
1,148 ft (350 m)
40ยฐ59โฒ04โณN 79ยฐ56โฒ42โณW / 40.98444ยฐN 79.94500ยฐW / 40.98444; -79.94500
1,370 ft (420 m)
Glade Run rises near Euclid, Pennsylvania, and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Slippery Rock Park.
Long Run , right bank
32.40 mi (52.14 km)
3.8 square miles (9.8 km2 )
5.77 cu ft/s (0.163 m3 /s)
41ยฐ02โฒ59โณN 80ยฐ00โฒ15โณW / 41.04972ยฐN 80.00417ยฐW / 41.04972; -80.00417
1,150 ft (350 m)
41ยฐ06โฒ03โณN 80ยฐ01โฒ16โณW / 41.10083ยฐN 80.02111ยฐW / 41.10083; -80.02111
1,350 ft (410 m)
Long Run rises near Adams Corners, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Camp Bucoco.
McDonald Run, right bank
34.78 mi (55.97 km)
4.02 square miles (10.4 km2 )
6.07 cu ft/s (0.172 m3 /s)
41ยฐ03โฒ39โณN 79ยฐ59โฒ16โณW / 41.06083ยฐN 79.98778ยฐW / 41.06083; -79.98778
1,160 ft (350 m)
41ยฐ06โฒ29โณN 80ยฐ00โฒ40โณW / 41.10806ยฐN 80.01111ยฐW / 41.10806; -80.01111
1,330 ft (410 m)
McDonald Run rises in Forestville, Pennsylvania , and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek south of Branchton.
South Branch Slippery Rock Creek , left bank
35.32 mi (56.84 km)
39.49 square miles (102.3 km2 )
55.78 cu ft/s (1.580 m3 /s)
41ยฐ03โฒ33โณN 79ยฐ58โฒ47โณW / 41.05917ยฐN 79.97972ยฐW / 41.05917; -79.97972
1,165 ft (355 m)
40ยฐ59โฒ58โณN 79ยฐ48โฒ58โณW / 40.99944ยฐN 79.81611ยฐW / 40.99944; -79.81611
1,320 ft (400 m)
Suth Branch of Slippery Rock Creek rises east of Hooker, Pennsylvania, and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek south of Bovard, Pennsylvania.
McMurray Run , right bank
37.58 mi (60.48 km)
13.29 square miles (34.4 km2 )
19.60 cu ft/s (0.555 m3 /s)
41ยฐ04โฒ38โณN 79ยฐ57โฒ55โณW / 41.07722ยฐN 79.96528ยฐW / 41.07722; -79.96528
1,175 ft (358 m)
41ยฐ09โฒ32โณN 80ยฐ00โฒ23โณW / 41.15889ยฐN 80.00639ยฐW / 41.15889; -80.00639
1,390 ft (420 m)
McMurray Run rises north of Harrisville, Pennsylvania and flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Rock Hill Camp. This run drains most of Harrisville.
North Branch Slippery Rock Creek , right bank
40.74 mi (65.56 km)
16.17 square miles (41.9 km2 )
24.28 cu ft/s (0.688 m3 /s)
41ยฐ05โฒ53โณN 79ยฐ55โฒ49โณW / 41.09806ยฐN 79.93028ยฐW / 41.09806; -79.93028
1,180 ft (360 m)
41ยฐ11โฒ53โณN 79ยฐ58โฒ57โณW / 41.19806ยฐN 79.98250ยฐW / 41.19806; -79.98250
1,378 ft (420 m)
North Branch Slippery Rock Creek rises in Barkeyville, Pennsylvania , and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek near Atwells Crossing, Pennsylvania.
Blacks Creek , right bank
42.26 mi (68.01 km)
8.75 square miles (22.7 km2 )
13.42 cu ft/s (0.380 m3 /s)
41ยฐ06โฒ41โณN 79ยฐ54โฒ56โณW / 41.11139ยฐN 79.91556ยฐW / 41.11139; -79.91556
1,190 ft (360 m)
41ยฐ10โฒ33โณN 79ยฐ55โฒ17โณW / 41.17583ยฐN 79.92139ยฐW / 41.17583; -79.92139
1,420 ft (430 m)
Blacks Creek rises south of Nectarine, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek west of Boyers, Pennsylvania.
Seaton Creek , right bank
43.90 mi (70.65 km)
10.42 square miles (27.0 km2 )
16.16 cu ft/s (0.458 m3 /s)
41ยฐ06โฒ43โณN 79ยฐ53โฒ26โณW / 41.11194ยฐN 79.89056ยฐW / 41.11194; -79.89056
1,195 ft (364 m)
41ยฐ08โฒ05โณN 79ยฐ48โฒ40โณW / 41.13472ยฐN 79.81111ยฐW / 41.13472; -79.81111
1,480 ft (450 m)
Seaton Creek rises west of Eau Claire, Pennsylvania , and then flows southwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Boyers, Pennsylvania .
See also
References
^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Slippery Rock Creek
^ "Whiskerville Topo Map, Butler County PA (Hilliards Area)" . TopoZone . Locality, LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2019 .
^ "ArcGIS Web Application" . epa.maps.arcgis.com . US EPA. Retrieved July 28, 2019 .
^ "Slippery Rock Watershed Report" . Waters Geoviewer . US EPA. Retrieved July 28, 2019 .
^ "Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Report" . Waters Geoviewer . US EPA. Retrieved July 28, 2019 .
^ "The Story Behind the Name | Slippery Rock Heritage Association" . srheritage.org . March 24, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2022 .
^ Energy Information Administration. Office of Oil and Gas (1999). Petroleum, an Energy Profile, 1999 . Washington, DC: Energy Information Administration. pp. 11, n2. ISBN 9781428953628 .
^ Watson, Wyndle (November 13, 1996). "Dream stream" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . pp. C4. Retrieved May 3, 2015 .
^ Cramer, Ben, ed. (2008). Pennsylvania Hiking Trails (13th ed.). Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 118. ISBN 9780811734776 .
^ a b c "Slippery Rock Creek Topo Map, Lawrence County PA (Beaver Falls Area)" . TopoZone . Locality, LLC. Retrieved August 24, 2019 .
^ "Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams" (PDF) . PA DEP and US Geological Survey. Retrieved August 24, 2019 .
^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application" . epa.maps.arcgis.com . US EPA. Retrieved August 24, 2019 .
^ a b "GNIS Feature Search" . geonames.usgs.gov . US Geological Survey. Retrieved August 24, 2019 .
External links