| Loyalhanna Creek | |
| Name Other: | Tributary to Kiskiminetas River |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | Pennsylvania#USA |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Loyalhanna Creek mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pennsylvania |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Subdivision Name3: | Westmoreland |
| Subdivision Type4: | City |
| Subdivision Name4: | Latrobe |
| Subdivision Type5: | Borough |
| Subdivision Name5: | Ligonier |
| Length: | 47.89miles[1] |
| Discharge1 Location: | Kiskiminetas River |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 550.8cuft/s at mouth with Kiskiminetas River[2] |
| Source1: | Indian Creek divide |
| Source1 Location: | about 2 miles northwest of Kregar, Pennsylvania[3] |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 40.1292°N -79.3389°W[4] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1750feet |
| Mouth: | Kiskiminetas River |
| Mouth Location: | Saltsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 40.4853°N -79.4544°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 827feet |
| Progression: | northeast then northwest |
| River System: | Allegheny River |
| Tributaries Left: | Twomile Run Fourmile Run St. Clair Hollow Ninemile Run Monastery Run Unity Run Crabtree Creek Whitethorn Creek Serviceberry Run Getty Run |
| Tributaries Right: | White Oak Run Phoebe Run Linn Run Rolling Rock Creek Laughlintown Run Zimmerman Run Mill Creek Coalpit Run Rock Hollow Miller Run Saxman Run Union Run Keystone Run |
| Waterbodies: | Loyalhanna Lake |
Loyalhanna Creek is a 50miles long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.[5] The stream is a popular destination for canoeing and recreational trout fishing.
The creek derives its name from the eighteenth-century village of Layalhanning, an important Delaware Indian crossroads settlement located at the site where Fort Ligonier was built, in present Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The village was settled shortly after the Delaware left the Susquehanna River area in 1727. Layalhanning means "the middle stream" in the Delaware language - "lawel" or "lawell" (middle); "hanna" (a river or stream); "ing" (at the place of).[6]
According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as:[4]
Loyalhanna rises from Laurel Ridge in southeastern Westmoreland County, north of Donegal and flows NNE, along the southeastern side of Chestnut Ridge. Approximately 5 mi (8 km) northwest of Ligonier it turns northwest, cutting through Chestnut Ridge and passing through Latrobe. From Latrobe, it flows NNW, passing through Loyalhanna Lake reservoir and joins with the Conemaugh River to form the Kiskiminetas River at Saltsburg. The creek lies about midway between the Juniata River to the east and the Ohio River to the west, and about halfway between the Conemaugh River to the north and the Youghiogheny River to the south.[7]
Decades before the 2000s, the lower end of the creek, beginning above Latrobe, was colored red due to acid from local mines. Rocks in the area are still stained red from the effects. In subsequent years, with the growth of environmental sensitivity, a remediation pond was installed near Saint Vincent College that removes 90 percent of the iron oxide from the water.[8]
Sam Sherry, of Wilpen, claimed to have encountered a Bigfoot while night fishing along Loyalhanna Creek on May 17, 1987. Sherry gained notice from Bigfoot enthusiasts and spent much of his life investigating the phenomenon in the area.[9]