Fish

Brown Trout from Valley Creek

(photo credit:  NPS)

Valley Creek

The colonial-era iron forge that gave the area and the park its name is located along Valley Creek. This stream cut into the underlying limestone harbors a variety of small fish species as well as a population of naturally breeding brown trout. Suckers, dace, and chubs are also found in the creek.

Valley Creek has been affected by industrial pollution. Anglers should be aware that Valley Creek is a CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY stream with some tackle restrictions. A Pennsylvania fishing license is required of all anglers 16 years of age and older.

Schuylkill River

The Schuylkill River, 3 miles of which flows through the park, is home to smallmouth bass, walleye, some muskellunge, a rare brown trout in spring, carp, several varieties of catfish, and sunfish.

Visitors may observe the fact that much of the park's rolling terrain is free of small streams. This is because a wide area of the park lies over limestone formations into which water infiltrates readily, so the "streams" are actually underground waterways. This is further discussed in the geology section of this website.

One story often told is that of George Washington's army being saved from starvation by the American shad's migratory run on the Schuylkill River in the spring of 1778. Historians have determined that this is probably a myth, although shad did have migratory breeding runs in the river prior to the age of dam building. Efforts are underway to restore the shad migrations on the Schuylkill River.