The Journey Of Trout Creek

In comparison to the other three streams that flow through Allentown’s city parks; Trout Creek has two unique distinctions. First, the majority of the stream flows through completely urbanized areas. Trout Creek is most definitely a city stream. Second, the majority of the banks of Trout Creek are completely dominated by the invasive species Japanese Knotweed. In some areas, the knotweed stands three of four feet taller than me.

So, where does Trout Creek begin? If I was to believe the atlas that I purchased at a gas station, it would begin just south of Dylan St in Salisbury Township. I have now discovered that the atlas is in fact the atlas of lies and Trout Creek exists for a much longer duration than the maps have it existing for in that atlas.

The actual headwaters of Trout Creek remain a mystery to me. I imagine them to begin as a trickle somewhere on the South Mountain. I did not seek them after visiting the first location where Trout Creek is a major player, as I will explain later. That first location is Laubach Park, just off of Emmaus Avenue in Salisbury Township. Here, the creek is an ankle deep trickle.


I actually walked (or hopped) between stones up the creek here trying to find its exact beginnings. Alas, I was thwarted by private property. You see, a major detractor to an urban stream is that it exists and passes through highly developed areas which mean that in order for me to fully document it; I would have to trespass, and trespass a lot. I cannot afford any fines, so I kept the trespassing to a minimum.

After abandoning the atlas of lies, I searched for the creek with nothing but my eyes. I actually used the presence of Japanese Knotweed to guide me and it usually wasn’t wrong. Driving down Emmaus Avenue, you are actually traveling parallel to Trout Creek. Here at Harry S Truman Elementary School, the creek is still very small but has increased depth and yes, for the most part, is surrounded by invasive species.


Further down Emmaus Avenue on Potomac Street, another bridge view of Trout Creek:

I stopped in a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall parking lot to see if I could find the creek in the woods behind it. After walking into the woods a bit and tripping into a rose bush, I decided I had better head back before the Witnesses towed my car.

There are many opportunities to view Trout Creek as it makes its way through Salisbury Township into the city of Allentown from bridges similar to the one on Potomac. Here again, another bridge view, this one on Dauphin Street. Note the continued presence of Knotweed:


The creek follows its urban pathway east until reaching Mack Boulevard where it turns north and heads into the familiar surroundings of Trout Creek Parkway. After exiting TCP, the last glimpse of Trout Creek before its end is on the Auburn Street Bridge in South Allentown(more Knotweed).


While taking pictures there, I was approached by an incredibly unfriendly man who asked me “just what the hell I thought I was doing?” I told him that I was a writer, taking pictures of the creek for a piece I was working on, to which he responded: “Is that so?” At this point, I was actually rather frustrated having spent about fifteen minutes trying to figure out where Trout Creek ended and having not yet found it, I turned and said in a very loud voice:” Yeah, What of It?” Realizing the man was much larger than me; I quickly got in my car and drove away. In my rear view window he offered me a one fingered salute to wish me luck on my findings.

At this point in my journey I was frustrated. Unlike my relatively easy time documenting the journey of Cedar Creek, the labyrinthine streets of South Allentown had me flummoxed. Soaked with sweat, bleeding from a poor encounter with a rose bush, stinging with the results of a failed attempt to rid myself of a bee and fresh from a wonderful gentlemanly encounter, I was ready to hang up the towel and call it a day. That is until I saw the knotweed off of the Basin Street Bridge.

I quickly steered my boat of a station wagon into a paved area off of Basin Street by some train tracks, ran across the street and saw Trout Creek’s end, in the Little Lehigh. I reached into my pocket for my camera and discovered I had left it in the damn car. Heading back across Basin Street, which is just wonderful to cross (Do not ever do it), I saw a man in winter clothes walking in circles around my car while having a conversation with the August sky.

Me:“Wonderful.”

I walked back onto the bridge once I had crossed Basin Street, trying to avoid drawing attention to myself and hoping the man would move his argument with the sky elsewhere. Sure enough he did and I grabbed my camera from the front seat and ran very quickly back across the street. A couple of errant car honks and an extra glaze of sweat on me I happily took pictures of Trout Creek ending itself in the waving arms of its frequent companion:



Being as urbanized as Trout Creek is, it is no surprise that an invasive species like Japanese Knotweed has almost free rein on its banks. The same can be said for its high impaction of storm water and sediment. At points, there are so many drains into the creek I wouldn’t be surprised if there was more storm run off than actual creek water. Trout Creek needs help, all of our creeks do.

See Also:
Park Log: Trout Creek Parkway
Park Log: Trout Creek Parkway Part 2
Invasive Species 1: Japanese Knotweed
The Journey Of Cedar Creek