Juniata River

Juniata River
The Appalachian Trail crossing the mouth of the Juniata River. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith
Juniata River watershed and tributaries
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesDauphin, Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Bedford, Somerset
CitiesDuncannon, Newport, Millerstown, Thompsontown, Port Royal, Mifflintown, Lewistown, Mount Union, Huntingdon
Physical characteristics
SourceFrankstown Branch
 • locationBlair County, Pennsylvania, US
2nd sourceLittle Juniata River
 • locationPennsylvania, US
Source confluence 
 • locationPetersburg, Pennsylvania, US
 • coordinates40°33′39″N 78°04′06″W / 40.56083°N 78.06833°W / 40.56083; -78.06833
 • elevation660 ft (200 m)
MouthSusquehanna River
 • location
Duncannon, Perry County, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, US
 • coordinates
40°24′05″N 77°00′48″W / 40.40139°N 77.01333°W / 40.40139; -77.01333
 • elevation
330 ft (100 m)
Length104 mi (167 km)
Basin size3,400 sq mi (8,800 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationNewport
 • average4,476 cu ft/s (126.7 m3/s)
 • minimum636 cu ft/s (18.0 m3/s)
 • maximum209,000 cu ft/s (5,900 m3/s)
Discharge 
 • locationMapleton Depot
 • average2,724 cu ft/s (77.1 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftStanding Stone Creek, Kishacoquillas Creek
 • rightRaystown Branch, Aughwick Creek, Tuscarora Creek

The Juniata River (/ˌniˈætə/) is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. The Juniata is about 104 mi (167 km) long with a watershed of about 3,400 square miles (8,800 km2), about one-eighth of the drainage area of the Susquehanna, making it the second-largest tributary after the West Branch Susquehanna.

The river is considered scenic along much of its route, having a broad and shallow course passing through several mountain ridges and steeply lined water gaps. About two-thirds of the watershed is forested. It formed an early 18th-century frontier region in Pennsylvania and was the site of French-allied Native American attacks against English colonial settlements during the French and Indian War.