Hunlock Creek begins in a valley in Lehman Township, a short distance northwest of Lake Silkworth.

It flows south for several tenths of a mile before turning south-southeast for a similar distance and receiving an unnamed tributary from the left.

It then turns southeast, passing through a water gap and crossing US Route 11 in the village of Hunlock Creek.

[1] Hunlock Creek joins the Susquehanna River 178.21 miles (286.80 km) upriver of its mouth.

[1] Roaring Brook joins Hunlock Creek 3.99 miles (6.42 km) upstream of its mouth.

[1] Hunlock Creek is not designated as an impaired waterbody, meaning that it attains standards for water quality.

[4][5] The peak annual discharge of Hunlock Creek at its mouth has a 10 percent chance of reaching 2,780 cubic feet per second (79 m3/s).

[6] At the confluence of one of its tributaries with the main stem, the discharge of Hunlock Creek has a 10 percent chance of peaking at 2,100 cubic feet per second (59 m3/s) in any given year.

[6] The peak annual discharge of Hunlock Creek at the confluence of another one of its tributaries with the main stem has a 10 percent chance of reaching 1,460 cubic feet per second (41 m3/s).

[6] The average annual rate of precipitation in the watershed of Hunlock Creek is 35 to 45 inches (89 to 114 cm).

A sandstone formation containing red quartz pebbles also occurs in the area and at one point forms a 30-foot (9.1 m) high cliff along the creek.

[9] A 1921 report by the Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania described the topography of the watershed of Hunlock Creek as "rough and hilly".

The channel of the creek is sinuous and cuts through rock formations consisting of sandstone and shale.

[10] On March 28, 1780, Asa Upman and John Rogers were ambushed by Indians while making sugar near the mouth of Hunlock Creek.

The 1893 book History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania referred to this incident as "one of the bloody episodes in the days of Indian troubles".

A masonry arch bridge carrying State Route 4005/Cragle Road over the creek in Hunlock Township was built in 1938 and is 34.1 feet (10.4 m) long.

A concrete tee beam bridge carrying US Route 11 over Hunlock Creek was constructed in 1940.