The creek has been impaired by acid mine drainage from the Oneida Number One Tunnel.

It flows west for a few tenths of a mile before receiving an unnamed tributary.

[1] The creek continues west, soon receiving another unnamed tributary and then entering Lake Susquehanna.

[1] The creek then turns west and enters Lake Choctaw, where it reenters North Union Township, Schuylkill County.

[1][2] On the western side of the lake, the creek continues west-southwest for nearly a mile.

It then turns northwest and reaches its confluence with Tomhicken Creek after a few tenths of a mile.

[3] Sugarloaf Creek is considered to be impaired for aquatic life by acid mine drainage/pH in its upper reaches.

The concentration of water hardness in the creek is greater than 150 milligrams per liter.

[2] Sugarloaf Creek is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangles of Nuremberg and Conyngham.

[5] In 1990, the population density of the creek's watershed was 164 people per square kilometer.

[7] Sugarloaf Creek is considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be a Coldwater Fishery.