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See all 36 routes on Susquehanna River

Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna

Susquehanna River

North Branch: Canal Park to Test Track Park

Check current paddling conditions for this Susquehanna River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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Open access map
DistanceAbout 22 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access planner
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeFull corridor is a long exposed day for experienced groups. Shorter planner choices include Canal Park to Union Township
ShuttleCar shuttle
An aerial view shows the Susquehanna River bending through the Laceyville corridor with wooded banks and open Pennsylvania valley farmland.
River contextSusquehanna River near Laceyville river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Bjoertvedt via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.

Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

Quick facts

On-water distanceAbout 22 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access plannerNorth Branch: Canal Park to Test Track Park
DifficultyeasyShort planner-selected sections are approachable in the conservative band, while the full corridor can become a long exposed big-river day.
ShuttleCar shuttlePick a put-in and take-out from the access planner, stage the downstream vehicle first, then inspect both landings before launching. Do not assume private banks, islands, or bars are legal backup exits.
PermitsCheck posted rulesPFBC says unpowered boats using PFBC or Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests access areas need boat registration, a PFBC launch permit, or a DCNR State Parks launch permit. Follow current PFBC, municipal, campground, boating, and PFD rules.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a day-trip corridor. The official PFBC Section 3 guide says camping on this river corridor is none, and banks away from named public accesses may be private.
SeasonApr-OctThe North Branch usually has runnable windows from spring through fall, but thunderstorms, headwind, cold water, and floating wood can change a broad-river day quickly.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Use this as the Section 3 North Branch access-planner corridor. The default full corridor runs from Canal Park to Test Track, but most users should choose a shorter access pair around Union Township or Wetlands Nature Area.

DirectionsApple MapsOpenStreetMap
Plan a shorter segmentOptional

Access planner

Pick a shorter segment

This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distanceAbout 22 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access plannerLake to creek
On-water timeAbout 5 to 7 hrFull route option
ShuttleSelf-shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.

Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.

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Start

Put-in

Canal Park access
Open map

Use the access planner to choose a legal public or managed access pair before driving.

Finish

Take-out

Test Track Park
Open map

The full corridor is a planning envelope, not necessarily the recommended one-day trip.

Plan this segment

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Use the access planner to choose a legal public or managed access pair before driving.
  • The full corridor is a planning envelope, not necessarily the recommended one-day trip.
  • Confirm same-day parking, launch, landing, and permit rules at the selected endpoints.
  • Stay with named accesses and do not improvise on private banks or islands.

Watch for

  • The class I-II rapid below the Nanticoke bridge and the Berwick-Nescopeck low-water ledge warning.
  • Wilkes-Barre stages below about 0 ft, when shallow lines get scratchier.
  • Wilkes-Barre stages above about 4 ft, when current speeds up; PFBC says novices should stay off above about 5 ft.
  • Headwind, thunderstorms, floating wood, private shorelines, and overlong segment choices.

Route gallery

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Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

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Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteSusquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band2.00 ft to 4.00 ft
Low threshold-0.50 ft
High threshold5.00 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scorePFBC North Branch Susquehanna Section 3 Wilkes-Barre stage guidance
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Official corridorCanal Park to Test Track Park, with intermediate public access choices

    PFBC Section 3 publishes the Canal Park, PFBC Union Township, Wetlands Nature Area, and Test Track Park access sequence.

    Source

  • Direct gaugeUSGS 01536500 at Wilkes-Barre

    The Wilkes-Barre gauge is the direct product-supported reference for the upper Section 3 corridor.

    Source

  • Planner modelMultiple access points on one corridor page

    This route replaces overlapping Section 3 route cards with one Rice Creek-style access planner corridor.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

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Photos

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania route guideBrowse every tracked Pennsylvania route.North Branch SusquehannaJump to routes in this region.

More on Susquehanna River

All 36
Afton Route 41 access to Nineveh Bridge Susquehanna accessChenango and Broome Counties / Afton and NinevehEasy · Approximately 7.5 planning river miles from the NYSDEC Afton access to the NYSDEC Nineveh Bridge accessColliersville to EmmonsOtsego County / Milford and Oneonta areaEasy · Approximately 3 river miles from the Colliersville hand launch to the Emmons hand launchCrumhorn Pond / Susquehanna State Forest access through Portlandville to Goodyear Lake / Silliman CoveOtsego CountyEasy · 3.25–6 water-trail miles, with an optional Portlandville take-outEmmons DEC hand launch to West Oneonta DEC hand launchOtsego County / Emmons to OneontaEasy · Approximately 5.5 planning river miles from Emmons to West Oneonta

Nearby routes by distance

Lehigh RiverWhite Haven to Rockport · about 17 mi awayHard · About 8.7 miLehigh RiverWhite Haven to Glen Onoko · about 17 mi awayHard · About 20.9 miLehigh RiverRockport to Glen Onoko · about 22 mi awayHard · About 12.2 miDelaware RiverWorthington State Forest boat ramp to Poxono Access · about 49 mi awayModerate · Approximately 4 river miles

Quick answers

Susquehanna River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Susquehanna River?

Paddle Today watches Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA and treats 2.00 ft to 4.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Susquehanna River route start and end?

This route starts at Canal Park access and ends at Test Track Park, about About 22 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access planner on the water.

Is this Susquehanna River route good for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

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