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Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna

Susquehanna RiverNorth Branch: Canal Park to Test Track Park

Section 3 North Branch Susquehanna corridor from Canal Park to Test Track Park. Use the access planner for shorter trips through PFBC Union Township and Wetlands Nature Area; Wilkes-Barre is the conservative upper-section gauge, with Bloomsburg context for the downstream ledge near Berwick.

Route location

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Plan this route

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
The Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
River contextSusquehanna River in Pennsylvania; card-safe regional context river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by The Mebane Greeting Card Co. via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
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

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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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.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Canal Park access
Open mapDirections to put-in

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

Finish

Take-out

Test Track Park
Open mapDirections to take-out

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

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Choose a shorter tripOptional

Access planner

Choose your launch and take-out

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

On-water distance22.0 miCreek-focused
On-water timeFull corridor is a long exposed day for experienced groups. Shorter planner choices include Canal Park to Union TownshipFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Canal Park access to Test Track Park is about 22.0 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

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.

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Checking trend.

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania; card-safe regional context river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by The Mebane Greeting Card Co. via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: Public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

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

Data status
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain 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
Preferred range2.00 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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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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Quick answers

Susquehanna River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the North Branch: Canal Park to Test Track Park route on the 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 the North Branch: Canal Park to Test Track Park route on the Susquehanna River start and end?

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

Is the North Branch: Canal Park to Test Track Park route on the Susquehanna River suitable 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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