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Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna
Susquehanna River
North Branch: Montgomery Park to Shikellamy State Park North
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
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Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Montgomery Park in Danville and finish at Shikellamy State Park North for a lower Section 14 Susquehanna day. Use the Danville gauge as the official same-section reference, keep the easiest planning days around 2 to 4 feet there, and treat Lake Augusta wind plus Fabridam take-out discipline as the key same-day checks.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Montgomery Park Municipal AccessThe current 2021 North Branch guide lists Montgomery Park to Shikellamy North as a favorite public day trip and publishes both endpoint coordinates in the access table.
Take-out
Shikellamy State Park North AccessShikellamy State Park North is primarily a canoe and kayak finish near the island. Stay alert for bridge current, motorboats, and other users as you approach.
Plan this segment
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Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The current 2021 North Branch guide lists Montgomery Park to Shikellamy North as a favorite public day trip and publishes both endpoint coordinates in the access table.
- Shikellamy State Park North is primarily a canoe and kayak finish near the island. Stay alert for bridge current, motorboats, and other users as you approach.
- This route uses Danville as the official same-section gauge reference even though the lower miles flatten into Lake Augusta before the take-out.
- Keep the finish explicit before launching. The lower river feels forgiving when the current slows, but the wrong drift line can carry you past the intended state-park access zone.
Watch for
- Danville stages below about 2 ft, when the lower pool gets slower and the route becomes more exposed to wind and shallow rock decisions.
- Danville stages above about 4 ft, when current speeds up and the lower finish becomes less forgiving for novice groups.
- Wind and motorboat wakes on Lake Augusta, floating wood, and bridge-approach congestion near the final Shikellamy North take-out.
- Missing the planned access and continuing downstream toward Sunbury Fabridam, which is not part of this route.
Route gallery
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Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Susquehanna River at Danville, PA |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 2.00 ft to 4.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 2.00 ft |
| High threshold | 7.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | 2021 North Branch Susquehanna guide Danville stage guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 route segmentMontgomery Park to Shikellamy North, about 11.2 mi
The current 2021 North Branch guide lists Danville Montgomery Park Municipal Access at river mile 136.4 to Shikellamy State Park North Access at river mile 125.2 as a favorite day trip.
- Endpoint coordinatesGuide access-table coordinates
The same guide publishes Montgomery Park Municipal Access at 40.959161, -76.619640 and Shikellamy State Park North Access at 40.880559, -76.789685.
- Official section gauge proxyUSGS 01540500 at Danville
The current guide uses Danville for Section 14 planning, and USGS Water Services returned same-day July 14, 2026 values of 4,090 cfs and 3.10 ft there.
- Official stage guidanceDanville 2 / 4 / 7 ft
The current guide lists a 2 ft lower limit, 4 ft good paddling level, and 7 ft upper novice ceiling at Danville for Sections 13 and 14.
- Lower-corridor cautionLake Augusta plus Fabridam take-out discipline
The current guide notes Lake Augusta in the lower corridor and marks Sunbury Fabridam downstream of the Shikellamy access zone, making the planned state-park take-out important.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Reports
Paddler reports
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Quick answers
Susquehanna River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Susquehanna River?
Paddle Today watches Susquehanna River at Danville, 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 Montgomery Park Municipal Access and ends at Shikellamy State Park North Access, about About 11.2 mi 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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