Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna

Susquehanna River

North Branch: Larnard Hornbrook Park to Wysox Township 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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DistanceAbout 8 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2.5 hr to 4 hr in ordinary conditions
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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Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Quick facts and what's next

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

DifficultyeasyThis is a broad-audience day in the conservative band, but the Towanda bridge corridor and the quick-water sequence keep it above a casual drift.
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, county-park, township-park, boating, and PFD rules.
CampingOptions nearbyHornbrook County Park sits directly at the put-in and is listed in the official North Branch corridor camping table. Treat that as endpoint campground support only, not as permission to stop on undeveloped islands, bars, or private banks.
SeasonApr-OctPFBC says this North Branch corridor often stays paddleable through lower summer water, but storm wood, wind, and bridge current still matter before you commit.

Upcoming outlook

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Plan your trip

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

Access and shuttle

Launch at Larnard Hornbrook Park and take out at Wysox Township Park for a shorter public-access Susquehanna day through the Towanda bridge corridor. Use the direct Towanda stage gauge, keep the easiest planning days around 2 to 4 feet there, and watch the bridge-current sequence closely.

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Start

Put-in

Larnard Hornbrook Park ramp
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PFBC Section 1 publishes both Larnard Hornbrook Park and Wysox Township Park coordinates directly in the official access table.

Finish

Take-out

Wysox Township Park access
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Hornbrook is a park launch, not a giant ramp complex. Confirm same-day footing, parking, and launch angle before leaving the shuttle vehicle.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • PFBC Section 1 publishes both Larnard Hornbrook Park and Wysox Township Park coordinates directly in the official access table.
  • Hornbrook is a park launch, not a giant ramp complex. Confirm same-day footing, parking, and launch angle before leaving the shuttle vehicle.
  • Wysox Township Park is a stronger developed finish, but it still requires a committed finish discipline rather than ad hoc island or private-bank take-outs.
  • Stay within the named public accesses and do not assume islands, bars, or private banks are legitimate substitutes.

Watch for

  • The strainer-prone mile-274 area, current under bridge arches at mile 272, and more quick water at miles 270, 269, and 268 flagged by PFBC.
  • Towanda stages below about 1 foot, when the bridge-adjacent riffles and shallow lines get scratchier and more technical.
  • Towanda stages above about 4 feet, when current speeds up noticeably; PFBC says novice paddlers should stay off above about 5 feet.
  • Headwind, thunderstorms, floating wood, private shorelines, and missing the Wysox finish after the bridge sequence feels behind you.

Why this score

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

Read quality
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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

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

Gauge siteSusquehanna River at Towanda, PA
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Target band2.00 ft to 4.00 ft
Low threshold-0.50 ft
High threshold5.00 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
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Main source behind this scorePFBC North Branch Susquehanna Section 1 Towanda stage guidance
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What 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 segmentLarnard Hornbrook Park to Wysox Township Park, about 8 mi

    The PFBC North Branch Section 1 guide places Larnard Hornbrook Park at river mile 275 and Wysox Township Park at river mile 267.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinatesPFBC access-site coordinates

    The PFBC Section 1 access table publishes Larnard Hornbrook Park at 41 48 34 / -76 29 10 and Wysox Township Park at 41 46 15 / -76 23 52.

    Source

  • Direct gaugeUSGS 01531500 at Towanda

    USGS Water Services returned same-day July 13, 2026 values of 1,960 cfs and 0.55 ft at 2026-07-13 22:45 EDT for Susquehanna River at Towanda, PA.

    Source

  • Official stage guidanceTowanda -0.5 ft low runnable, 2 ft safe base, 5 ft novice ceiling

    PFBC says the river can be paddled with Towanda as low as about -0.5 ft, uses 2 ft as the safe paddle base level, and says novice paddlers should not paddle when Towanda is over 5 ft.

    Source

  • Primary cautionsFast water near miles 274, 272, 270, 269, and 268

    The PFBC Section 1 caution list flags the mile-274 strainer area, the bridge-arch current near mile 272, and the quick-water sequence approaching and just below Towanda inside this route.

    Source

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Susquehanna River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Susquehanna River?

Paddle Today watches Susquehanna River at Towanda, 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 Larnard Hornbrook Park ramp and ends at Wysox Township Park access, about About 8 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.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.