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Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna
Susquehanna River
North Branch: Riverside Borough 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
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
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Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Riverside Borough Access and finish at Shikellamy State Park North for a moderate lower North Branch day. Use the Danville gauge as the official route reference, keep the same-day call conservative near the 2 ft floor, and watch the lower islands, Packers Island split, and busy Shikellamy finish closely.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Riverside Borough AccessSusquehanna Greenway publishes this exact public route and says the Riverside launch is a carry-in with timed unloading before you move vehicles to the designated pull-off.
Take-out
Shikellamy State Park North AccessThe launch slope can be muddy or slippery, especially after rain or when the concrete slab does not stay fully in the water.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Susquehanna Greenway publishes this exact public route and says the Riverside launch is a carry-in with timed unloading before you move vehicles to the designated pull-off.
- The launch slope can be muddy or slippery, especially after rain or when the concrete slab does not stay fully in the water.
- Shikellamy State Park North is primarily for kayaks and canoes. Stay cautious around motorized traffic near the island and the final bridge approach.
- A state launch permit is required at the Shikellamy take-out, and the intended finish is upstream of Sunbury Fabridam.
Watch for
- Island banks, ledges, and stones in low water, especially near river mile 133 and again near Packers Island in the lower miles.
- Motorized boat traffic and wind on seasonal Lake Augusta, which can flatten the current advantage and make the final miles feel longer.
- The lower split around Packers Island; keep right where the route page says to avoid wrong turns and extra shallow-water problems.
- Missing the Shikellamy North take-out and continuing downstream toward Sunbury Fabridam.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 2.00 ft |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Susquehanna Greenway Riverside to Shikellamy Danville water-level 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 segmentRiverside Borough to Shikellamy North, about 10.2 mi
Susquehanna Greenway publishes this exact route at 10.2 miles from Riverside Municipal Access at river mile 135.3 to Shikellamy State Park North Access at river mile 125.1.
- Endpoint coordinatesGuide access-table coordinates
The current 2021 North Branch guide publishes Riverside Borough Access at 40.962389, -76.633444 and Shikellamy State Park North Access at 40.880559, -76.789685.
- Official section gauge proxyUSGS 01540500 at Danville
Susquehanna Greenway recommends this route when the Danville gauge reads between 2 and 7 ft, and USGS Water Services returned same-day July 14, 2026 values of 4,090 cfs and 3.10 ft there.
- Route-specific hazardsIsland banks and stones in low water
Susquehanna Greenway says ledges, island banks, and stones become the key low-water issues as you approach the lower islands, Packers Island, and the Shikellamy finish.
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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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 uses 2.00 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Susquehanna River route start and end?
This route starts at Riverside Borough Access and ends at Shikellamy State Park North Access, about About 10.2 mi on the water.
Is this Susquehanna River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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