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See all 36 routes on Susquehanna River

Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna

Susquehanna River

North Branch: Sayre to Towanda

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 20 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access planner
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeLong full-day corridor or a shorter access-planner pairing. Sayre-to-Ulster and Hornbrook-to-Towanda are more manageable day choices.
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
Pulling the latest gauge and weather. This usually takes a few seconds.
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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 20 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access plannerNorth Branch: Sayre to Towanda
DifficultyeasyShort planner-selected sections are approachable in the conservative band, while the full Sayre-to-Towanda 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 nearbyHarrigan Island, Hornbrook Park, and nearby campgrounds appear in the official corridor context. Use only currently open legal camping or managed access points, not arbitrary banks.
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 upper North Branch access-planner corridor. The default full corridor runs from Sayre to Towanda, but many users should choose a shorter segment such as Sayre to Ulster or Hornbrook to Towanda.

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 20 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

Sayre PFBC access
Open map

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

Finish

Take-out

Towanda Riverfront Park ramp
Open map

The full corridor is a long-day planning envelope, not necessarily the recommended casual 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 long-day planning envelope, not necessarily the recommended casual 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

  • Fast riffles, bridge-current zones, and possible strainers in the Section 1 caution miles.
  • Towanda stages below about 0 to 1 ft, when riffles get scratchier and shallow lines tighten.
  • Towanda stages above about 4 ft, when current speeds up; PFBC says novice paddlers should stay off above about 5 ft.
  • Headwind, thunderstorms, floating wood, private shorelines, and overly ambitious segment choices.

Route gallery

See this route on the water

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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.

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

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

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 Towanda, 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 1 Towanda 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 corridorSayre to Towanda, with intermediate public access choices

    PFBC Section 1 and the North Branch guide family publish the Sayre, Ulster, Hornbrook, and Towanda access sequence.

    Source

  • Direct gaugeUSGS 01531500 at Towanda

    The Towanda gauge is the direct product-supported reference for the Section 1 corridor.

    Source

  • Planner modelMultiple access points on one corridor page

    This route replaces overlapping upper Section 1 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

Chemung RiverToll Bridge Park to White Wagon Boat Launch · about 6 mi awayModerate · 11.45 river milesChemung RiverElmira Chemung River public access area to White Wagon Park, Chemung · about 11 mi awayEasy · Approximately 12.5 planning river miles by current endpoint geometry from the Elmira public access area to White Wagon Park in Chemung; the route source labels the section 10 milesOwego CreekOwego Creek Canal Street hand launch to lower Owego Creek turnaround · about 19 mi awayEasy · Approximately 3.5 river miles round tripCatatonk CreekCandor to Owego · about 22 mi awayModerate · 11.7 river miles from the Candor access area to the Owego Creek access area

Quick answers

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 Sayre PFBC access and ends at Towanda Riverfront Park ramp, about About 20 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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