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Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna
Susquehanna River
North Branch: Test Track Park to Indian Head Campground
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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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 Test Track Park and take out at Indian Head Campground for a longer Section 4 North Branch day. Use the direct Bloomsburg gauge, expect easier big-river conditions around 1 to 4 feet, and pay attention to the Berwick bridge ledge warning when water is under 2 feet.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Test Track ParkThe PFBC Section 4 guide publishes both Test Track Park and Indian Head Campground coordinates directly in the official access table.
Take-out
Indian Head CampgroundThe downstream take-out is tied to a private campground operation even though PFBC uses it as a water-trail access point. Respect current campground signs, parking rules, and any same-day staff instructions.
Plan this segment
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Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The PFBC Section 4 guide publishes both Test Track Park and Indian Head Campground coordinates directly in the official access table.
- The downstream take-out is tied to a private campground operation even though PFBC uses it as a water-trail access point. Respect current campground signs, parking rules, and any same-day staff instructions.
- This route is materially longer than either adjacent Section 4 slug. Wind, thunderstorms, and a slow campground shuttle can dominate the day more than the current number suggests.
- Stay within named public or customary access areas rather than improvising on nearby private banks or side landings.
Watch for
- About one-half mile before the Berwick-Nescopeck bridge, PFBC warns that the river drops over an exposed rock ledge when the Bloomsburg gauge is below 2 ft.
- Bloomsburg stages above about 4 to 5 ft, when current becomes faster and the long open-water miles feel less forgiving.
- Broad-river wind, thunderstorms, floating wood, muddy or slippery footing at the campground landing after rain, and the risk of overshooting the Indian Head finish if you relax late in the run.
- Private shorelines and islands between the named endpoints and the need to keep enough daylight for the longer shuttle-and-finish day.
Route gallery
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Score & sources
Why this score
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 Bloomsburg, 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 | 1.00 ft to 4.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 1.00 ft |
| High threshold | 6.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | PFBC North Branch Susquehanna Section 4 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 segmentTest Track Park to Indian Head Campground, about 12 mi
The PFBC North Branch Section 4 guide places Test Track Park at river mile 158 and Indian Head Campground at river mile 146.
- Endpoint coordinatesPFBC access-site coordinates
The PFBC Section 4 access table publishes Test Track Park at 41 02 24 / -76 15 40 and Indian Head Campground at 40 58 30 / -76 28 10.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 01538700 at Bloomsburg
USGS Water Services returned same-day July 14, 2026 values of 4,250 cfs and 1.65 ft for Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg, PA.
- Official stage guidanceBloomsburg 1 / 1-4 / 4-5 / 6 ft novice ceiling
The PFBC guide says the river can be paddled as low as 1 ft at Bloomsburg, 2 to 4 ft moves faster, and novice paddlers should stay off when Bloomsburg rises above 6 ft.
- Campground endpointIndian Head Campground access
The PFBC Section 4 access table lists Indian Head Campground as a primitive-to-surfaced ramp with route directions and marks it on river right at mile 146.
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
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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 Bloomsburg, PA and treats 1.00 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 Test Track Park and ends at Indian Head Campground, about About 12 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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