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Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna
Susquehanna River
North Branch: Towanda Riverfront Park to Terrytown PFBC
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
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
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
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.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Towanda Riverfront Park and take out at Terrytown PFBC for a mid-corridor North Branch day. Use the direct Towanda stage gauge, keep the easiest planning days around 2 to 4 feet, and scout the fast-riffle miles downstream of Towanda before committing.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Towanda Riverfront Park rampPFBC Section 1 publishes both Towanda Riverfront Park and Terrytown PFBC coordinates directly in the official access table.
Take-out
Terrytown PFBC rampThis route starts at a stronger town access but still finishes at a gravel PFBC landing. Confirm same-day footing, parking, and any local closures at both ends.
Plan this segment
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Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- PFBC Section 1 publishes both Towanda Riverfront Park and Terrytown PFBC coordinates directly in the official access table.
- This route starts at a stronger town access but still finishes at a gravel PFBC landing. Confirm same-day footing, parking, and any local closures at both ends.
- PFBC treats 15 to 18 miles around the 2-foot Towanda level as more of an experienced-paddler day distance. Do not underrate the time commitment just because the river is broad and mostly open.
- Stay within the named public accesses and do not assume mid-route bars, islands, or informal pull-offs are legitimate take-out substitutes.
Watch for
- Fast riffles before the bridge at mile 270, then more fast current at miles 269 and 268 flagged by PFBC.
- Towanda stages below about 1 foot, when the lower riverbed funnels current and can create class I to II style wave trains in shallow spots.
- Towanda stages above about 4 feet, when the corridor moves faster and small mistakes at the end of a long day cost more time; PFBC says novice paddlers should stay off above about 5 feet.
- Headwind, thunderstorms, floating wood, private shorelines, and missing the Terrytown PFBC take-out after relaxing into the long flatwater rhythm.
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.
- 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 Towanda, 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 | -0.50 ft |
| High threshold | 5.00 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 1 Towanda 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 segmentTowanda Riverfront Park to Terrytown PFBC, about 16 mi
The PFBC North Branch Section 1 guide places Towanda Riverfront Park at river mile 270 and Terrytown PFBC at river mile 254.
- Endpoint coordinatesPFBC access-site coordinates
The PFBC Section 1 access table publishes Towanda Riverfront Park at 41 46 07 / -76 26 19 and Terrytown PFBC at 41 42 51 / -76 16 54.
- 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.
- 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.
- Primary cautionsFast riffles around miles 270, 269, and 268
The PFBC Section 1 caution list flags fast riffles before the bridge at mile 270, then more fast current at miles 269 and 268 inside this route.
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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More routes to check next
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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 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 Towanda Riverfront Park ramp and ends at Terrytown PFBC ramp, about About 16 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.