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Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna

Susquehanna RiverNorth Branch: Ulster Bridge to Terrytown PFBC

Twenty-five-mile North Branch Susquehanna continuation from Ulster Bridge to the Terrytown PFBC ramp. The official PFBC guide family publishes both access coordinates, supports the long distance with official river miles, and ties the whole route directly to the Towanda gauge for conservative same-day planning.

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 24.9 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 7.5 hr to 10 hr in ordinary conditions
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
River contextSusquehanna River in Pennsylvania; card-safe regional context river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by The Mebane Greeting Card Co. via Wikimedia Commons

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 24.9 miNorth Branch: Ulster Bridge to Terrytown PFBC
DifficultyeasyThis is still broad-audience flatwater in the conservative band, but the 25-mile length, exposed wind, and repeated quick-water zones make it a serious long-day commitment rather than a casual float.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the take-out at Terrytown PFBC first, then drive back to Ulster Bridge Municipal Access. Inspect both landings before launching because mud, event traffic, flood cleanup, or local maintenance can change how straightforward the carry feels.
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, municipal, boating, and PFD rules.
CampingOptions nearbyHornbrook County Park and Riverside Acres Campground both sit on this official corridor and support legal overnight planning. Treat that as on-route camping support only and not as permission to camp on broad bars, islands, or private banks.
SeasonApr-OctPFBC says the North Branch often stays paddleable through summer low water, but broad-river wind, thunderstorms, and flooded treelines still change the feel quickly on a long day like this.

Plan ahead

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at Ulster Bridge Municipal Access and take out at Terrytown PFBC for a long Section 1 Susquehanna continuation. Use the direct Towanda stage gauge, keep the easiest planning days around 2 to 4 feet there, and treat wind plus the repeated fast-water zones as real long-day factors.

Access map

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Put-in

Ulster Bridge Municipal Access (carry-in)
Open mapDirections to put-in

The 2021 North Branch access table identifies Ulster Bridge Municipal Access at 41.849146, -76.497242 as a carry-in launch with parking nearby; use this current municipal point, not the older private-gravel site.

Finish

Take-out

Terrytown PFBC ramp
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This route includes the Towanda bridge area and its current lines, so do not relax just because the river looks broad and mostly open.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The 2021 North Branch access table identifies Ulster Bridge Municipal Access at 41.849146, -76.497242 as a carry-in launch with parking nearby; use this current municipal point, not the older private-gravel site.
  • This route includes the Towanda bridge area and its current lines, so do not relax just because the river looks broad and mostly open.
  • Hornbrook County Park and Riverside Acres are helpful legal overnight supports, but the route still starts at Ulster Bridge and should finish at the Terrytown PFBC landing unless you have made a deliberate legal stop plan.
  • Stay within the named public accesses, campgrounds, and support points rather than treating islands or private banks as casual options.

Watch for

  • The mile-274 strainer area, current under bridge arches at mile 272, the Towanda bridge sequence, and the lower-section fast-water miles 267, 261, and 258 flagged by PFBC.
  • Towanda stages below about 1 foot, when shallower lower-riverbed spots can create class I to II style wave trains and expose more rocks.
  • Towanda stages above about 4 feet, when the current moves faster and small errors cost more energy late in the day; PFBC says novice paddlers should stay off above about 5 feet.
  • Headwind, thunderstorms, floating wood, fatigue, private shorelines, and drifting past the Terrytown PFBC finish after settling into the long lower-corridor rhythm.

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

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Gauge detail

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Photos

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The Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania; card-safe regional context river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by The Mebane Greeting Card Co. via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: Public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteSusquehanna River at Towanda, PA
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Preferred range2.00 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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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 segmentUlster Bridge to Terrytown PFBC, about 24.9 mi

    The PFBC North Branch guide family places Ulster Bridge at river mile 278.8 and Terrytown PFBC at river mile 253.9.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates2021 North Branch municipal access coordinate

    The 2021 access table lists Ulster Bridge Municipal Access at 41.849146, -76.497242 (river mile 278.8; carry-in; parking nearby). The older 2008 PFBC coordinate at 41.8525, -76.497222 is a separate Gravel Private point.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-13USGS 01531500 at Towanda

    This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.

    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, 268, 267, 261, and 258

    The PFBC Section 1 caution list flags the strainer-prone upper riffle, the Towanda bridge sequence, and the lower Section 1 fast-water stretches that remain relevant all the way to Terrytown.

    Source

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Keep exploring

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Chemung RiverToll Bridge Park to White Wagon Boat Launch · about 16 straight-line mi awayModerate · 11.45 river milesOwego CreekOwego Creek Canal Street hand launch to lower Owego Creek turnaround · about 21 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 3.5 river miles round tripChemung RiverElmira Chemung River public access area to White Wagon Park, Chemung · about 22 straight-line 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 milesCatatonk CreekCandor to Owego · about 28 straight-line 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 best for the North Branch: Ulster Bridge to Terrytown PFBC route on the 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 the North Branch: Ulster Bridge to Terrytown PFBC route on the Susquehanna River start and end?

This route starts at Ulster Bridge Municipal Access (carry-in) and ends at Terrytown PFBC ramp, about 24.9 mi on the water.

Is the North Branch: Ulster Bridge to Terrytown PFBC route on the Susquehanna River suitable 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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