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Pennsylvania | North Branch Susquehanna

Susquehanna RiverNorth Branch: Wray's Riverfront Campground to Shikellamy State Park West

Lower North Branch Susquehanna day from Wray's Riverfront Campground to Shikellamy State Park West. The current 2021 North Branch guide publishes both access coordinates, uses the Danville gauge for this Section 14 corridor, and makes the Lake Augusta powerboat zone plus the downstream Sunbury Fabridam the main same-day judgment points.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 9 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 3 hr to 4.5 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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This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 9 miNorth Branch: Wray's Riverfront Campground to Shikellamy State Park West
DifficultyeasyThis remains an easier big-river route with named campground and state-park endpoints, but the lower-lake feel, boat traffic, and Fabridam take-out discipline make it less casual than the mileage alone suggests.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the take-out at Shikellamy State Park West first, then drive back to Wray's. Confirm both the campground launch expectations and the state-park landing conditions before launching because the lower miles feel bigger when wind or boat traffic builds.
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, campground, state-park, boating, and PFD rules.
CampingOptions nearbyWray's can support an overnight start if you have a reservation or permission, but this route should still be planned as a same-day finish at Shikellamy rather than as open riverbank camping.
SeasonApr-OctThis lower Sunbury corridor is broad and usually accessible through much of the warm season, but pooled Lake Augusta wind, thunderstorms, and faster high water still change the route character quickly.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch from Wray's Riverfront Campground and finish at Shikellamy State Park West for a lower Section 14 Susquehanna day. Use the Danville gauge as the official same-section proxy, keep the easiest planning days around 2 to 4 feet there, and treat Lake Augusta wind plus Fabridam take-out discipline as the decisive safety checks.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Wray's Riverfront Campground
Open mapDirections to put-in

The current guide publishes both Wray's and Shikellamy West coordinates directly in the access table.

Finish

Take-out

Shikellamy State Park West
Open mapDirections to take-out

This route uses Danville as a same-section proxy because the current guide writes Section 14 thresholds around that gauge rather than around a lower-lake site.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The current guide publishes both Wray's and Shikellamy West coordinates directly in the access table.
  • This route uses Danville as a same-section proxy because the current guide writes Section 14 thresholds around that gauge rather than around a lower-lake site.
  • Wray's remains a managed private campground even though it is listed in the water-trail guide. Respect current launch and parking rules.
  • Shikellamy West is the intended finish. Do not drift downstream toward Sunbury unless you have a separate portage and access plan for the Fabridam corridor.

Watch for

  • Danville stages below about 2 feet, when the lower pool loses current help and wind matters more.
  • Danville stages above about 4 feet, when the broad river carries more speed and less experienced groups have less time to recover from missed landings.
  • Lake Augusta wind and powerboat wakes, floating wood, private shorelines, and the downstream Sunbury Fabridam hazard if you miss the planned take-out.

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

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

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

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 segmentWray's to Shikellamy West, about 9 mi

    The current 2021 guide places Wray's Riverfront Campground at river mile 133.6 and Shikellamy State Park West at river mile 125.1.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinatesGuide access-table coordinates

    The same guide publishes Wray's at 40.953143, -76.664439 and Shikellamy State Park West at 40.883406, -76.792510.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-16USGS 01540500 at Danville

    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 guidanceDanville 2 / 4 / 7 ft

    The current guide lists a 2 ft lower limit, 4 ft good paddling level, and 7 ft upper novice ceiling at Danville for Sections 13-14.

    Source

  • Primary cautionLake Augusta and Sunbury Fabridam

    The guide notes Lake Augusta begins near mile 129.9 and marks Sunbury Fabridam downstream at mile 122.6, making a planned state-park take-out important for this route.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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Quick answers

Susquehanna River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the North Branch: Wray's Riverfront Campground to Shikellamy State Park West route on the Susquehanna River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the North Branch: Wray's Riverfront Campground to Shikellamy State Park West route on the Susquehanna River start and end?

This route starts at Wray's Riverfront Campground and ends at Shikellamy State Park West, about 9 mi on the water.

Is the North Branch: Wray's Riverfront Campground to Shikellamy State Park West route on the Susquehanna River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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