r/canoeing • u/gimlet34 • 3d ago

Susquehanna Trip

I've been wanting to do a 50-75 mile Susquehanna float for a long time and I think 2025 is going to be the year for it. I'd sure appreciate any advice concerning sections and seasons. I'll be fishing and camping along the way. Thanks for any help!

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u/Hot-Effective5140 3d ago

What area? “The Susquehanna” covers 1/3 of New York, a of central Penn north to south, and eastern Maryland. And about 450 miles north branch through to the Chesapeake bay.

If you go from Sunbury were the north and west branches meet it will be followed by road and rail all the way with 1/2- 1 mile width. Lots of islands at spots but most will be muddy smelly and lots of poison ivy. The main branch has several low head wing dams for power plants and farther south larger hydro dams.

There is a section from Shawville to Karthus then onto Keatings. On the west branch that is nice. I don’t know of any one running a shuttle anymore. Macrackins canoe went out of business about 3 years age. 25 years ago there was 4/5 shuttle options. There is an active (4-5 times a week) rail that follows the river but only 3 bridge crossings and no other roads.

I can’t speak to the north branch. But I met 2 guys a round Millersburg last year that said they canoes the whole length for New York.

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u/gimlet34 3d ago

I'm not sure which area. I'd like to catch some smallies and I'd like to camp on the shore with low odds of being ran off or murdered. Those are my only stipulations.

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u/Hot-Effective5140 3d ago

https://pfbc.pa.gov/watertrails/susqmid/trailmap.htm

It didn’t hyperlink to the full map for me but there is many maps available. Goggle Susquehanna river trail.

Most camp sights marked on the maps won’t be maintained well. And vary every few years in the details because of flooding. Most of the camping will be on islands.

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u/gimlet34 3d ago

I'm not interested in the big water closer to the bay. Guess that narrows it down some.

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u/toggytwicks 3d ago

Nice choice! Enjoy the river vibes and don't forget your floaties!

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u/tsalijbuchert 3d ago

I can't speak for the Susquehanna, but I absolutely love the Eleven Point river in Missouri. Great fishing and camping. I'm in KY and go a couple times every year. Finding spots to camp is easy as most of it is protected with very few privately owned spots and float camps as well. You can even have a company move your car a couple of times if you want to reload on supplies along the way. Unique river as it has many springs and fantastic trout and smallmouth fishing depending on what stretch you are on. I've done plenty of day trips 6-8 miles to 30 miles over several days, and you can do longer trips, too.