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Susquehannock Thru Hike

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - Saturday, August 30, 2025 -- $2325 ★★★


Are you up for a thru-hike? The 85-mile long susquehannock Loop Trail , completed in 1967 passes through six state parks in north-central Pennsylvania. Most of the trail system follows logging roads, old railroad grades (translation: gentle incline) and Civilian Conservation Corps fire trails. Highlights along the trail include a fire tower, numerous vistas and the Hammersley Wild Area which is the most remote place in the State of Pennsylvania.


It's our first visit to the Susquehannock Loop Trail and the first Fitpacking trip in Pennsylvania. Each day, we'll hike clockwise and stay in established campsites which mostly have reliable water. There will be many views along the way, but as this is PA, most of the ridges are tree-covered so enjoy the views when you encounter them.


The end of the summer is a great time to be on the Susquehannock Trail system as weather is still temperate, and bugs are starting to go away. Why not join us on our first adventure here?



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 50s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as th 90s and nights as cold as freezing, probably punctuated by rainfall or thunderstorms at times. Here is the historical weather



Probable Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Beau Devlin
Any Other Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty

While all Fitpacking trips are difficult some of the time, this one might be considered slightly less strenuous than others because the elevation changes aren't dramatic most of the time,there is a reasonable amount of walking on CCC trails and railroad grades although the terrain is rocky in places. Please be aware that hauling all your gear and food for a week and a half is not easy no matter what the terrain is like.



Cost

$2325 per person pre-trip single occupancy, post trip double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Buffalo, NY (BUF) as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals (typically 2 dinners) and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 9 nights in the backcountry, 1 night in a frontcountry campground, 10 days of trail meals, ground transportation to/from Buffalo and the State Forest, park permits, storage fees, backcountry permits and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. Gratuity can comprise a significant and important part of a guide’s compensation. The industry recommended gratuity amount is 10-20% of the trip cost. Gratuities are always optional and based on level of satisfaction but generally account for 30-60% of a their income through gratuities. Fitpacking supports tipping to the greatest extent possible while remaining tactful and professional. Guides are not permitted to solicit tips in any way other than doing an exceptional job supporting and providing exceptional customer service to our participants. If your guides have served you well, please support them with gratuities so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes

This is our first trip through the Susquehannock Trail System (STS)


Water should not be difficult to find, but we may end up camping in spots that don't have water and will have to fill up all our vessels when we encounter it a few miles before camp. We may also end up hiking side trails to lower elevations in order to haul water back up to the trail.


We hope to resupply on or around Day 5 so we're not carrying 10 days of food, but are not sure of these logistics yet


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Drive or fly into Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF). The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-1PM, earlier is generally better. If you have to arrive later that may be fine as long as you've had your pre-trip virtual shakedown and the group can leave by 3PM.

Either take a free airport shuttle to our local hotel meeting place or call / text us and we will pick you up and take you to the local hotel where the group will assemble

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

You should have already done an online shakedown pre-trip, but guides will still ask you a few questions and give you a "mini equipment shakedown"

Make your own trail mix from our selection of nuts, fruits and sweets

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD

Shuttling will take about 3.5 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD


Thursday, August 21, 2025

Begin hiking at the Northern Gateway of the Susquehannock Trail elevation 2400'

Hike 7.0 mostly downhill miles to Lyman Run, elevation 1700'

Camp at Lyman Run, elevation 1700'

Miles today: 7.0. Total miles: 7.0

Possible bailout: Lyman Run Road


Friday, August 22, 2025

Hike 8.2 miles on the Susquehannock Trail to a campsite near a water source just after PA-44, elevation 1850'

Stop at Cherry Springs Vista at around the 7 mile mark

Camp at a campsite near a water source just after PA-44, elevation 1850'

Miles today 8.2, total 15.2

Possible bailout: PA-44


Saturday, August 23, 2025

Hike 6.1 downhill miles to Yochum Run, elevation 1315'

Fill all water vessels as we will be staying at a dry camp tonight

Hike 2.9 uphill miles to a dry campsite just after Hungry Hollow, elevation 2070'

Camp at dry campsite, elevation 2072'. No water here

Miles today: 9.0, total 24.2

Possible bailout: Hungry Hollow


Sunday, August 24, 2025

Hike 7.3 miles to the Spook Hollow Shelter, elevation 1890'

Along the way, descend 1000', then ascend 1000', then descend 700' and ascend 500'

Camp at Spook Hollow Shelter, elevation 1890'

Miles today: 7.3, total 31.5

Possible bailout: Ole Bull State Park


Monday, August 25, 2025

Hike 11.3 miles to the Scoval Branch Shelter, elevation 1600'.

Along the way, descend 800', then ascend 700', then descend 600'

Camp at Scoval Branch Shelter, elevation 1600'

Miles today: 11.3. Total miles: 42.8

Possible bailout: Little Greenlick Rd.


Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Hike 11.5 miles back to a nice campsite near Hammersley Fork, elevation 1320'. If it's somehow to far, we can camp earlier

Along the way, ascend 500', descend 900', then ascend 1000', then descend 800'

Camp at nice campsite near Hammersley Fork, elevation 1320'

Miles today: 11.3. Total miles: 54.1

Possible bailout: Old Cross Fork Creek Road


Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Hike 8.8 miles to a campsite on the East Fork, elevation 1400'.

Along the way, ascend 725', then descend 725'

Miles today: 8.8. Total miles: 62.9

Possible bailout: East Fork Rd.


Thursday, August 28, 2025

Hike 8.4 miles to a campsite on Prouty Run, elevation 1700'

Along the way, ascend 600', then descend 450', then ascend 825', then descend 525', then ascend 400', then descend 600'

Camp at a campsite on Prouty Run, elevation 1700'

Miles today: 8.4. Total miles: 71.3

Possible bailout: Rock Ridge Road


Friday, August 29, 2025

Hike 6.6 miles to Sunken Branch Shelter, elevation 2330'

Along the way, ascend 600', then descend 600', then ascend 750', then descend 350'

Camp at Sunken Branch Shelter, elevation 2330'

Miles today: 6.7. Total miles: 77.0

Possible bailout: Sunken Branch Road


Saturday, August 30, 2025

Hike 4.7 miles to the Northern Gateway Trailhead, elevation 2540'

Congratulations, you have completed the Susquehannock Loop Trail!

End of hiking

Possible bailout: Northern Gateway Trailhead

Miles today: 4.7. Total miles: 81.7

Shuttle back to our local hotel

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, August 31, 2025

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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