Susquehanna River & Swatara Creek

About Susquehanna River & Swatara Creek

For us, the Swatara is the easy answer when out-of-town guests want to get outside without committing to a big hike or a long drive. The lower section of the creek — the part closest to Hershey and Hummelstown — runs over average depths of only about 1 to 3 feet, drifts along slowly, and is calm enough that the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and local outfitters describe it as well suited to families and first-time paddlers. You can put in at a public park, float a couple of relaxed hours past limestone outcrops, small islands, and old historical sites, and pull out at the next access point downstream. It is not whitewater, and on a normal-flow summer day it is about as approachable as moving water gets in this part of the state. That said, conditions change with rainfall, so treat the numbers above as typical, not guaranteed.

The Swatara Creek Water Trail is a designated route maintained by the PA Fish & Boat Commission, running roughly 42 miles from Jonestown in Lebanon County down to the Commission's Middletown Access in Dauphin County, where the creek meets the Susquehanna River — and it connects on to a longer water-trail system reaching the Susquehanna and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake trails. The Dauphin County access points most useful to a Hershey trip are Boathouse Road Park in Derry Township, Swatara Creek Park (off Union Deposit Road), Schiavoni Park in Hummelstown, and the Middletown Access at the river. A popular short run is Swatara Creek Park to Schiavoni Park (about 5 miles, roughly 2 hours), and you can continue from Schiavoni Park downstream toward Fulling Mill Road for a similar stretch. The closest of these launches sit just a short drive from the Hershey area, though they're spread out along the creek — so check which one matches the float you want.

We want to be honest about what this is: a real waterway, not a theme-park ride. Creek levels can change quickly and vary widely with rain, the section is generally best (and busiest) in spring when flows are up, and there is a low-head dam downstream on this stretch that paddlers need to plan around rather than approach — Boathouse Road Park is commonly used as a take-out above it. So this is a 'know before you go' outing. Check current water conditions before you launch, wear a life jacket, go with at least one other boat, and don't push out onto unfamiliar water at high or fast levels. Used sensibly, it's a genuinely rewarding way to spend a morning near Hershey — bald eagles are often seen over the lower creek and the Susquehanna in the cooler months, and the confluence where the Swatara meets the big river at Middletown is a quiet payoff most visitors never see.

What they offer

Hours & visiting

Where it is

Susquehanna River & Swatara Creek is in Dauphin County, PA. The map shows both pins — Susquehanna River & Swatara Creek and our shop in Grantville — so you can see exactly where it sits relative to us.

Good to know before you go

• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket (PFD). Each boater must have one, and children age 12 and under are required to wear theirs while underway.
• Check water levels before you launch — creek flow changes quickly with rain. The water-trail guidance is to boat only at levels appropriate for your ability; when in doubt, don't put in.
• Plan around the dam. There's a low-head dam downstream on this stretch; Boathouse Road Park is commonly used as a take-out above it, so confirm your take-out point and never paddle toward a dam.
• Bring a launch permit or boat registration. A DCNR/state-parks launch permit or a PA Fish & Boat Commission permit (or a current boat registration) is required at Commission and some park access points.
• Go with others, not alone, and tell someone your plan — boating safety increases with numbers, and cell coverage along the creek can be spotty.
• Wear shoes you can get wet, bring water and sun protection, and pack out everything you bring in (these access points are carry-in, carry-out).

Frequently asked

Make a day of it nearby

The creek runs right through our backyard between Hershey, Hummelstown, and the Susquehanna, so it slots neatly next to a few of our other nearby picks: