SUSQUEHANNA RIVER LEVEE
TRAILS:
WILKES-BARRE/HANOVER
& PLYMOUTH/KINGSTON/FORTY FORT, PENNSYLVANIA
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last
Updated: September 05, 2025
Length: Susquehanna River Levee
Trail; Wilkes-Barre & Hanover Section; 4.8 miles
Susquehanna River Levee
Trail;
Kingston Section; 3.6 miles
Susquehanna River Levee
Trail; Forty Fort
Section; 2.6 miles
Susquehanna River Levee
Trail; Plymouth
Section: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved trail.
Directions:
To start from
the W North Street in Wilkes-Barre [Northeastern
End]; From I-81 take exit 170 to the N Cross
Valley Expressway. Take exit 3 to River St and turn left. Park on-street
downtown or use the parking garage next to the N Street bridge. There are also
many areas to park for free near the southern end of the trail.
To start from
the Flat Road parking lot in Plymouth [Southwestern
End]; From I-81 take exit 164 to Route 29 W. Cross the river and
take the Route 11 N exit. After 2 miles turn right on Flat Rd. Parking lot on
your right.
To Start from
the Church Street parking lot in Kingston [Northeastern
End]; From
I-81 take exit 170 to the N Cross Valley Expressway. Cross the river and
take exit 4 to Rutler Ave. Turn left and travel to Church St. Turn left, then
left again into the parking lot.
To
start from the Wyoming Ave parking lot in Forty Fort [Northeastern
End];
From
I-81 take exit 170 to the N Cross Valley Expressway. Cross the river and
take exit 4 to Rutler Ave. Follow Rutler Ave to River St and turn left. Follow
River St to Wyoming Ave and turn right. Follow Wyoming Ave for 1.8 miles and
turn right along a road next to the Levee to a parking lot.
The Susquehanna River Levee
Trail is a recreational trail atop the Levee system that protects the towns
along both banks of the Susquehanna River. Pedestrian paths located on
several bridges provide access between the two sides of the river. The **Carey
Ave Bridge
connects the Hanover & Plymouth Sections. The trail includes heritage kiosks designed
by the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Just Northeast,
of Wilkes-Barre is
the Luzerne County Rail Trail
. For more information
visit; LUZERNE
COUNTY LEVEE TRAIL
.
The Trail System is comprised of
4 different
Sections
on both the
Eastern
and
Western Sides
of the river. The 4
Sections of the Susquehanna River Levee
Trail are:
1. Wilkes-Barre/Hanover Section; [Eastern
Side of
Susquehanna River]
2. Plymouth Section; [Western
Side of
Susquehanna River/Western
Section]
3. Kingston Section; [Western
Side of Susquehanna River/Central
Section]
4.
Forty Fort Section; [Western
Side
of Susquehanna River/Eastern
Section]
Susquehanna River Levee
Trails:
Wilkes-Barre & Hanover
Section:
[Eastern
Side of Susquehanna River]
Starting from W North Street & the
Veterans Memorial Bridge in Wilkes-Barre
[Northeastern End];
Note;
A 0.3 mile pedestrian path along the *Veterans
Memorial Bridge allows you to cross the river to the
Susquehanna River
Levee Trail;
Kingston Section of the trail.
The
paved
Susquehanna River Levee
Trail currently starts just behind the Luzerne County Courthouse.
The trail travels Southwest, between the Levee wall and the Susquehanna River.
The trail splits as you come to a promenade through Riverside Park.
Note;
There are 3 levels along the promenade. The Lower
Level travels alongside the river, the Upper
Level is atop the Levee and the Middle
Levee is in between. You can choose any route.
I choose the Lower
Level route and continued alongside the river. Come to the **Market
Street Bridge at
0.3 miles.
Note;
A 0.3 mile pedestrian path along the **Market
Street Bridge allows you to cross the river to the
Susquehanna River
Levee Trail;
Kingston Section of the trail.
You can access this bridge from the Upper Level,
however, from the Lower & Middle Levels
stairs are involved.
Continue straight, underneath the Market Street
Bridge, to another promenade through Riverside Park along the Lower
Level. Come to a brick promenade, where the Lower
Level trail ends. Head left, underneath the Upper
Level bridge out to S River St and continue right up a ramp to
the Upper Level. Travel atop the
Levee, before coming to W South St after 0.8 miles.
On-road detour of 0.8
miles begins. Travel on-road, right to W
River St and continue left, West. Beautiful old buildings as you travel through Wilkes University.
Turn right and follow Riverside Dr below the Levee wall, along this residential
road. Pick up the paved trail on your right, back up to the Levee at 1.6
miles. A 0 Mile Marker
starts here and is painted on the trail every 0.25
Miles. The trail now follows atop
the Levee, traveling underneath a RR trestle that crosses over the river, before heading up
a slight incline with views along both sides of the Levee. The flood plain along
your right and residential to your left as you travel Southwest. Watch out for
the Levee Markers sticking up in the middle of the trail. At 2.4 miles
you'll pass by a Spur down to the Gordon Ave parking area. Informational
signboards are located all along the trail. Another Spur down to the Willow
Street parking area at 2.8 miles. You then cross into Hanover,
before passing by another Spur up to West
End Rd (Map Board) & the ***Carey
Ave Bridge at
3.1 miles.
Note;
A 0.5 mile pedestrian path along the ***Carey
Ave Bridge allows you to cross the river to Plymouth,
where you can access the Susquehanna River
Levee Trail;
Plymouth
Section of the trail after 0.7 miles.
Continue underneath the bridge and you'll come
to a road crossing.
Note;
Right, this road leads to a boat launch. Left, it will bring you down to the Delaney Street parking lot.
Travel past the Hanover Township Sewage Treatment Plant,
where the trail turns South and becomes a bit more isolated, before ending after
4.8 miles. Solomon
Creek & RR tracks are just below a large hill where the Levee ends.
Plymouth Section:
[Western
Side of Susquehanna River]
Starting from the Flat
Road parking lot in Plymouth [Southwestern
End]; I
haven't checked out this section. Map Board. The
paved Susquehanna River
Levee Trail exits the parking lot and
travels briefly West, up atop the Levee, then
South, towards the river. Here you
travel Northeast, above the Susquehanna River.
Pass by a Spur Trail on your left at 1 mile.
Note;
This Spur Trail takes you down to W
Railroad St and a Map Board.
Cross a culvert over Brown Creek and
soon exit the Levee to Bridge St after 1.8 miles,
where the trail ends.
Note;
If you travel North, on-road
along Bridge St to E Main St and head right, you'll come to the ***Carey
Ave Bridge after 2 miles.
A 0.5 mile pedestrian path along the ***Carey
Ave Bridge allows you to cross the river to Hanover
and connect to the Susquehanna River
Levee Trail; Hanover
Section.
Kingston Section:
[Western
Side of Susquehanna River]
Starting from the Church Street parking lot
in Kingston [Eastern
End]; An informational
sign board is located here along with a couple of benches. Informational signs
are scattered all along the trail.
Travel up atop the paved Susquehanna River
Levee Trail and you'll have wetlands along your left and
residential to your right, as you travel Southeast,
to
the Susquehanna
River. The trail now travels Southwest,
above the river, past a more industrial area. Travel underneath a RR bridge and
above Nesbitt Park which is located in the flood plain. Pass by a Spur
Trail on your right at 1 mile.
Note;
This Spur Trail takes you down to the Kingston
Recreation Center parking lot.
The trail splits at 1.2 miles.
Note; Straight will bring you to Pierce St.
Left, a 0.3 mile pedestrian path along the *Veterans
Memorial Bridge allows you to cross the river to the Susquehanna River
Levee Trail; Wilkes-Barre
Section of the trail.
Keep left and follow the paved trail underneath Veterans
Memorial Bridge. The trail then returns back atop of the Levee
with the park below.
Note; Right leads back to Pierce St.
The trail splits again at 1.6 miles.
Note; Straight will bring you to Market St.
Left, a 0.3 mile pedestrian path along the **Market
Street Bridge allows you to cross the river to the Susquehanna River
Levee Trail; Wilkes-Barre
Section of the trail.
Keep left and follow the paved trail underneath Market
Street Bridge. The trail then returns back a top of the Levee.
Note; Right leads back to Market St, where you
can also access Kirby Park.
The trail then heads more inland, out of sight
of the river and past Kirby Park along your right. A Spur
Trail leads down to Kirby Park at 2.4 miles as the trail turns
Northwest. Cross the RR tracks and pass by another
Spur Trail down to Heisz St and come to S Wyoming Ave at 3
miles. Turn left to reach a cross-light over this busy road, then right back to
the Levee trail. This section of trail travels North, through a commercial area with Toby
Creek along your left. Another Spur Trail leads down to a parking area
behind Lowes. The trail then comes to the Plymouth Street parking lot
after 3.6 miles.
Forty Fort
Section:
[Western
Side of Susquehanna River]
Starting from the Wyoming Ave parking
lot in Forty
Fort [Northern End];
The paved Susquehanna River
Levee Trail leads up to the top of the Levee where you'll find some
informational signs and Mile 0 painted on
the asphalt. It's 0.1 miles from the parking lot to the
Mile 0 Marker.
Mile Markers painted
every 0.25 miles along the trail. All my mile references are
starting from the parking lot.
Note; Heading left,
West, the trail passes by a Map Board, then brings you out to Wyoming Ave after only
0.1 miles before ending.
The open trail travels East,
atop the
Levee, past fields and the end of the runway for the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming
Valley Airport, before coming to the Susquehanna River after 0.3
miles. Informational signs located along the trail. Here the trail turns Southwest,
traveling above the Susquehanna
River and runway. Pass
by a Spur Trail on your right at 1.4 miles.
Note; This Spur
Trail takes you down to the Forty Fort Borough Sports Complex
and the Camryn Way parking lot. Porto-Potty, picnic tables
and sports fields.
Travel above the fields, then alongside a
tall barrier at 2.2 miles that separates you from homes, as the trail turns South. The trail then ends at
River St after 2.6 miles. Map board located here.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR MAP 1
CLICK HERE FOR MAP 2
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE
SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER
OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
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