Susquehanna River flight from Harrisburg to the Chesapeake Bay

A low-level flight down the Susquehanna River when the water level is low. We flew at about 1,500 feet with a wing-mounted camera capturing a full view of the river.

[@AndrewSweigart]

I grew up in Goldsboro and have lived in York County most of my life. Been all over both sides of the river(on the ground) countless times, but have never seen it like this. Just incredible to see it from a completely different perspective. I love this, thank you so much for sharing!!!

[@tammylines2779]

Thank so very much for the video I was Seven when my family moved to Maryland this is the first time I’ve ever got to see peach bottom and c w dam and the place that I grow up in Cecil county Maryland perryvilley , from above, i went swimming in the river 1974 i was 14 now 62 the years fly by so fast before you know it, I’m now in mohagumerycounty PA

[@ckuehncnwhsyt]

If anybody watching this is a drummer, pay attention starting at 20:19 for some really classy and clean playing.

[@billshuey9801]

Thanks for a phenomenal video I have paddled these waters from above Wrightsville to Havre de Grace. Just yesterday I was at ‘ The Neck, ‘ which is the narrowest part of the River just above Holtwood Dam. Like a beautiful woman, I never ever get tired of looking at this River and the nature surrounding it.

[@fouroverseven7799]

Was driving along the Susquehanna today. Got back home and I'm trying to identify some of the things I saw. Thank you.

[@JoeHainey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@candijjjaj]

Amazing way to scout the river!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@kelvinmatthews2554]

Ahhhhh....The beautiful Susquehanna! I saw a documentary on Chesapeake bay. The journey and story begins from where the Susquehanna r. meets the Chesapeake bay. I was insipired by the mountainous view and many, many islands in the river. It’s a landscape to paint. I finally saw the view with my own eye from New York to Washington DC! The cross winds at the location are pretty strong and variable. That’s a scary flight I’m sure. Thanks for the serial of that location.

[@samau70]

what a wonderful river

[@michaelpell9710]

That was great!!!! Thank you!!!

[@ForestRiver-pw7qy]

Man! Such a great video! I'm about to set out on a canoe trip and this has got me super stoked! Thanks!

[@ForestRiver-pw7qy]

Made me realize how clutch a small drone would be...to get a preview of what's around the next bend 😲

[@mikelong9638]

For a while I worked for an engineering firm that now uses the old CXY terminal for office space. I could commute from Reigle field to CXY (about a 10min. flight) and just walk up the stairs to my desk. I think this is every pilots dream to be able to commute to work in your airplane. Best part was I could avoid the turnpike toll.

[@tammylines2779]

Thank you so much this is the first time I ever got to see the

[@johnmaxwell1750]

Fantastic video! Thanks so much. The Susquehanna is a beautiful river.

[@markmotter7060]

So glad you are aware of the skydiving in Lancaster County. We occasionally get guys boring on thru like there is no symbol on the charts or anything.

[@smittysmitty481]

Really cool video!

[@marylousherman5471]

Nice tour....I am familiar with the far north end of the Susquehanna - up near Towanda and Sayre, PA. Not as wide up there but a lot of current.

[@Bstallday89]

I’m in Harrisburg this is awesome!

[@jeffreybryner1196]

Absolutely amazing video. I live by KLNS and have flown in and out of KCXY. Great flight. anyone from Central PA should see this and hopefully will love it.

[@JoeHainey]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sandergoldberg4508]

At about 15:20 on the right side of the river is the Dorsey Park boat ramp. A bit further down on the right side is the Peach Bottom Atomic Power plant. 10 miles down is Conowingo dam.

[@roberthollinger7900]

Thanks Joe, great video, been think for alot of years how to view the Susq River from the air. Boated the river on Lake Aldred which is between Safe Harbour Dam & Holtwood Dam for over 30 year had a boat from 1966-1996 & we accessed the river at Pequea. If U have not tried it yet your next adventure U should ride the Northwest Lancaster River Trail which runs from Columbia 14 miles northwest to Falmouth Boat ramp. See many of the cool sites along the way best one is the White Cliffs of Conoy which is just south of Bainbridge.

[@JoeHainey]

Thanks Rob. I have biked the Northwest Lancaster River. It is a great river trail.

[@teresabarber217]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this.

[@sandergoldberg4508]

At 18:16 good view of the Conowingo Dam Hydro electric plant. Drop is about 100 feet, then tidal waters going out to the Bay.

[@phillipstoltzfus3014]

It's a wide but relatively shallow river. Great video

[@Mr2fast4uall]

Good video really enjoyed that. I drive a potion of that on the way back home, upto Williamsport! Living in Georgia now. Planning a trip this year down the Savannah River with 17' ft. Boat.

[@FrankensteinDIYkayak]

I've always wanted to do a kayak trip on that stretch and am glad to see this video. if you could add better comments on the rapids and levels and repost that would be cool

[@hezekiaB]

I used to know the guy who farmed those islands. They barged everything across so they had to use small equipment and small trucks

[@picklep9812]

Thanks. I’m in BC and it was nice to see to land there.

[@michaelwilson8793]

Nice video.I see I-76 PA Turnpike,US 30,RT 462,RT 372, Conowingo Dam Bridge on US1 in Maryland,I-95,and US 40.

[@daniellevinson6975]

7:56 I'd recognize those two bridges anywhere❣️

[@daniellevinson6975]

8:10 I knew it!!

[@Timewyrms]

I also heard that John Wayne owned that farm but could never find internet evidence. I know the passenger from the Thomasville Flea. He likes my incinerator finds. Awesome video!

[@martinleicht5911]

Nice vid !! 😎

[@jasonvenesky2438]

Glad this video popped up! Do you have anything going north?

[@JisINSANE3]

Pause at 6:35 the island on the left hand side at river front park. The pile of rocks on the extreme right hand lower corner of that island is a round rock that looks totally out of place from the rest of the rocks and on that rock is a few petroglyphs left by the Irish Loyal orange lodge from who knows when and on the other side of the rock a victoria lodge engraving.

[@pallen2980]

Thanks for sharing some of my old stomping grounds, although, I would have had to go around Turkey Point light before heading back, but that's just me.

[@timkrouse345]

"Muddy Creek" 😆 I've paddled it and it was the most clear waters I've ever been on. Pristine.

[@frankkiefer3053]

Cool video. Not sure if you made it to safe harbor indian petroglyphs, but they are visible at every river level except flood stage. The most popular are big and little indian rocks. Let me know if you need GPS coordinates.

[@JoeHainey]

Thanks Frank. We did find them. I agree they would be acceptable under most river levels.

[@davidwatson7447]

I also noticed the level on the pond isn't low other wise the rock and stumps would be showing near muddy creek

[@gregelbert2005]

Very nice to see my old stomping grounds (Holtwood Pequea etc...) from the air. Living in Taos New Mexico now. Don't have waters like that here.

[@germanshepherd13]

very cool from Harrisburg.

[@stephaniepersin4222]

It’s hard to know where you’re at on the Susquehanna. I’ve crossed before when going to Harrisburg and have no knowledge of the islands.

[@odonnelletsu]

Thanks for the great video. I read somewhere that the Susquehanna is a mile wide at Harrisburg, but it doesn't look like it in this video. Does anyone know about that?

[@JoeHainey]

It is over a mile wide down below Wrightsville. The Lake Clark area due to the safe harbor dam.

[@bladenrexroth2555]

Awesome video. Could you possibly do a video goin north? Up towards Lockhaven and Renovo?

[@JoeHainey]

Bladen, I did a flight from NY down to Harrisburg with the GoPro's on the wings but the batteries died in the cold weather. We will be making the run again when it warms up.

[@bladenrexroth2555]

@@JoeHainey Thank you.

[@quantumpotential7639]

Is it possible to pack raft up the Susquehanna from Havre de Grace all the way to New York? Are there places along the way to roll out a sleeping bag / camp? Thanks

[@JoeHainey]

It is more common to head downstream from Cooperstown NY. The water level is important. It can be too low to kayak at times and would not be advised when the river is running high. The river is 444 miles long. I know some guys that have run the entire length.

[@billshuey9801]

it's an uphill climb, literally. From HDG to Columbia Pa. you are going UP 233 feet. That is why there are 3 major dams within a 30 mile stretch, because of the steep drop. I recently kayaked Octoraro Creek in Cecil Co. Md. from Horshoe rd to where it ends at the bottom of the Conowingo Dam. There are places that you can see how steep it is. But safe to kayak. And fun.

[@davidwatson7447]

you evening have a far away shoot of our cabin on muddy creek and you can see the line of debris down by peach bottom, great video, thanks

[@keiththomas3141]

Any of the fish in the Chesapeake Bay make their way up the Susquehanna River into York, PA?

[@msean331]

There are fish lifts on every dam so yes, we do occasionally catch rock fish.

[@markhill2279]

Might like to watch the yt vid 'Building the Conowingo Dam'....and see the original iron bridge that crossed the river about a 1/4 north of the dam.

[@craigcumpston5838]

Nice, but maybe overdub this with more information on what we’re seeing. A little less of the window popping up of the cockpit. In fact maybe a lot less. Thanks I enjoyed it.

[@snoolee7950]

I want to see this video in the winter with snow.

[@JoeHainey]

Here is a view of the Susquehanna with Ice. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWWkhmuwnt2njrssi=VnDrWr7iN7gtVmhA

[@catz_crazy6672]

3:14 Three Mile Island nuclear power generating station

[@G8rquest]

Should be a water park. Radiation can't be any worse for kids than school these days. I think I'm joking...?

[@edwomer591]

Nice video Joe! Keep up the good work and you could become one of the flying KZbin stars like Trent Palmer and Cory robins who do cool flying video's in their bush planes.

[@JoeHainey]

Thanks Ed. It is just a hobby, but I enjoy it.

[@DiMaggio82]

I live in wilkes barre and we would camp on richards island

[@sammyvh11]

Most of the spots I fished are now posted. Sucks

[@johnnybates7580]

My neck of the river.

[@parachuteguy3992]

When the river is sus😳😳

[@G8rquest]

She can be dramatic with a bit of a funk. That was my face when a I saw a team pull a body from that river at Bainbridge when I was a kid. I found another guy at Billmeyer in 2000, suicide. Still I've canoed from Falmouth to Delta and waded/swam across several times behind Armstrong Ceiling(Flooring was, until 7/22/22, in Lancaster) to Wildcat Falls where some ego shat a house and screwed that up. I still spend days rambling and scurrying the banks and hills there especially now knowing my recliner wants to kill me. I'm assuming you're a Maytown jumper? Been there done that. All within 1/2 mile of 'er is sus brah, mystery is the bait and I'm hooked.

[@bretz9276]

It is a castle

[@G8rquest]

It's the Reading House according Google Maps. I hiked up there 40 yrs ago for a view, heavily posted now.

[@MrRoach-yo3mz]

*Aces*

[@davidweggel9573]

This video could have been so much better. Very disappointing,instead of calling out all of the sites bridges, dams power plants you talked about your spots. Audio in and out. Thumbs way down

[@germanshepherd13]

TMI

[@G8rquest]

Too Much Information? Are you a mind reader? I couldn't help myself, sorry.

[@stevelandis223]

Stop making us look at your mugs every time you speak.... Just speak don't interrupt the video