Hammersley Fork Backpacking - Best Time of Year?

[dbargaehre]

Looking to take a trip into Hammersley Wild Area sometime this spring/early summer.

Been doing my research and planning the route on CalTopo, but wanted to get input from locals. I know this is a freestone and that water levels can vary pretty greatly. If I'm going to try to fish spots like the Bell Branch, Nelson Branch, Cow Run, and Upper Hammersley Fork (along the Susquehannock Trail System), is the 3rd week of June too late for decent water levels (assuming a "normal" water year)?

Being a born-and-raised west coaster with access to so much public land in the High Sierra, I find I have to get pretty deep into a trail to avoid seeing other folks. I don't want to stick around the trailhead.

The potential routes: https://caltopo.com/m/J1F647P

 

[Swattie87]

That area has become more popular as of late. Covid outdoor push maybe? But anyway, 10 years ago you could pretty much count on having the place to yourself, as long as you hiked up past the Nelson Branch confluence. Not so much anymore. I’ve had company on every trip in there as of late, except one dead of Winter outing with a good bit of snow on the ground.

On the average year, yeah, I’d agree June is probably the best balance of ideal stream temps (those northern tier streams take well into May to warm up and turn on), and flows. But, things can still vary wildly flows wise. IMO you’re best to keep your plans loose and try to head up after a good rain gets the streams full for a few days.

From a practical perspective, only HF main stem, and Nelson and Bell Branch are big enough to fish. Everything else is tiny, and unless Kettle is at flood stage won’t have enough water to fish. Many of them go dry some Summers.

Edit: Lots of rattlesnakes in there. Not stinkbait, and not trying to discourage anyone from going there, but be prepared. I see at least one more often than not when in there during the warm months. Wear your gaiters.

 

[dbargaehre]

That area has become more popular as of late. Covid outdoor push maybe? But anyway, 10 years ago you could pretty much count on having the place to yourself, as long as you hiked up past the Nelson Branch confluence. Not so much anymore. I’ve had company on every trip in there as of late, except one dead of Winter outing with a good bit of snow on the ground.

On the average year, yeah, I’d agree June is probably the best balance of ideal stream temps (those northern tier streams take well into May to warm up and turn on), and flows. But, things can still vary wildly flows wise. IMO you’re best to keep your plans loose and try to head up after a good rain gets the streams full for a few days.

From a practical perspective, only HF main stem, and Nelson and Bell Branch are big enough to fish. Everything else is tiny, and unless Kettle is at flood stage won’t have enough water to fish. Many of them go dry some Summers.

Edit: Lots of rattlesnakes in there. Not stinkbait, and not trying to discourage anyone from going there, but be prepared. I see at least one more often than not when in there during the warm months. Wear your gaiters.

that's a bummer about the extra pressure there. i got spoiled backpacking the high sierra for many years, where you can quickly get completely alone.

I've been looking around at some of the other state forests as well but finding trails/areas longer than 5-6 miles that are away from roads has been a challenge.

in the sierra i always defined the backcountry, arbitrarily, at around 5 miles in…basically it would discourage 99% of people from dayhiking it. as long as you stayed out of popular trailheads and trails and away from the PCT you could be the only human you see for a week at a time.

 

[wildtrout2]

My best advice with the Hammersley is to try to make it weekday trip. You're much less likely to encounter other fishermen. Probably, one of the most remote, roadless streams in Pa. It is home to it's share of rattlers, but don't forget the bears. On one trip a number of years ago, I saw four different bears, nowhere near each other. It's a special place.

 

[Swattie87]

Good advice from wt2 about trying to go during the week. Easier said than done with work, I know.

From any point in PA the farthest you can walk in a straight line without hitting a road in any direction is probably only a few miles, less than five. Hammersley included, and Hammersley is commonly cited as being the largest “roadless” area in the state, hence the allure. (Have no clue whether that’s accurate or not.) If you’re dead smack in the middle of the wild area you’re really only 3 or 4 miles from a road. Now granted, some of these are seldom used State Forest or utility roads of some kind, and there are mountains in the way, but still. In every neighboring drainage, there are roads.

OP - You’ll probably need to relax your definitions of what is remote for fishing in PA, but as a small stream guy I can tell you there’s plenty of remote, wild fishing to enjoy in PA. And the vast majority of the time, you’ll have wherever you are to yourself.

 

[Cznymph]

If you get off the STS, you’re likelihood of seeing people goes way down. The STS is pretty popular, but it still might only see a dozen hikers a week once you get away from a road or trailhead.

Snakes are prevalent, but it’s not something I would fret over. Watch where you place your feet and hands, certain places just look snakey. I’ve lived in the area my whole life and have never had a close call. The vast majority of bites in the area that I’m aware of were a result of people messing around with them.

Bears too, I’m sure you have experience with those from the West Coast. Just be mindful of food storage in your tent. I don’t think that the area sees enough use that bears are associating food with hikers.

If I had my choice of weeks, I would try for the first week of June. Cooler temps and a higher likelihood of normal flows. The second and third weeks of June are local snake hunts and you’ll see more people in that area.

No reliable cell coverage in the area. The Sts is well marked though, the side trails are a bit of crapshoot.

 

[Swattie87]

There’s a Verizon tower up at the top of the mountain at Tamarack now. There’s signal enough that I can text my wife from the parking lot at the lower end of the WA, near Hammersley’s mouth. The signal holds for maybe half a mile back into the WA, then fades out. But yeah, for the most part, assume no cell coverage. If you’re navigating by your phone, download and cache maps before you go, standard stuff.

 

[wildtrout2]

I have found the Topo Maps+ App to be very helpful in remote areas without cell service, where it uses GPS functionality. Just download your specific locations in advance.

 

[jifigz]

My post is not related to Hammersly directly, but I will say there are many, many places where you can fish in state forests throughout PA and not run into people, or at least very few people. Even though you may be rather close to roads and trails, you can easily get that wilderness-y feel and often have the place to yourself.

Sorry if that isn't helpful as it does not directly relate to your question, but...

As far as Potter Co streams, late June can be okay, but it can also be pretty dry. It can be a gamble. Stream temps should be good, though. As Swattie said, those streams can take a while to warm up and start fishing well.

 

[wildtrout2]

As much as I try to use the USGS to make decisions going north, I've been let down a lot. It's a crap shoot going up there.