Pennsylvania Route 44 (PA 44) is a -long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route, which is signed north-south, is designated from Interstate 80 (I-80) and PA 42 in Buckhorn northwest to the New York state line near New York State Route 417 (NY 417) in Ceres Township.
Commissioned in 1927 by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, PA 44 originally ran from the New York state line to Jersey Shore. Today, the highway is a scenic route from Columbia County to Potter County.
Route description Columbia and Montour counties
PA 44 begins in the census-designated place of Buckhorn in Hemlock Township, Columbia County, at an intersection with PA 42 and exit 232 of I-80. From here, the route heads northwest along two-lane undivided Buckhorn Road, passing businesses before running past homes in Buckhorn. The road continues through a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes through the Appalachians. PA 44 winds north and curves northwest to enter Madison Township, passing through more rural areas. The route runs through agricultural land with some woods and residences, turning west before heading back to the northwest, winding across a wooded ridge. PA 44 turns to the north and comes to an intersection with PA 642, at which point the two routes become concurrent along Danville Road. The road passes through farmland with some development and heads into the community of Jerseytown, where it passes homes and a few businesses and curves northwest to come to an intersection with PA 254. At this intersection, PA 642 ends and PA 44 continues northwest along White Hall Road, heading through agricultural areas with some woods and residences.
The route enters Anthony Township in Montour County, passing homes in the community of White Hall and running through agricultural and wooded areas in the Muncy Hills, turning to the west. The road continues west-southwest through farmland with some woodland and residences, passing through the community of Exchange. Farther west, PA 44 crosses into Limestone Township and reaches a junction with PA 54 near the community of Schuyler. At this point, PA 44 turns west for a concurrency with PA 54 on Continental Boulevard, passing through more rural areas.
Northumberland and Union counties
PA 44/PA 54 enters Lewis Township in Northumberland County and becomes an unnamed road, running through farmland with some development. The road runs through a patch of woodland before it crosses into the borough of Turbotville, where it gains a center left-turn lane and passes businesses. PA 44 splits from PA 54 by turning south onto two-lane Main Street, crossing Norfolk Southern's Watsontown Secondary railroad line at-grade and heading into residential areas. The road curves to the southwest and continues past homes and a few businesses before it leaves Turbotville for Lewis Township again. Here, the route becomes an unnamed road that runs through agricultural areas with some woodland and development. PA 44 crosses into Delaware Township and continues through rural land before it enters the borough of McEwensville. Here, the route becomes Potash Street and runs west through residential areas of the borough, crossing the alignment of the Susquehanna Trail at Main Street. The road crosses back into Delaware Township and becomes unnamed again, passing farm fields before crossing under I-180 without an interchange. PA 44 runs west through a mix of farmland and woodland a short distance to the south of Warrior Run and the Watsontown Secondary tracks. The route curves northwest and crosses the creek and the railroad tracks at-grade in a wooded areas.
PA 44 enters the borough of Watsontown and becomes McEwensville Road, passing homes and crossing Norfolk Southern's Buffalo Line at-grade prior to reaching an intersection with PA 405. Here, PA 44 joins PA 405 on Main Street, heading northwest past homes before running through the downtown area. The road passes through more residential areas before it becomes the border between Delaware Township to the west and Watsontown to the east. PA 44/PA 405 fully enters Delaware Township and continues north-northwest through farmland as an unnamed road. In the community of Dewart, the road passes businesses before PA 44 splits from PA 405 by turning to the west and passing farm fields. The road comes to a bridge over the West Branch Susquehanna River via Bridge Avenue; this is the former location of the historic Allenwood River Bridge, which was replaced by the current concrete structure in 1990. Upon crossing the river, PA 44 enters Gregg Township in Union County and heads west along Bridge Avenue, crossing the Union County Industrial Railroad at-grade and passing through residential areas in the community of Allenwood. The route intersects US 15 in a business area and turns to the west-northwest, becoming an unnamed road and running through agricultural areas to the north of the White Deer Hole Creek in the White Deer Valley. The road passes residential areas in the community of Spring Garden and continues through rural areas as it passes south of United States Penitentiary, Allenwood.
Lycoming and Clinton counties PA 44 enters Washington Township in Lycoming County and continues west through agricultural areas in the White Deer Valley. In the residential community of Elimsport, the route turns to the north. PA 44 runs north-northeast through farmland and reaches an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 554, where PA 44 makes a turn to the west-northwest. The road runs through farm fields with some development before it enters a tract of the Tiadaghton State Forest and heads west to ascend North White Deer Ridge, one of the ridges on the Appalachian Mountain system. At the summit, the route crosses into Limestone Township and descends the ridge. PA 44 leaves the state forest and continues through wooded areas, turning to the northwest. The road passes through a mix of farm fields and woods before it runs through the residential community of Collomsville. The route comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 654 and heads west through agricultural areas, passing homes in the community of Oval. PA 44 runs west through farmland with occasional residences before heading into woodland and turning to the north. The road crosses Antes Creek and curves northwest, reaching an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 880. The route and the creek head north through a gap in the forested Bald Eagle Mountain range, crossing into Nippenose Township. North of the gap, PA 44 runs near homes as it passes to the west of the community of Antes Fort and comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Buffalo Line. The road runs north-northwest through farmland with some development before it turns west and crosses the West Branch Susquehanna River onto Long Island, where it passes farm fields before heading over more of the river.
After crossing the river, PA 44 enters the borough of Jersey Shore and becomes Allegheny Street, immediately turning north onto North Main Street. The route runs between residences and businesses to the west and the West Branch Susquehanna River to the east, leaving Jersey Shore for Porter Township. The road passes more development to the west of the river, heading north-northeast to a trumpet interchange with the US 220 freeway on the border between Porter Township to the west and Piatt Township to the east. At this point, PA 44 forms a wrong-way concurrency with US 220 on a four-lane freeway officially signed as the "Frank D. Oreilly Highway", heading west into Porter Township. The freeway heads through wooded areas to the north of Jersey Shore, coming to a bridge over the Lycoming Valley Railroad. US 220/PA 44 reach a diamond interchange with Thomas Street that serves Jersey Shore before continuing southwest near residential development, passing under the Pine Creek Rail Trail before coming to a bridge over Pine Creek. Upon crossing the creek, the freeway enters Pine Creek Township in Clinton County and PA 44 splits from the US 220 freeway at a diamond interchange by heading north onto a two-lane undivided road, passing a mix of farm fields and development.
The route crosses Pine Creek back into Porter Township in Lycoming County, heading northwest between farmland and the Pine Creek to the southwest and the Pine Creek Rail Trail and forested mountains to the northeast. The road crosses into Watson Township and crosses the trail. From here, the roadway winds north through forested areas with some residential development, with the creek and trail to the west. PA 44 comes to an intersection with the western terminus of PA 973 in the community of Tomb. The route, along with the Pine Creek and the Pine Creek Rail Trail, continue into the forested Pine Creek Gorge, winding north. The road enters the Tiadaghton State Forest and crosses into Cummings Township, turning west to pass through the community of Ramsey. PA 44 continues northwest through the gorge and crosses Little Pine Creek in the community of Waterville. The route heads west and crosses the Pine Creek Rail Trail and Pine Creek before it makes a turn to the north. PA 44 comes to an intersection with the western terminus of PA 414, which continues north through the Pine Creek Gorge. From here, PA 44 turns west and heads through dense forests within the Tiadaghton State Forest, passing Upper Pine Bottom State Park. The road continues northwest into McHenry Township and reaches a junction with the northern terminus of PA 664 in the community of Haneyville. At this point, PA 44 becomes Coudersport Pike and runs along the border between Gallagher Township, Clinton County, to the west and McHenry Township, Lycoming County, to the east. The route heads north through dense forests, turning to the northwest. The road bends back to the north and runs along the boundary of Grugan Township, Clinton County, to the west and McHenry Township, Lycoming County, to the east as it runs between the Sproul State Forest to the west and the Tiadaghton State Forest to the east. Farther north, PA 44 forms the border between Chapman Township, Clinton County, to the west and McHenry Township, Lycoming County, to the east. The route fully enters Brown Township in Lycoming County and continues north through the Tiadaghton State Forest as an unnamed road, passing through the community of Pump Station. The road runs through more of the state forest and makes a turn to the west.
Potter and McKean counties