Wisconsin | Southern Wisconsin
Little Sugar RiverTin Can Road to American Legion Park Landing
Short lower Little Sugar route from the Tin Can Road bridge to Albany American Legion Park, ending at the public boat launch above Albany Dam.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Tin Can Road and follow the lower Little Sugar through Albany Wildlife Area context, joining the impounded lower Sugar and taking out at American Legion Park above Albany Dam. The selected route intentionally avoids the logjam-heavy upstream approach.
Access map
Put-in
Tin Can Road bridge accessTin Can Road is a bridge/trail launch, not a developed ramp. WRT says the small trail and launch are northwest of the bridge.
Take-out
American Legion Park LandingAmerican Legion Park is the mandatory take-out for this card. It is upstream of Albany Dam; do not continue into dam water unless a separate portage plan has been scouted.
Road shuttle
Stage American Legion Park in Albany first, then return to Tin Can Road. WRT notes the Sugar River State Trail makes the bike shuttle straightforward but also passes hunting-open trail corridor in season.
Additional access notes
- The Verona gauge is a proxy for the Little Sugar, so confirm actual depth, wind, and water quality before leaving Tin Can Road.
More route and safety guidance
- WRT excludes upstream Tin Can approaches because logjams are too common; this card starts at Tin Can to use the cleared lower reach.
- The route passes Albany Wildlife Area / Sugar River State Trail context. Expect hunting-season awareness, private banks, wind on the final impoundment, and proxy-gauge uncertainty.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Sugar River near Verona, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route and mileageTin Can Road to American Legion Park Landing, about 3.2 mi
Wisconsin River Trips documents this exact lower Little Sugar route and says the Tin Can-to-American-Legion split avoids the more logjam-heavy upstream reach.
- Take-out accessAmerican Legion Park public boat launch
The Village of Albany describes Legion Park on the river shore as offering a boat launch, and WRT identifies the same landing as a great public access above Albany Dam.
- Threshold ladder41-70 cfs average; 96+ cfs very high/water-quality caution
WRT ties the Little Sugar route to the Sugar River near Verona proxy and publishes shallow, average, high, and very-high cfs bands.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23USGS 05435950 38.0 cfs / 2.88 ft at 2026-07-23 15:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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