See all 5 routes on Sugar River
Wisconsin | South Central Wisconsin
Sugar River
Bowman Park / Albany to Head Gates Park / Brodhead
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch from public Bowman Park and take out at Head Gates Park for the lower Sugar River Albany-to-Brodhead day route. The route is beginner flatwater, but the Brodhead dam boundary and low-water floor are non-negotiable.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Bowman Park / South Water Street accessBowman Park is documented by Miles Paddled as public even though private tubing operations may be nearby. Use only public park access and posted parking.
Take-out
Head Gates Park / Brodhead accessHead Gates Park is the mandatory take-out before the Brodhead/Decatur Dam hazard. Identify the exit before entering the final lake/dam approach.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Bowman Park is documented by Miles Paddled as public even though private tubing operations may be nearby. Use only public park access and posted parking.
- Head Gates Park is the mandatory take-out before the Brodhead/Decatur Dam hazard. Identify the exit before entering the final lake/dam approach.
- Sweet Minihaha and other private facilities are not assumed public access or campsites for this card unless the paddler has separate permission/reservation.
Watch for
- Below 60 cfs on the Verona gauge, when Miles Paddled says the route becomes very shallow and frustrating.
- Decatur Lake route choices, lake wind, tubing congestion, private banks, strainers, and slow current.
- The Brodhead/Decatur Dam boundary, small or hard-to-see dam warning signs, and any dam-portage/repair changes around Head Gates Park.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Sugar River near Verona, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 60 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Sugar River VI minimum on Verona gauge |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route and endpointsBowman Park to Head Gates Park, 7.25 mi
Miles Paddled documents the Albany-to-Brodhead route, beginner flatwater character, exact GPS endpoints, and public Bowman Park access.
- Threshold floor60 cfs minimum on Sugar River near Verona
Miles Paddled says below 50 cfs is extremely shallow and frustrating and recommends a minimum of 60 cfs on the Verona gauge.
- Dam and camping contextBrodhead dam boundary; nearby Sweet Minihaha and Crazy Horse campgrounds
Travel Wisconsin describes Sugar River dam-portage context and lists nearby private campground options in the Albany/Brodhead corridor.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05435950 37.8 cfs / 2.88 ft; USGS 05436500 262 cfs / 0.86 ft at 2026-07-23 14:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Verona and Brodhead data during this run; the selected Verona planning gauge is below the Miles Paddled floor.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Sugar River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Sugar River?
Paddle Today watches Sugar River near Verona, WI and uses 60 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Sugar River route start and end?
This route starts at Bowman Park / South Water Street access and ends at Head Gates Park / Brodhead access, about About 7.25 mi on the water.
Is this Sugar River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.