See all 5 routes on Sugar River
Wisconsin | South-Central Wisconsin
Sugar RiverCounty Road X to County Road EE
Longer mellow Sugar River day where the main question is still water level. Stay above the Verona low end, then treat the rest of the score with a little caution.
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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
Use the County Road X bridge access south of Belleville and finish at County Road EE north of Albany. This is a mellow wooded float, but low water and the full 11.5-mile length make the day feel bigger than it first looks.
Access map
Put-in
County Road X bridge access (Sugar River)These accesses are supported by the regional Capitol Water Trails map, and Wisconsin DNR confirms downstream public parking and a boat launch in the Albany Wildlife Area corridor, but the exact County Road EE bridge landing still deserves a same-day check.
Take-out
County Road EE bridge access (Sugar River)County bridge landings can be muddy or debris-prone after rain, especially on the take-out side.
Road shuttle
Plan a car shuttle and confirm parking etiquette at both bridge accesses before leaving a vehicle.
More route and safety guidance
- This is an 11.5-mile commitment with mellow current but possible strainers or fresh deadfall on outer bends after storms. Build in daylight and fatigue margin, and be prepared to turn back or stop at a safe established landing if the channel is blocked.
- The regional map supports both bridge accesses, but County Road EE remains a lighter-confidence landing and bridge approaches can be muddy or debris-prone. Verify parking etiquette, the exact take-out, and any posted restrictions before leaving a vehicle; use the named public access corridor rather than private banks.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
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
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Sugar River near Verona, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 60 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MilesPaddled Sugar River V minimum-flow note |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Published minimum60 cfs
MilesPaddled recommends avoiding very low flow on the Verona gauge so this segment does not turn into a shallow, frustrating day.
- Trip styleMellow, full day
County Road X to County Road EE is a scenic 11.5-mile float with low water as the primary quality problem rather than technical difficulty.
- Access supportRegional trail map
Capitol Water Trails maps both bridge access points, but local parking authority is still lighter than a formal DNR access page.
- Downstream public-access corridorAlbany Wildlife Area has parking and a boat launch
Wisconsin DNR says Albany Wildlife Area offers a parking lot and a boat launch on the Sugar River corridor, which improves downstream public-access confidence near Albany even though it does not by itself prove the exact County Road EE bridge landing.
- Gauge contextVerona gauge only
The Verona gauge gives a useful low-water mark, but there is still not enough high-water guidance for this exact lower Sugar segment.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Sugar River
All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
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