See all 5 routes on Sugar River
Wisconsin | South-Central Wisconsin
Sugar River
Highway X to Attica Highway C Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Sugar River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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
Put in at the Highway X public access and take out at the Attica Highway C access. This is a simple lower-Sugar float with easy current, a wooded final mile, and a clear Verona-gauge ladder.
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
Highway X public accessThe accesses are bridge-area public landings, so confirm parking and bank conditions before committing to the shuttle.
Take-out
Attica Highway C AccessThis route overlaps the upstream half of the longer County Road X to County Road EE entry, but the Attica take-out creates a shorter, cleaner beginner day.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The accesses are bridge-area public landings, so confirm parking and bank conditions before committing to the shuttle.
- This route overlaps the upstream half of the longer County Road X to County Road EE entry, but the Attica take-out creates a shorter, cleaner beginner day.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping below the normal summer range.
- Strainers after storms or at higher, pushier levels.
- Turbid water, limited scenery on some open-bank miles, and cold-water exposure outside summer.
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
Why this score
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 |
| Target band | 21 cfs to 130 cfs |
| Low threshold | 0 cfs |
| High threshold | 201 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Sugar River - Hwy X gauge guide |
| 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.
- Published route ladder21 to 130 cfs normal window
Wisconsin River Trips ties the Highway X-to-Attica route to the Sugar River near Verona gauge and publishes bands from low-but-navigable through very high/adventurous.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05435950
USGS operates the Sugar River near Verona monitoring location used by the route-specific gauge guide.
- Put-in supportHighway X public access
Wisconsin River Trips describes an excellent public access northeast of the Highway X bridge.
- Take-out supportAttica Highway C Access
Wisconsin River Trips describes the Attica Highway C access north of the bridge as another good public Sugar River access.
- Endpoint coordinatesHighway X 42.8000248, -89.4863567; Attica 42.7701609, -89.4786942
The embedded Wisconsin River Trips trip map places the endpoints at the Highway X and Attica Highway C public accesses.
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 treats 21 cfs to 130 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Sugar River route start and end?
This route starts at Highway X public access and ends at Attica Highway C Access, about 5.4 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.