Sugar River in Wisconsin

Trip Overview

The Sugar River is a popular destination for many people in the Madison area. It features a really great first half of the trip with lots of obstacles to maneuver. It goes through some wild life preserves and private farm land. There is one dam to portage halfway on the trip through a lake.

The last part of the trip is pretty much slow moving and flat water that attracts tubers. There is a big eagle's nest in the last part of the trip before getting back to the campground.

We decided on the six hour trip from Attica WI to Camp Sweet Minihaha Campground in Brodhead, WI. You have to really work on problem solving skills to get through the felled trees. The campground does a great job of making it a family orientated trip for all experience levels and canoes the river at least twice a week to ensure that even though clear paths are there, it is not dangerous to anyone.

There are lots of places to stop and like I said, very popular. If you want to be the only ones on the river, you wont be. If you want to take little ones with you or break in newbies...this is your place. The river is shallow and slow moving. The scenery is lovely and the nature preserve is beautiful.

You have your choice of a 1.5 hour. Put in at Albany (which I saw several children with their parents) a 3 hour at County Rd EE or a 6 hour trip from Attica (which is the most beautiful part of the trip)

Accommodations:

Camp Sweet Minihaha Campground

The staff is very friendly and helpful. The shuttle service run on a schedule. You park your vehicle and they shuttle you to one of the three trips you choose. They have a small shop with bathrooms on site.

Fees:

We rented canoes from Camp Sweet Minihaha.

Directions:

Directions to Camp Sweet Minihaha from Madsion:

Take Hwy 14 E for 14 miles; Turn right onto WI-92 for 1.5 miles; Turn left onto WI � 104 for 9 miles; Turn right on WI�59

Stay straight at stop sign in Albany and continue to follow CR- E for 4 miles - Campground on your right