Sugar Creek
🏔 Scenic River
Montgomery / Parke Co. · 90 mi · Class I–II
32,000CFS/ 18.69 ft
Flood↓Falling slowly (-100 cfs/hr)· -500 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 300–1500 CFS · USGS #03341500
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Indiana Natural & Scenic River · Turkey Run State Park · Shades State Park
Indiana's most scenic canoe river, flowing through covered bridge country in Parke and Montgomery counties. Sugar Creek passes sandstone bluffs, natural arches, and more covered bridges than any other river in the state. Turkey Run and Shades state parks bracket the best paddling stretch.
Trip sections
Shades SP to Turkey Run SP — 15 mi, signature section
Turkey Run to Montezuma — 20 mi, wider river, covered bridges
Outfitters
Sugar Creek Canoe Rental
Turkey Run area, family trips
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.