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| RIVER: | Baraboo River |
| LOCATION: | Baraboo, Wisconsin |
| AMENITIES: | Click for Baraboo Area Amenities (food, lodging, etc.) |
| PUT-IN: | Just upstream of Hwy.12 |
| TAKE-OUT: | Fishermen's boat launch ramp / parking site at Hwy. 113 |
| SHUTTLE: | Proceed S. 0.2 mile on 113 to CTH.W. Right 1.8 miles to Quarry St. Right and immediate left onto Lynn Ave, 0.7 mile to Moore St., right 0.2 mile to Carpenter St., left 0.5 mile to US12, right 0.3 mile to large parking lot on left (vacant large building, former Kmart or something such). |
| DIST: | 4.5 miles |
| TIME: | 1.5 hours |
| CLASS: | I-II |
| CHARACTER: | Urban swiftwater, with one or two possible areas for minor play. |
| GRADIENT: | 10 FPM |
| GAUGE: | U.S.G.S. |
| SEASON: | Paddleable most of spring and summer. Best early spring, of course. |
| ANALYSIS: | Min.=26 cfs; 90%=140 cfs; 10%=780 cfs; Max.=7,540 cfs; 10/90=5.6
> 750 cfs = 37 days/yr, 30/30yrs > 1500 cfs = 11 days/yr, 25/30yrs > 2500 cfs = 3 days/yr, 14/30yrs > 3500 cfs = 1 day/yr, 5/30yrs |
| Removal of three dams in about two miles of river in the area historically referred to as "Baraboo Rapids" has restored this river to a free-flowing state.
At the listed put-in, just upstream of the Hwy.12 bridge, a minor island constricts the river and forms a pair (either side of the island) of playable wave/holes. Downstream a half mile, swiftwater riffles and rips (class I) will be encountered as the river doubles back on itself around a right-hand bend and proceeds along a fine city parkway. Not far downstream, the Oak Street (former) damsite (between Broadway (old Hwy.12) and Walnut (Hwy.123)) is encoutered. A couple treed islands split the wide river here, and some decent waves form in each channel. While some minor surfing may be possible at certain water levels, moreso this appears to be little more than (at most levels) exciting 'splishy-splash' for novice canoeists or kayakers. Shortly downstream you will pass under a pedestrian walkway as you go through the Circus World Museum property. As you pass around a right-left bend, the site of the next dam/removal is encountered. This appears to have been turned into a wide gravel shoals area, and creates little more than riffles and small waves. Good current moves you through here and down the next mile or so, past the third dam/removal site (where nary a riffle will be found) and to the landing immediately downstream of the Hwy.113 bridge. |