Paddling the Boo Tour

The river tumbles out of the hill-and-valley country of un-glaciated Wisconsin northwest Sauk County, Wisconsin, before flowing lazily through Reedsburg and the Baraboo Valley. At Baraboo, the river breaks through the terminal moraine and spills rapidly through the city. Before the last glacier it may have turned south here and flowed through what is now Devil’s Lake. The last glaciation forced the channel to its present mouth at the Wisconsin River near Portage. In the eighteenth century, a French trader and trapper, called Francois Baribeau, had a trading post located at the river's confluence with the Wisconsin River. Research indicates it is from Francois Baribeau that the river gets its name.

A caution about paddling the Baraboo River. The river is mostly shallow, particularly in straight stretches. However it can be quite deep in areas of log jams and also on the outside corners of curves, especially after a rain event. On the outside curves it could be as deep as 14 or 15 feet. Even though the river, except for the La Valle and Baraboo rapids, is usually quite calm and slow moving, its is advisable to wear a life jacket when paddling.

How to Use this Self-Guided Tour:

• First Check for updates. Click profile at the bottom of the screen and then the gear. Click check for updates. The app will update. A notice of the update will appear above the Start Tour button. Tap it to update your tour.
• Click on the landing where you would like to begin your paddle. Click the arrow at the bottom of the screen to find your exact location.
• Nearby restaurants and other places of interest are found on the map's menu of choices. Tap the direction icon (curved arrow inside a square) at the top of the screen and choose either Apple Maps or Google Maps. Then use the map's search features to find amenities near you.
• In case of an emergency, use your phone's messaging service and type 911 in the To: frame. Send a message about your emergency. Keep texts short and to the point.

  • Your location: Provide as much detail about your location as possible.

  • The nature of the emergency: Quickly explain what type of assistance is needed—police, fire department, medical aid.

  • Any specific details that could help: Mention if there are injuries, if someone is in danger, or any other critical information.

  • Stay available for further communications.

There are several options to explore in the app including information about each river sections, launch images, and a map of the Baraboo River noting all of the locations. Tap the three lines in the top of the screen to find the map of all locations. Tap the down arrow at the bottom of the screen to find your exact location.