La Valle Landing
Miles: 3.25This is a fun and pretty trip in its own right, but can be combined with the previous trip. A delicious meal is just a short walk across the Hwy 58 bridge into the village. Access to the 400 hiking trail is closeby, as well. In fewer than 4 miles this trip presents a fun drop down a short but robust rapid, a historic railroad bridge, and several pretty exposed rock outcrops. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could explore Lake Redstone, since it’s close and geologically attractive.
Reedsburg Landing
Paddling Basics total 14 miles 8 - 10 hour trip with no shorter segments Numberous log jams make this trip difficult and will require you to carry your boat around steep, muddy and slippery banksRiver Access and Parking Reedsburg: Located off South Walnut Street south of the railroad tracks. Watch for sign and turn right through the alley past the Public Works garage. Park at the landing. No restrooms. Rock Springs: The landing and parking area are located off Cty Rd DD just south of Hwy 136 Bridge in Rock Springs. Restrooms are located across the street in the park. River Features Paddle below beautiful rock outcroppings near Reedsburg and Rock Springs. River passes under several 1890s village railroad bridges. Passes through Ableman's Gorge State National Area just upstream at Rock Springs.
North Freedom Landing
Paddling BasicsNorth Freedom is the halfway point in this stretch.River Access and ParkingLanding and parking available in North Freedom Park located south off Walnut Street. Restroom are located in the park.River FeaturesScenery is more of lowland forest, wetlands, fields, and pasture.
Giese Park Landing
Paddling Basics Total 8-mile, 2-3 hour trip to Glenville Landing, comprises of four shorter segments. Paddle begins with gentle current, easy paddling. River turns sharply east at the vertical rise of the Baraboo Bluffs. A 50-foot elevation drop withint the next 5 miles creates many riffle areas ans some small rapids in high water. Water flos that is below 250 cfs can make passage difficult due to exposed rocks. This section is generaly free of any obstacles to navigation.River Access & Parking Giese Park: located 2 miles west of Hwy 12 on Hatchery Road. Parking is available at the park. A rustic outhouse is also available. Numerous city parks along the river and a riverwalk provide public access, landings, restrooms, parking and picnic facilitiesRiver Features Skillet Creek enters the Baraboo from the south draining a large area of the Baraboo Bluffs. Exposed pre-Cambrian quartzite is the oldest rock formation visible in Wisconsin. Circus World Museum in Baraboo commenorates the oribinal winter headquarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus. The last dams on the river were removed between 1996 and 2001 to improve water quality and restore fishery access to the river's upper reaches and feeder streams. Five dams were once located in this stretch and were used to generate power for Baraboo's early industrial development.
Haskins Park landing
Approximate length 5 miles.This section of the River takes you through the historic rapids that led to the original settlement of the City of Baraboo. The landing at Haskins Park has been upgraded with a sloped walk-in entry as well as a stepped concrete pad set-up that allows you to drop into your canoe or kayak without putting afoot into the water or having to push off from solid ground. The park itself is a great place for a lunch break with a nice shelter, several benches and great restrooms all handy. Heading downstream from this landing offers several interesting tidbits. Immediately on the right bank is a home that once served the community as an ice house. Before refrigeration the River provided winter ice for the iceboxes found in homes before electricity. Much of that ice was cut from the river here where the water level was higher due to a dam just upstream. The ice house had insulated walls and a sheltered location that preserved the ice for use during the summer. Next is an small island in the middle of the River that was a column that supported a railroad spur providing access for deliveries to businesses along the River. Next comes the bridge over the Baraboo and the rubble left behind when the dam that powered a textile mill located here. The dam was removed in the mid 1970’s after the mill had burned down and the dam deemed unsafe. The mill filled most of the peninsula surrounded by the River while the dam race funneled the bulk of the water through the mill and returned it near the next bridge downstream. The Baraboo Riverwalk parallels the River for much of this stretch. This portion contains much of the elevation change in the river so low water events can require the dodging of rocks and maybe even an occasional push off a boulder. Much of the land along the river is parkland and the pedestrian bridge over the River that comes next connects 2 of those parks. The bridge was moved here some thirty years ago, salvaged from the east side of Baraboo. As the river continues paddlers will encounter the location of another of the previous dams that powered the city. These exposed rapids provide the strongest rapids on the river but stay to the left of the island and let the river carry you along the best route. Generally it takes until the next bridge to recover complete control so stay left and enjoy entering a more leisurely stretch. Riverfront redevelopment begins after the bridge with a distillery restaurant on one side and a riverfront apartment on the other. These improvements reflect trends prevalent throughout the country as communities rediscover the value of the rivers that brought people to their banks in the past and are capable of doing that again. Just beyond these developments are the grounds of the State’s Circus World Museum. The buildings once housed the animals, tents, wagons, and of the Ringling Brothers Circus, founded by the Baraboo brothers in the late 1800s. The grounds offer a chance to view performers, equipment, the big top and other features of the museum. Paddlers through this stretch are also entertained by circus related music provided throughout the circus grounds. A pedestrian bridge across the river here gives many visitors their first exposure to the Baraboo River. Shortly after the Circus grounds is another pedestrian bridge, this one a part of the route of the Baraboo Riverwalk and marks the site of another of the dams that were removed from the Baraboo River to restore it’s natural flow. A few more bends, a few more boulders and the river arrives at the Maxwell Potter Preserve and the Wise shelter building. The building is the former site of the waterworks for the City and is now a park shelter. This location again provides an excellent landing, bathrooms and picnic area.
Elroy Landing
Paddling BasicsThis is a new launch located at the Elroy Fairgrounds (Schultz Park)..Parking & AccessParking and restrooms availableRiver FeaturesYou will encounter a series of bluffs and small outcrops. The river narrows to a creek at some points.
Hillsboro Landing
Paddle BasicsLocated near the Land o Lakes building, This is a small, new launch on the West Branch of the Baraboo River.River FeaturesLots of meanders and potential logjams on this stretch of the river.
Wonewoc Landing
Located near the 400 Bike Trail off Washington Street.
Union Center Landing
Union Center is installing two landings in 2024, one near the golf course near Hwy 33 whre the Baraboo River flows from Elroy and another across the road where the Baraboo River flows from Hillsboro.
Maxwell Potter Conservancy
Approximately 1 mileThis section is a great birdwatching stretch. Sit back, relax and study the woods that line the river. Deer, fox, muskrats, beaver and even mink along with a wide variety of birds have been spotted along this stretch. Clark Creek merges into the Baraboo River along this reach. This tributary flows out of the Baraboo Bluffs. Its watershed covers steep lands with shallow bedrock making it very susceptible to extreme runoff events. This stream has a history of damaging flooding. Just before the landing at Glenville paddlers cruise past the site of the fourth dam removed from the Baraboo. The old power station is still visible on the left riverbank. The dam removal initiative, one of the first such efforts in the nation and even the world, earned the Baraboo the title as “the longest river restoration through dam removal in the world”. Since then the dam removal initiative has spread worldwide and the title may no longer be accurate. But it still certainly ranks as one of the best fisheries ever restored through dam removal as the smallmouth bass fishery is impressive. Takeout at Glenville Landing comes quickly at the bridge ending this approximately 20 minute run.
Luebke Landing
7.5 milesFor a number of years there was a very challenging log jam about midway along the reach. The initIal jam had collected years of additional floating debris backing up flows for a long reach that was nearly impossible to go over. Even more difficult was going around that log jam. Steep muddy banks were a challenge and often required a combination of dragging boats across the top logjam with ropes from atop the steep muddy banks. This jam was addressed and removed using funds provided to the Friends of the Baraboo River by Sauk County. The end section of this stretch has been characterized as boring. Cropped fields and a straightened channel make it prone to major logjams.
Hwy 33 Bridge to Wisconsin River
Approximately 10 miles (from MIles Paddling)This section has two different characters depending on the river level. When the river is anywhere near average flow levels it is a long slow winding paddle through a floodplain forest. In the spring when the snows are melting and the rivers are overflowing it can be an enchanting trip. The lack of leaves at this time in spring provides great bird viewing with migrating warblers and other songbirds scattered among the trees. The Baraboo ends when it reaches the Wisconsin River and the paddler can decide to end the journey then or continue on. (From Miles Paddled)
Rock Springs
Miles: 7.75This is a splendid trip that offers a ton of diversity and diversions. There’s decent enough access to the river off a wayside at Highway 136, at the base of Ableman’s Gorge, an exhumed bluff over a billion years old that rises some 200’ high and is three-quarters of a mile long. The first mile of this trip is simply exquisite and unlike anywhere in southern Wisconsin. You’ll be in the heart of the Upper Narrows of the Baraboo Range. There’s an otherworldly feel where hemlock, birch and conifers are juxtaposed with a loose jumble of quartzite boulders embedded in the cliffs. Long straightaways follow past some lovely meadows together with a few more modest rock outcrops and hillsides here and there. There may be some obstructions to negotiate on your way towards North Freedom. Soon you’ll see old railroad cars along the right bank, part of the Mid-Continent Railway Museum (where you can actually take a 7-mile, 1-hr ride around the Baraboo hills in a preserved railroad car). There's excellent access on the left at North Freedom Park just after the museum grounds.
Glenville
Approximately 7.5 milesThis stretch winds through some mix of wooded lands and some pastures. Steep muddy banks make this a less used part of the Baraboo River.
