Baraboo River reclaimed, free-flowing

When the last of its dams came out 25 years ago, the Baraboo River became the longest free-flowing stretch of reclaimed river in the U.S. Once the backbone of industry, the river now is a haven for paddlers and anglers.

The river falls 150 feet as it flows south, dropping a whopping 50 feet in Baraboo alone. Its rapids provide a fun-filled experience aboard a canoe or kayak. Its modest depth – waist high in most spots – makes it a safe place for beginners to learn.

The riverbed lies in a finger of what once was a glacial lake, fed when melting ice sheets tumbled down the Baraboo Hills. Today it winds 120 miles from Kendall to Baraboo, before emptying into the Wisconsin River at Portage.

The Baraboo River once had several dams. Conservation groups looking to improve fish habitat  and facilitate recreation got the last of these removed in 2001.

The 10-mile stretch from North Freedom to West Baraboo is ideal for a day trip, as it takes four to five hours to complete. Put in at Firemen’s Park and sail through the countryside before taking out at Haskins Park. Or add an hour or two to your trip, and go the Glenville landing south of Baraboo. You can float right through Circus World, located on the river flats where the Ringling Brothers of Baraboo started the Greatest Show on Earth.

Along the way, you’ll find several access points, usually parks, that provide an opportunity to pull your craft from the water and enjoy a break.

The river’s path is a gold mine for geology buffs. Baraboo’s ancient quartzite range features some of the oldest rocks in North America. Burial mounds built by the Ho-Chunk remain, some located within half a mile of the river, near Circus World and inside Devil’s Lake State Park.

Improved habitat has stocked the river with fish, especially sturgeon, Northern pike and smallmouth bass. Nature lovers paddling down the river or strolling along the Baraboo Riverwalk are likely to spot Canada geese, great blue heron, ducks, turtles and the occasional bald eagle.

You may have to portage around a log jam or a downed tree, but for the most part you’ll find your Baraboo River excursion free of obstacles. For information on events and ongoing conservation work, visit the Friends of the Baraboo River website at friendsoftheboo.org

Photos by Bill Johnsen and Carla Minsky