The Baraboo River Jeff Seering River facts A rebounding fishery Healthy watersheds and its watershed Rapids” by early inhabitants. Use of this term gradually S p The Baraboo is once again a free-flowing river. An effort began The Baraboo River fishery is recovering after removal of the r • make healthy rivers in g disappeared after most of this stretch became “tamed” by V a in the mid-1990s to restore the river through dam removal, last dams that impeded fish passage into the upstream waters. l le y The quality of our lakes and rivers is a reflection of how we take dams, but it has now returned since the dams were removed Cre culminating in October 2001 with removal of the Glenville Native Americans praised the fishery, and local newspapers in ek and the rapids re-exposed. care of our land. Waterfront property owners, inland residents, Dam. It was then recognized nationally as is the longest the 1860s reported 30-pound northern pike, stringers full of bass E recreational users, agricultural producers and other businesses all LR OY stretch of U.S. river restored through dam removal. -S and catfish and 100-pound sturgeon being caught. PA RT play a role in maintaining and improving the water quality in our A STATE TR Paddling Information AIL Creek 80 on Valley The DNR’s Priority Watershed Program was a key to river At the same time however, the developing communities were lakes and rivers. Lyd • KENDALL renewal. More than 500 participating landowners, especially • The average annual flow is 383 cubic feet per second (cfs). building dams to provide power to meet the needs of an

71 F There are a number of simple steps you can take to protect the o Real-time daily flow downstream of Baraboo can be seen u farmers, installed conservation practices, reduced pollution expanding population. The dams benefited the new residents n 82 k t ee a Cr river or lake in your watershed: i er n eav and helped improve water quality. at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/current/?type=flow l but also had a negative impact on the rich Baraboo River fishery. C C r e e (select site number 05405000). k The dams obstructed fish passage by limiting the movement into Properly dispose of garbage while on the river. It can About 120 miles long, with a watershed area of 655 square • • upstream cooler, shallower waters, their ideal spawning habitats. be easy to lose track of your garbage if you tip your canoe. miles, the Baraboo River begins in Monroe County near Kendall Most land along the river is privately owned. Respect private • The impoundments behind the dams slowed water flows and Please keep all garbage secured in your boat so you can dispose ELROY and ends at the Wisconsin River near Portage. It is the fourth property rights along the banks. No camping is allowed along Immature green heron deposited sediment on the gravel and rock riffles, the best of it when you return home. largest tributary to the Wisconsin River. the river, but public and private campgrounds are available nearby; contact the local Chamber of Commerce for more information. habitat for fish to spawn. • Properly dispose of household hazardous waste. Do not The river falls about 150 feet in elevation over its length, • By the 1990s these combined impacts had taken their toll. The pour old oil or pesticides in the ditch or wash paintbrushes at the but one-third, or about 50 feet, occurs in the five-mile stretch • When parking along road shoulders, pull completely off the end of your driveway. Storm sewers connect directly to our rivers S Baraboo fishery had become dominated by carp, bullhead and eym pavement. our through Baraboo. That portion was named the “Baraboo and lakes. To learn more about how to dispose of household Creek suckers. Removal of the last dams along the river has reversed UNION hazardous waste, contact your Land Conservation Department. CENTER those impacts. H 82 ill 33 80 s HILL COUNTRY TRAIL Cr Jeff Seering Direct downspouts onto your lawn or landscaping, not eek 33 Almost immediately after removal of the last dam, fish started •

HILLSBORO k onto hard surfaces. Allowing water to soak in rather than

e e

33 r moving back upstream. Spring runoff events began to scour the

33 82 C

We run off your property filters out pollutants and replenishes our

st Bra nch

k accumulated sediment off of the gravel beds and rock riffles.

e

WONEWOC e 82

r groundwater. n C a g k i e m B e s r r Reports of crappies, bluegills and channel catfish are now s B C 80 o g Manage your lawn to reduce pollution. Keep r W i • B C 40 r k 0 B common. Northern and walleye pike are being caught again ee B Cr IK E E grass clippings on the lawn, not on roads or sidewalks.

k lum e P re T C R throughout the river. Smallmouth bass fishing along the rapids A Lake Decomposing nutrients then bond to the soil rather than ch I an Dutch L Br 33 Redstone th Hollow through the city of Baraboo is a regular occurrence. And a small Sou 58 flowing down storm sewers. Reduce fertilizer and pesticide Lake e n

o step toward the ultimate recovery of the river is the occasional

t s applications to minimize runoff pollution. Use no-phosphorus d e R

e report of a sturgeon spawning along the shallows of the river k a fertilizers to reduce the availability of this water pollutant. L in the springtime. Plant native trees and shrubs. A recent Wisconsin study LA VALLE • r e k v e found that lawns created much more runoff than wooded i k e R e r e r C k

C r o e o 33 e areas. As a consequence the runoff from lawns carried eight b n e i r ra p a C p = Baraboo River w B

T y o Paddling the Baraboo River near Reedsburg. e l

a C

t times more phosphorus to the river than the runoff from t

H

i PORTAGE Paddling L similar sized wooded areas. REEDSBURG Cover photos: scenic - Gene Dalhoff; paddlers, Jeff Seering 58 IRONTON 51 N 39 16 W sin 23 33 iscon 78 COUNTY COUNTY R CAZENOVIA 136 iv 33 e 12 r

r 33 For additional information about the Baraboo River region, B 23 y e ll including shuttle services, restaurants and lodging, contact the a 90 V r 12 r k a e 94 e following Chambers of Commerce: k C r 33 ee C ROCK McG Cr b n b SAUK lyn a COLUMBIA B 154 N SPRINGS a Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce Paddle r r BD o 136 BARABOO w s ey C PO Box 442 C owl re 33 R e re k the ek 600 W Chestnut St Paddle RAILROAD CHI ERN Baraboo, WI 53913 23 CAG EST the O HW LIME RIDGE AND RT 154 NO 1-800-BARABOO (227-2266) Sk 136 k ill e C et

e k r Email: [email protected] r ee NORTH e k DL C e Baraboo r y C Website: www.baraboo.com e l e 12 e FREEDOM in 136 113 e P Baraboo S H 154 Reedsburg Area Chamber of Commerce il l P oint Creek LOGANVILLE 240 Railroad Street Devil’s Lake PO Box 142 23 Reedsburg, WI 53959 (608) 524-2850 or 1-800-844-3507 Email: [email protected] Website: www.reedsburg.org

“Paddle the Baraboo” map provided by Sauk County with support from: Natural and human history Historic view of the pedestrian bridge • City of Baraboo, City of Reedsburg to Effinger Park in The river tumbles out of the hill-and-valley The Baraboo has always lured people to its Baraboo. • Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce country of un-glaciated Wisconsin northwest shores. The effigy mound-builders chose the • Reedsburg Area Chamber of Commerce of Reedsburg before flowing lazily through riverbanks and surrounding hills for many of • Baraboo River Canoe Club glacial lake Reedsburg and the Baraboo Valley. their mounds, and later indigenous peoples Created by: At Baraboo, the river breaks through the settled along the river in villages, often near • University of Wisconsin–Extension terminal moraine and spills rapidly through these mounds. • Sauk County University of Wisconsin–Extension Reedsburg Woolen Mill. the city. Before the last glacier it may have The search for food, fuel and water also • Sauk County Conservation, Planning & Zoning turned south here and flowed through what spurred white settlers to settle first along is now Devil’s Lake. The last glaciation forced the river. Every village along the river owes the channel to its present mouth at the its start to the water power that fueled early Wisconsin river near Portage. commerce. As many as 11 dams powered At its confluence with the Wisconsin River, saw, grist and textile mills and eventually one story goes, there was a French trader and generated power for street lights and other Confluence of the trapper who in the eighteenth century had a electrical needs. The last remaining dam Graphic design by Jeffrey J. Strobel, UW Environmental Resources Center Baraboo River and Narrows Creek in trading post called Baribeau, after himself, and was removed in October 2001. Rock Springs. Native American the river came to be referred as such. There encampment in For questions or comments regarding the map, please contact GUIDE & MAPS Babb’s Woods near are other theories on the origin of the river’s Reedsburg, 1889. the Sauk County University of Wisconsin–Extension office at Encampment photo at right by D.O. Stine; all other historic photos name, but the truth may be lost in time. courtesy of the Sauk County Historical Society (608) 355-3250 during regular business hours. Sp rin g Va ll e y

C

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80 EA

71

F o k u 82 e n Cre t r a ave i e n Cl

C r e e k Sp rin g Va ll e y

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80 EA

71

F o k u 82 e n Cre t r a ave i e n Cl S C e r y e m e our k Creek Sp rin g O Va ll e y ETER

C r

e 82

e 33 80 k ERO OTR E TRA 33 Gheri Rd

80 G EA FF OEO 71

C F

o r

k o u e

82 s n e Cr s

t r m a ave

i e a n Cl S

G n

e C y

E C

r m

e o r u k T e

e r Cree R Cr e

k eek A k O Plum Strawbridge Rd Lake Redstone ETER Dutch 33 82 Hollow 33 80 58 OTR E TRA Lake e 33 n

o ERO t Gheri Rd s

D d ut e c Dump Rd. R h Ho e G k llow Rd Douglass a MAP KEY: Landing for paddlers Parking Restrooms Highways Township Roads or City Streets L Bike Trail Featured Paddling Segment

Wegner Rd Wegner BARABOO RIVER PADDLING SEGMENTS Park Rd FF S OEO V pr ing Paddling times for all river segments

V V C a TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL Jeff Seering

ll r o A AE e are estimates which can vary, depending y

LENGTH: LENGTH:s LENGTH: s r

C m

e

r E

e Union Center to LaValle LaValle to Reedsburg v Reedsburg to Rock Springs a

on river conditions and paddlers’ abilities. i

k e 19 miles, 14 miles, T 14 miles,

n S G R R e

k

e C A S e y E o

p r

7-10-hour m 4-6-hourr 8-10-hour r All segments are rated forek small rapids or T e o 33

in o Cre R C

g ur C A e b k a V trip reek trip r n trip a i Strawbridge Rd a

ll m u w e 2-3 hours easier paddling,Pl but high water levels B 58 y e T l C O t t

r and obstacles such as fallen trees can be i e Lake Redstone 80 L k 8-10 hours

e Dutch e k e ETER hazardous. 33 1 hour r C 82 Hollow y EA a REERG 33 80 58 H C Lake e o OTR E TRA n V p 51 33 o p 71 t e

s 39 r 16

F 80 Gheri Rd D d o u n e W i k t c Dump Rd. s u C is n h R k co 82 e n e r 78 r e 23 33 Tritz Rd C H e 3-5 hours e t 1 hour o e r k ll r e a ve G ow a Rd Douglass a k i le EA C n C L S. Walnut S. PORTAGE

C b 136 b

r Rd Wegner 33 e Park Rd a

e 71 R B A k GO F FF E A i

Rd GolfCourse o V T v k ER u OEO 82 e 4-6 hours R O e n re A R U C Ave. Dewey S. T t r V R r a e 23 O av C A U i e A AE n Cl r Ski Hill Rd o C s r r s e e m E 90 v e i T k k a R 12 R e G n A

e 94 o r

E C

o 33 r

C

Creek TR e b 33 e a

A r n R i ERO k d e a d R u Strawbridge Rd un

B 58 w o . m

um Man M ll St l T a P e W a l U n t 154 n t

i X R Thunderbird L k d Lake Redstone e Rd e N W Dutch r a PADDLING BASICS: 33 C r RO PRG 136 BD

ro d R

y wle OT A y a w Ro C Hollow y r ERO REERG s r e H 58 C C e e

• Total 19-mile, 7-10-hour trip, comprised of three shorter segments. o r h G 33 k c e OT OA

p e t P 51 Lake V e a

n p W k H o e ARAOO t 39 r 16 s • Paddle through a floodplain wetland and sandstone rock outcrops. PADDLING BASICS: Rd I d n D PF W i u Hatchery Rd s e C is n t k k co c Dump Rd. Small rapids are located just below Wonewoc and in LaValle under h R r 78 e 23 e

33 Tritz Rd e d

e e e

H • Total 14-mile, 4-6-hour trip, comprised of two shorter segments. DD R

r e r o l

k

l k Walnut l lo i C the Highway 58 Bridge. Fallen trees in this area may require you to w C a R Douglass Kohlmeyer

d S. Walnut S. H

S L e PORTAGE b k e n 136 c y carry your boat around them up steep, muddy and slippery banks. • Easy paddling through wetland forest with very b i W

m o

Wegner Rd Wegner 33 a P

o Park Rd R 136 R u B A PADDLING BASICS: W G r Cre GO S ek little development. Minor log jams may require E A k k i Rd GolfCourse i v • Trip can be shortened by stopping or starting in Wonewoc. TE e lle V R e t O r C e you to portage around them. Small rapids in RA R • Total 14-mile, 8-10-hour trip, with no shorter segments. ree DL U C k O Ave. Dewey S. T W V 23 RO U r A ORT LaValle at bridge; stay to the right. Ski Hill Rd W y S A AE • Numerous log jams make this trip difficult and will require you le ETER ey RIVER ACCESS & PARKING: PF e 12 m r W e 136 113 S REEO o e E to carry your boat around steep, muddy and slippery banks. 90 82 ur v C i reek T k 12 80 • Union Center: Park at the 400 Bike Trail parking lot or Spring Valley R 33 R RIVER ACCESSe & PARKING: A 94 o e r OTR E TRA o 33 Golf Course. C PF 33 O b 33 a R r • LaValle: Located atn the west end of Main Street. Parking is provided. RIVER ACCESS & PARKING: Rd e

i d Gheri Rd a U oun . u RIVER FEATURES: Man M l St m

B 58 w al W a

ETER • Wonewoc: Landing is located at County Rd FF within the village. e Restrooms across T street at trailhead of the 400 Bike Trail. U n l 154 n t • Reedsburg: Located off South Walnut Street south of the railroad

t X R Thunderbird Restrooms, grills and tables are available. i RIVER FEATURES: • Paddle below beautiful rock outcroppings near Reedsburg and d G 82 L k Rd Devil’s • Douglas Park: Located off of Douglas Road neare Redstone County N tracks. Watch for sign and turn right through the alley past the Public W 33 80 e a RIVER FEATURES: r r RO PRG 136 Rock Springs.BD r d

C o R OTR E TRA wle Lake OT A

• East of Wonewoc: On Highway 33 at Strawbridge Road. • The river parallels the 400 Bike Trail from LaValle to Reedsburg. Works garage. Park at the landing. No restrooms. y Park. Park at landing. Restrooms available aty County Park. w Ro C 33 y r a s r e

REERG e e H C

FF Gheri Rd Park at 400 Bike Trail parking lot. • Third Castle, a 300-foot C The trail provides an excellent bicycle shuttle route. r h G • River passes under several 1890s vintage railroad bridges. 33 k

c OA OT OA

o e t P

OEO • Reedsburg: Located off South Walnut Street south of the railroad p e • Rock Springs: The landing and parking are located off Cty Rd DD justa W 51 V k H rock outcrop located just outside of Wonewoc. p ARAOO e

• LaValle: Landing is at the west end of Main Street. • This stretch of the river is a bald eagle nesting area. south of Hwy 136 Bridge in Rock Springs. Restrooms Rd are located 39 16 tracks. Watch for sign and turn right through the alley past the r I • Passes through Ableman’s Gorge State Natural Area just upstream C G PF Hatcher r y Rd n W i k o s C is n

Restrooms across street at trailhead of the 400 Bike Trail. k across the street in the park. of Rock Springs. co • Opportunities for combination canoe/bicycle trips. Public Works garage. Park at the landing. No restrooms. e s

r d 78

e 23

33 e s Tritz Rd

e DD R

r

l m e Walnut l

r e i C

k Kohlmeyer

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S. Walnut S. n FF G k PORTAGE n

b c

i W C 136 o

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P R 136

r 33 a e

Creek TR W G R

A e B AG S

k k k O C E e ill i Strawbridge Rd A e Rd GolfCourse v m r TE e t

lu o r C P R Rd ree DL e O C k

s RA R nd W U s S. Dewey Ave. Dewey S. T ou m TOTAL TOTAL 23 RO MaTOTALn M ORT t. U r Lake Redstone A W y l S a LENGTH: LENGTH: Ski Hill Rd LENGTH: le al Dutch G n PF e W 12

e

33 E C W 136 113

(wayside) S REEO

r Rock Springs to Giese Park Giese Park to Glenville Landing Glenville Landing to the Wisconsin River

Creek TR e 17 miles, 8 miles, 26 miles, 90

Hollow A e k 12 58 Strawbridge Rd 6-hour 3-hour 8-10-hour 94 Lake e Plum X n trip trip tripPF 33 o W t R d e s R Lake Redstone 136 und u This map not to scale with the other five maps. o . m D d RIVER ACCESS & PARKING:an M t 12 M all S u e Dutch W a t n ch Dump Rd. R BD U 33 154 RAP n

H e owley X R Thunderbird o d k R C llow Hollow 33 r • Glenville Landing: Located off Hwy 113 at theDevil’s southeast corner of the Rd Rd Douglass a AA OPAT N e W L 58 a e PADDLING BASICS: e AOEAA r PADDLING BASICS: k city of Baraboo. Parking is available at the landing. No restrooms. d ARAOO RO PRG 136 BD Lake A r d Lake

n o

Wegner Rd Wegner

R R

wle OT A y 136 o Park Rd o w R C y r t y

s r e r s • Total 17-mile, 6-hour trip, comprised of two shorter segments. 33 C • Totale 26-mile, 8-10-hour trip, comprised of five shorter segments. e

e • Luebke Landing: 3 miles east of 113 on Cty Rd W. Parking is available h G k

D d r 33 c

OA OT OA h

V u e e t P t e a

c W

c Dump Rd. R t h k H

R at the site. No restrooms. a ARAOO

• Easy paddlingH with gentle current. Minor log jamse between • Most traveled portions are from Glenville Landing to Luebke Landing

V H E P W o Rd k G llow P I a A AE Rd Douglass P PF Hatchery Rd L Rock Springs and North Freedom may require portages. and from Luebkek to Hwy 33 bridge. All of these sections are less used • Hwy 33 Bridge, located on Hwy 33, 6 miles east of Baraboo. Difficult e r

d e

Rd Wegner

Broadway St DD R e Water St

r

E Park Rd l Walnut l

v PF and have poorer landings and access. i C access because of riverbank rip-rap. Park along Cty Rd U. No restrooms. i

T k Kohlmeyer H

• North Freedom is the halfway point in this stretch. R e R e k A c n e at her H y Rd c o V i W r I o o 33 CIRCUS P • TravelsR through a hardwood forest136 with occasional riffle stretches. C • Hwy 33 Wayside is located off Hwy 33 at the junction with I 90-94. b W G a WORLD r n V S i k k

a 12 e ille Steep banks at launch site. Parking at wayside. No restrooms. w A AE B 58 RIVER ACCESS & PARKING: e t

r • Occasional fallen treesC or log jams may require you to carry your T 113 e ree DL l C k r k Dr Race E nger W t Rd Kohlmeyer South Blvd Lover’s Lane

t e Walnut d i E e canoe up steep, muddy and slippery banks.

v ORT • Cty Rd U bridge is located on Cty Rd U, 1.5 miles south of 33, west of

L k • Rock Springs: The landing and parking are located off Cty Rd DD just R i e Manchester y

T k W W

e l r e

R l l R e e i r A PF e 12

o e C Portage. Unimproved landing. Park along road. No restrooms. H e C south of Hwy 136 bridge in Rock Springs. Restrooms are located in r 113 33 W 136 o TRE S REEO • Hwy 33 bridge to the Hwy 33 Wayside is through a channelized, C k e y b AG a a c

park across fromr the landing. n n REERG i H C a o i G straightened section of river through an intensive agricultural area. • Wisconsin River access near the mouth of the Baraboo is located at R o B 58 w P 136

p e T 51 V l PF p t Thunderbird Road. Take Cty Rd U, south to Reumann Road, then east e • North Freedom:t Landing and parking available in North Freedom Park i Hill St W 39 r 16 • Below the Hwy 33 Wayside the river flows through a mature floodplain L k e To n onto Thunderbird Road. Parking at landing. No restrooms. located south off of Walnut Street. Restrooms are located in the park. W i e s C r is n forest. High water events provide a unique canoeing experience. k co r C 78 e 23 33 Devil’s e Tritz Rd e e y r a Devil’s k • Giese Park: Located 2 miles west of Hwy 12 on Hatchery Road. REERG C Skillet C Lake H C r S. Walnut S. e PORTAGE b DL 136 o ek b Parking is available at the park. A rustic outhouse is available. p

W V 33 Lake 51 a p 113 R

B A e 39 GO r 16 E A i T Rd GolfCourse v n E W i R s C is n O k e co R R r U 78 A e 23 33 Tritz Rd S. Dewey Ave. Dewey S. T e R e r O e 23 A 3 hours r U k C Ski Hill Rd RIVERWalnut S. FEATURES: PADDLING BASICS: RIVER FEATURES: PORTAGE b 136

b 33 a

136159 90 R B A 12 • Scenery G isO mix of lowland forest, • Total 8-mile, 2-3-hour trip, comprised of four shorter segments. • Skillet Creek enters the Baraboo from the south draining a large area 1-2 hours 3 hours E A i T Rd GolfCourse 94 v ER wetlands, fieldsO and pasture. of the Baraboo Bluffs. e 33 RA R U S. Dewey Ave. Dewey S. T R • Paddle begins with gentle current, easy paddling. River turns sharply R r 23 OA Rd e U und u n Mo t. m • SomeSki Hill favorite Rd quartzite rock east at the vertical rise Mofa the Baraboo Bluffs.al l S A 50-foot elevation • Exposed pre-Cambrian quartzite is the oldest rock formation visible W a U n 154 n

outcroppings and bluffs rise from the drop within the next 5 miles of river Xcreates many riffle areas and in Wisconsin. R Thunderbird 90 d Rd N W 12 a riverbanks between Rock Springs and some small rapids in high water. Water flow that is below 250 cfs can 94 r RO PRG 136 BD

ro d • Circus World Museum in Baraboo commemorates R wle OT A w Ro y C 33 y North Freedom. make passage difficult due to exposed rocks.r R

r e s d e

e e R C the original winter headquarters of the 1-2 hours und u

h k o

r G 33 Man M St. 2 hours m c

OA OT OA all

e t P W a

e a W 2-3 hours U n k H • Several interesting 1880s iron railroad • This section is generally free of any obstacles to navigation. Ringling Brothers Circus. 154 n ARAOO X R Thunderbird d I Rd bridges cross in this stretch. Rd PF Hatchery Rd N W k a • The last dams on the river were r e RO PRG 136 BD

r d

d e o

R

A OT A

DD R RIVER ACCESS & PARKING: wle 2 hours

r o y

l w R C RIVER FEATURES:

Walnut l • Mid-Continent Railway Museum is y removed between 1996 and 2001 r i C r Devil’s e

Kohlmeyer Kohlmeyer s

e H e e C

h G k

k r 33 c

n OT OA

c located along the river in e t to improve water quality and

i W • Giese Park: Located 2 miles west of Hwy 12 on Hatchery Road. P

o e a W • Wildlife is abundant throughout this stretch, especially in the lowland forest by the Wisconsin River.

P k H R 136 W G Lake ARAOO S North Freedom. restore fishery access to the river’s k k Parking is available at the park. AI rustic outhouse is alsoRd available. Occasional log jams throughout this stretch can make travel difficult and require portages. e ille PF e t Hatchery Rd C k r re DL upper reaches and feeder streams. e e

C k W d

• Numerous city parks along the river and a riverwalk provide public e

DD R

• An old stagecoach trail parallels the river on the east for the last mile before the Hwy 33 bridge; r

l

Walnut l Five dams were once located in ORT i C

W y Kohlmeyer

e H l access, landings, restrooms, parking and picnic facilities. e several old bridges are still evident. PF e 12 k n c this stretch and were used to e 113 i W o W 136 P S REEO R 136 generate power for Baraboo’s early W G • Glenville Landing: Located off Hwy k113 at the southeast corner of Sk • Downstream of Cty Rd X, the river passes through Lower Narrows, highlighting the Baraboo e ille e t C Baraboo. Park at the landing. No restrooms.r reindustriale development. DL Bluffs, which rise 400 feet. PF C W k W y ORT le PF e 12 W e 136 113 S REEO Devil’s Lake PF

Devil’s Lake