Likely too low for any reasonable whitewater. (Or . . . add a comment if you find playable waves at these low levels!) Gauge (609 sq.mi. drainage) lies a few miles downstream of reach. No significant tribs intervene, so it should be quite accurate for flow in this reach.
River Description
Removal of three dams has restored this stretch (formerly known as the "Baraboo
Rapids") to free-flowing.
Generally gentle gravel-bed rapids in a wide, shallow riverbed may provide some local
entertainment at the right flows. Specifically, the best rips (that I'm aware of) occur:
(1) at the put-in (within sight right upstream of Hwy.12),
(2) at the former "Oak Street Dam" site, where some minor playable waves form up,
and
(3) near the Circus World Museum.
All may be viable as individual park-and-play sites, or the full reach may be enjoyed as a
pleasant swiftwater 'splishy-splash' run for local novice boaters. (At the levels I have looked
here, I have not seen anything which would appear to merit very far a drive for serious
whitewater play boaters, but ....)
There is a very scenic longer reach upstream of the described reach which would
make a pleasant flatwater float trip. This has been detailed in published canoe guidebooks.
Below is a fine bit of video (~7.5 minutes) from Tom Lindblade, running the longer reach. The
video shows a stretch of rapids from about 2:00 until 3:25 on the 'counter'. (This is not the
only rapids on the river, just the only significant rapids on the video.) You can watch the whole
video, or (once enough of the video is loaded) click-and-drag the 'slider' to the 2-minute mark
to view the (class I, splishy-splash) rapids.
Fun fact: Boat thru Circus World Museum property!
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2010-09-29 22:44:48
Canoeing on the Baraboo
DetailTrip Report
Canoeing on the Baraboo
@Baraboo Hwy.12 to Hwy.113 (4.5 miles), (4.57MB .jpeg)
Gauge Information
Gauge Description:
Minimum listed is very tentative. (I have not boated this reach, but have seen it at a few different water levels.) If you have knowledge and experience boating this reach, please suggest boatable levels via the 'Add a Comment' button which should appear in the "Comments" tab page.
Likely too low for any reasonable whitewater. (Or . . . add a comment if you find playable waves at these low levels!)
Gauge (609 sq.mi. drainage) lies a few miles downstream of reach. No significant tribs intervene, so it should be quite accurate for flow in this reach.
Range
Water Level
Difficulty
Comment
0 - 500
cfs
extremely Low-barely Low
I
Likely too low for any reasonable whitewater. (Or . . . add a comment if you find playable waves at these low levels!)
500 -2000
cfs
barely runnable-high runnable
I-II
Best flows are unknown. Can you help? Add a comment!
2000 -9999
cfs
barely High-extremely High
I-II
Unusually high flows. Unknown whether this provides any play. Add a comment if you have any info.
Report - Reports of Baraboo Hwy.12 to Hwy.113 (4.5 miles) and related gauges
Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.
Likely too low for any reasonable whitewater. (Or . . . add a comment if you find playable waves at these low levels!) Gauge (609 sq.mi. drainage) lies a few miles downstream of reach. No significant tribs intervene, so it should be quite accurate for flow in this reach. 
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
