Baraboo River in Wisconsin

Trip Overview

Since I am new at this kind of thing, it will be a brief report. The day before I had bought my brand new Prijon Calabria in Madison and took it up to the Baraboo area for its first dippings. I contacted Baraboo's only outfitter, Boo Canoe and kayak. Their shuttle service dropped me and my boat 7 miles upstream. I had the whole river to myself! Although the water level was quite a bit lower than yesterday, the relative narrowness of the river (70 ft at places) kept things at a good clip. The itinerary is to paddle downstream to progressively faster water at the entrance of Baraboo and a class 1 rapid section in the middle of downtown (stay on the left). All along the river, I spotted an otter, a muskrat, and a multitude of birds. The mossy river edges alternated with grazing areas and towering bluffs. The beautiful and lush forest growing alongside the river is a real visual treat. I completed the 7-mile stretch in about 2.5 hours with no rest. A more experienced paddler could probably do it in 2 hours, but when the surroundings are so charming, why rush?

If you want to try this quick trip and do not have a second car, I definitely recommend Boo Canoe shuttle service.

Accommodations:

There are numerous campgrounds within 20 minutes of the river.

Directions:

From Madison, WI take interstate 90 to exit 106 and take US 33 west to Baraboo.