See all 5 routes on Baraboo River
Wisconsin | South-Central Wisconsin
Baraboo RiverHaskins Park to Glenville Landing
Short Baraboo Rapids run from the Haskins Park ADA kayak launch through downtown Baraboo and Circus World to the Highway 113 Glenville Landing. It is one of the more useful short Wisconsin gauge-driven routes because the direct Baraboo gauge, public access points, and same-route community level notes all line up.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch from Haskins Park and paddle the short Baraboo Rapids corridor through downtown Baraboo to Glenville Landing. The route is short and popular, but it is an intermediate moving-water run with real current, riffles, and Class I-II ledges, so use the Baraboo gauge and scout if recent rain has changed wood or strainers.
Access map
Put-in
Haskins Park ADA kayak launchHaskins Park is the clean public start; the Baraboo River Corridor Plan documents a non-motorized boat launch, floating pier, and ADA-accessible kayak launch there.
Take-out
Glenville Landing / Highway 113 boat landingGlenville Landing is a public Highway 113 landing with parking, but muddy/silty conditions are common after rain or high water.
Road shuttle
Use a short Baraboo-area car shuttle between Haskins Park in West Baraboo and Glenville Landing on Highway 113. A bike shuttle is practical through town and along the riverwalk, but the final Highway 113 approach has traffic exposure.
Additional access notes
- The route runs through an urban corridor with bridges, public parks, museum property, and private edges. Stay in the river corridor and use only established landings.
More route and safety guidance
- Scout the former-dam channel split above Walnut Street when the line is not clear. Route-specific reporting documents stronger current and a strainer-prone channel there, so do not rely on a historical channel recommendation.
- The 350 cfs value is a low-water floor, not an upper safe limit. Skip the route when rising or high water makes the ledges, bridge approaches, or wood avoidance exceed your skills.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
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Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Baraboo River Near Baraboo, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Baraboo River Near Baraboo, WI |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 350 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
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| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Baraboo River II same-route flow guidance |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Same-route minimum350 cfs
Miles Paddled recommends a minimum of about 350 cfs at the Baraboo gauge for this Haskins Park-to-Highway-113 route, with more riffles, waves, and fun above that floor.
- Observed good levels473 to 600 cfs
Miles Paddled recorded 473 cfs / 8.76 ft as a recommended same-route level, and a related Haskins-to-Highway-33 report describes 600 cfs as recommended while preserving the same Haskins-to-Highway-113 core.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05405000
USGS operates the Baraboo River Near Baraboo, WI monitoring location, and American Whitewater links the same station to the Baraboo Highway 12-to-Highway 113 reach.
- Public put-inHaskins Park ADA kayak launch
The Baraboo River Corridor Plan says Haskins Park includes a non-motorized boat launch, floating pier, and ADA-accessible kayak launch on the river.
- Public take-outGlenville Landing / Highway 113
Sauk County and the Baraboo River map identify Glenville Landing off Highway 113 at the southeast corner of Baraboo, with parking at the landing.
- Route character4.5 miles; intermediate; riffles and Class I
Miles Paddled rates the exact Haskins Park-to-Highway-113 route as a 4.5-mile intermediate run with riffles and Class I.
- Strainer-sensitive rapidFormer-dam split above Walnut Street
Wisconsin River Trips describes stronger Class II current at the former-dam channel split above Walnut Street and reports a strainer at the top of one channel.
- High-water rapid characterSmall Class II rapids
The local Baraboo paddling map says the broader Giese-to-Glenville reach can have some small Class II rapids in high water.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
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