See all 5 routes on Baraboo River
Wisconsin | South-Central Wisconsin
Baraboo RiverNorth Freedom Canoe Launch to Giese Park
Popular mid-Baraboo float from North Freedom to Giese Park, using two public launches, a route-specific Wisconsin River Trips level ladder, sandstone outcrop scenery, and a live Reedsburg gauge.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Put in at North Freedom and paddle to Giese Park through a mostly quiet Baraboo River corridor with sandstone outcrops, an artesian-well area, railroad bridges, one easy Class I riffle, muddy banks, and generally cleared but still relevant wood.
Access map
Put-in
North Freedom Canoe Launch / Firemen's ParkNorth Freedom is a public launch with parking, restrooms, picnic tables, and a floating kayak dock; check for any current local launch fee or signage.
Take-out
Giese Park canoe launchGiese Park is a Town of Baraboo river-access park at Hatchery Road and Rock Hill Road with summer portable restrooms and no overnight camping.
Road shuttle
Use a short Sauk County car shuttle between North Freedom Firemen's Park and Giese Park on Hatchery Road. Wisconsin River Trips lists a practical bike shuttle, but rural roads and launch timing should still be planned.
Additional access notes
- The route has few good informal stops because banks are muddy and often private.
More route and safety guidance
- The only named rapid on the route is an easy Class I under Kohlmeyer Road; scout if water is high or debris has changed the bridge approach.
- Banks are frequently muddy and private. Plan breaks around public access points rather than informal field or railroad-side stops.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
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 at Main Street at Reedsburg, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 at Main Street at Reedsburg, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 151 cfs to 250 cfs |
| Low threshold | 0 cfs |
| High threshold | 551 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Baraboo River - North Freedom Reedsburg gauge estimate |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Exact routeNorth Freedom Park to Giese Park, 7.4 mi
Wisconsin River Trips documents this exact route, including North Freedom Park as the put-in, Giese Park as the take-out, 7.4 miles, and a three-to-four-hour expected paddle time.
- Public endpointsNorth Freedom and Giese Park
The Baraboo River paddling map lists North Freedom Firemen's Park and Giese Park as public access/parking points, and Town of Baraboo separately documents Giese Park river access and no overnight camping.
- Gauge ladder151-250 cfs target; 551+ cfs likely too high
Wisconsin River Trips ties this route to the Rock Springs/Reedsburg gauge estimate and keeps 151-250 cfs as the good target while warning that 551+ cfs is likely too muddy, pushy, and strainer-prone.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23170 cfs / 5.20 ft at 2026-07-23 05:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
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
More on Baraboo River
All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.