Hwy.12 to Hwy.113 (4.5 miles)

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 this reach) which would make a pleasant flatwater float trip. This has been detailed in published canoe guidebooks. A fine ~7.5 minute video from Tom Lindblade running the longer reach is available on YouTube. 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.) Looking at historical gauge data, it is likely this was at a flow in the neighborhood of 525-530 cfs. You can watch it here: . Fun fact: Boat thru Circus World Museum property!