Lazy Beaver Canoe Race

As the Baraboo River winds through Sauk County on its way to meet the Wisconsin River, it offers a relaxing canoe outing with no rapids or falls but an abundance of wildlife. In 2002 the final dam on the river was removed, making the Baraboo the longest free-flowing river in the nation. The river is known for its beautiful rock outcroppings and is a nesting area for bald eagles, and each July, the river is the site of the Lazy Beaver Canoe Race. The race has a timed interval start and attracts paddlers of all skill levels. Serious racers can cover the 14-mile stretch in a little over two hours, while others might take 5-6 hours to complete.

The race’s starting point is in LaValle on the south side of the river, east of the Highway 58 bridge. The race starts in LaValle at 10 a.m. with the finish line at the Granite Avenue landing in Reedsburg, approximately 11 river miles downstream. There are several canoe and kayak racing divisions and paddlers of all skill levels are invited to participate. Some race, some just enjoy a good day on the river.

Sponsored by the Reedsburg Kiwanis, any profits from the race will go toward river-related projects such as continuing log jam clearing.