Watersheds [1] of MinnesotaMinnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles (111,000 km). The Mississippi River begins its journey from its headwaters at Lake Itasca and crosses the Iowa border 680 mi (1,094 km) downstream. It is joined by the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling , by the St. Croix River near Hastings , by the Chippewa River at Wabasha , and by many smaller streams. The Red River , in the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz , drains the northwest part of the state northward toward Canada's Hudson Bay .[2]
By drainage basin (watershed)
This list is arranged by drainage basin with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.[1] [3] The rivers and streams that flow through other states or Minnesota and other states are indicated, as well as the length of major rivers.[4]
Great Lakes drainage basin
Lake Superior drainage basin
Lake Superior drainage basin
Lake Superior
Pigeon River (Minnesota, Ontario), 31.2 mi-long (50.2 km)
Reservation River , 6.9 mi-long (11.1 km)
Flute Reed River , 10.5 mi-long (16.9 km)
Brule River , 40.4 mi-long (65.0 km)
Kadunce River , 8.5 mi-long (13.7 km)
Kimball Creek , 8.9 mi-long (14.3 km)
Durfee Creek
Devil Track River , 8.7 mi-long (14.0 km)
Fall River , 3.3 mi-long (5.3 km)
Cascade River , 17.1 mi-long (27.5 km)
North Branch Cascade River[8]
Poplar River , 21.7 mi-long (34.9 km)
Onion River , 6.1 mi-long (9.8 km)
West Branch Onion River[9]
Temperance River , 39.2 mi-long (63.1 km)
Cross River , 20.4 mi-long (32.8 km)
Two Island River , 15.0 mi-long (24.1 km)
Caribou River , 15.0 mi-long (24.1 km)
Little Manitou River , 1.8 mi-long (2.9 km)
Manitou River , 24.9 mi-long (40.1 km)
South Branch Manitou River[10]
Little Marais River , -
Baptism River , 8.8 mi-long (14.2 km)
East Branch Baptism River[11]
West Branch Baptism River[12]
Beaver River , 23.4 mi-long (37.7 km)
East Branch Beaver River[13]
West Branch Beaver River (Lake Superior)[14]
Split Rock River , 3.5 mi-long (5.6 km)
Gooseberry River , 23 mi-long (37 km)
Encampment River[15]
Stewart River
Knife River , 23.9 mi-long (38.5 km)
Little Sucker River , 1.6 mi-long (2.6 km)
Big Sucker Creek , 18.2 mi-long (29.3 km)
French River , 13 mi-long (21 km)
Talmadge River , 6.0 mi-long (9.7 km)
Lester River , 19.3 mi-long (31.1 km)
St. Louis River (Minnesota, Wisconsin), 192 mi-long (309 km)Map of the Saint Louis River drainage basin showing the Cloquet River
Pokegama River , 26.3 mi-long (42.3 km)
Red River , 10.6 mi-long (17.1 km)
Little River , 2.1 mi-long (3.4 km)
Midway River , 18.8 mi-long (30.3 km)
Pine River , 15.0 mi-long (24.1 km)
Cloquet River , 104 mi-long (167 km)
Artichoke River , 13.5 mi-long (21.7 km)
Ahmik River , 5.2 mi-long (8.4 km)
McCarty River , 6.8 mi-long (10.9 km)
East Savanna River , 15.3 mi-long (24.6 km)
Floodwood River , 32.1 mi-long (51.7 km)
West Branch Floodwood River
Whiteface River , 64.4 mi-long (103.6 km)
East Swan River , 24.2 mi-long (38.9 km)
West Two River , 26.5 mi-long (42.6 km)
East Two River , 25.0 mi-long (40.2 km)
Embarrass River , 50.5 mi-long (81.3 km)
Partridge River , 37.0 mi-long (59.5 km)
South Branch Partridge River
East River , 3.0 mi-long (4.8 km)
North River , 6 mi-long (9.7 km)
Nemadji River , 70.8 mi-long (113.9 km)
South Fork Nemadji River
North Fork Nemadji River
Mississippi River drainage basin
Mississippi River drainage basin The Mississippi River is the longest river flowing through Minnesota. It originates in Lake Itasca and flows through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Upper Mississippi River (below St. Anthony Falls) drainage basin
Mississippi River , 2,320 mi-long (3,730 km); 680 mi (1,090 km) within Minnesota
Missouri River (Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota), 2,341 mi-long (3,767 km)
Des Moines River (Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri), 525 mi-long (845 km)Des Moines River watershed
East Fork Des Moines River (Minnesota, Iowa)[18]
Heron Lake Outlet
Lime Creek (Minnesota, Iowa), 28.6 mi-long (46.0 km)
Beaver Creek (Des Moines River tributary)
Iowa River (Iowa), 323 mi-long (520 km)Iowa River watershed
Wapsipinicon River (Minnesota, Iowa), 299.5 mi-long (482.0 km)
Upper Iowa River (Iowa), 156 mi-long (251 km)
Winnebago Creek , 23.6 mi-long (38.0 km)
Crooked Creek , 9.9 mi-long (15.9 km)
North Fork Crooked Creek
South Fork Crooked Creek
Root River , 80 mi-long (130 km)Root River tributaries
Pine Creek , 23.7 mi-long (38.1 km)
Whitewater River , 16.6 mi-long (26.7 km)
North Fork Whitewater River
Middle Fork Whitewater River
South Fork Whitewater River
Zumbro River , 64.6 mi-long (104.0 km)
North Fork Zumbro River
Middle Fork Zumbro River
North Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River
South Fork Zumbro River
Wells Creek , 27.6 mi-long (44.4 km)
Hay Creek , 25.1 mi-long (40.4 km)
Cannon River , 112 mi-long (180 km)
St. Croix River drainage basin
St. Croix River drainage basin
Minnesota River drainage basin
Minnesota River drainage basin The Minnesota River is the longest river that is entirely within Minnesota.
Mississippi River
Minnesota River , 370 mi-long (600 km)
Credit River , 21.5 mi (34.6 km)
Sand Creek , 36.6 mi-long (58.9 km)
High Island Creek , 69.4 mi-long (111.7 km)
Rush River , 19.8 mi-long (31.9 km)
South Branch Rush River
Middle Branch Rush River
North Branch Rush River
Blue Earth River , 108 mi (174 km)
Le Sueur River , 110.9 mi (178.5 km)
Watonwan River , 113.2 mi (182.2 km)
Perch Creek , 37.3 mi-long (60.0 km)
South Fork Watonwan River
North Fork Watonwan River
Elm Creek , 89.5 mi-long (144.0 km)
East Branch Blue Earth River
Middle Branch Blue Earth River
West Branch Blue Earth River
Little Cottonwood River , 82.9 mi-long (133.4 km)
Cottonwood River , 152.4 mi-long (245.3 km)
Redwood River , 127.1 mi-long (204.5 km)
Hawk Creek , 62.0 mi-long (99.8 km)
Yellow Medicine River , 107.2 mi-long (172.5 km)
Spring Creek , 33.4 mi-long (53.8 km)
North Branch Yellow Medicine River
South Branch Yellow Medicine River
Chippewa River , 153-mile-long (246 km)
Lac qui Parle River , 118.3 mi-long (190.4 km)
West Branch Lac qui Parle River
Pomme de Terre River , 124.5 mi-long (200.4 km)
Yellow Bank River , 12.0-mile-long (19.3 km)
North Fork Yellow Bank River
South Fork Yellow Bank River
Whetstone River , 12.7-kilometre-long (7.9 mi)
Little Minnesota River , 71.4-mile-long (114.9 km)
Upper Mississippi River, Headwaters region (above St. Anthony Falls) drainage basin
Mississippi River
Rice Creek , 28 mi (45 km)
Rum River , 151 mi (243 km)
Crow River , 24.8 mi (39.9 km)
Elk River , 84.0 mi-long (135.2 km)
Clearwater River , 43.4 mi-long (69.8 km)
Sauk River , 122 mi-long (196 km)
Watab River , 9.8 mi-long (15.8 km)
North Fork Watab River
South Fork Watab River
Platte River , 55.1 mi-long (88.7 km)
Two River , 5.6 mi-long (9.0 km)
Little Two River , 15.9 mi-long (25.6 km)
Swan River , 37.0 mi-long (59.5 km)
Little Elk River , 29.4 mi-long (47.3 km)
South Branch Little Elk River
Nokasippi River , 46.5 mi-long (74.8 km)
Crow Wing River , 113 mi-long (182 km)
Rabbit River , 8.6 mi-long (13.8 km)
Pine River , 56.9 mi-long (91.6 km)
Little Willow River , 26.2 mi-long (42.2 km)
Ripple River , 11 mi-long (18 km)
Rice River , 57.1 mi-long (91.9 km)
Willow River , 45 mi-long (72 km)
Sandy River
West Savanna River
Swan River , 60 mi-long (97 km)
Prairie River
Vermilion River , 42.3 mi-long (68.1 km)[25]
Deer River
Ball Club River
Leech Lake River
First River
Pigeon River
Third River
Turtle River
Schoolcraft River , 30 mi-long (48 km)
Little Mississippi River
Hudson Bay drainage basin
Hudson Bay drainage basin The Red River of the North is the second longest river flowing through Minnesota. It forms the border with North Dakota and flows north to Manitoba, Canada.
Red River of the North drainage basin
Red River of the North drainage basin
Red River of the North (Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota) (length: 550 mi (890 km), 457.1 mi (735.6 km) in Minnesota[26]
Roseau River (Manitoba, Minnesota), 214 mi-long (344 km)
Joe River (Manitoba, Minnesota), 15.2 mi-long (24.5 km)
Two Rivers , 7.0 mi-long (11.3 km)
Tamarac River , 82.1 mi-long (132.1 km)
Snake River , 91.0 mi-long (146.5 km)
Grand Marais Creek , 41.1 mi-long (66.1 km)
Red Lake River , 193 mi-long (311 km)
Sand Hill River , 101 mi-long (163 km)
Marsh River , 49.9 mi-long (80.3 km)
Wild Rice River , 183 mi-long (295 km)
Buffalo River , 139 mi-long (224 km)
Otter Tail River , 192 mi-long (309 km)
Bois de Sioux River , 41 mi-long (66 km)
Lake of the Woods drainage basin