List of rivers of Minnesota

Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for. The Mississippi River begins its journey from its headwaters at Lake Itasca and crosses the Iowa border 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.

By drainage basin (watershed)

This list is arranged by drainage basin with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name. The rivers and streams that flow through other states or Minnesota and other states are indicated, as well as the length of major rivers.

Great Lakes drainage basin

Lake Superior drainage basin

Lake Superior
*Pigeon River,
**Swamp River
**Stump River,
***Lower Stump River,
**Royal River
***Crocodile River
*Reservation River,
*Flute Reed River,
*Brule River,
**Greenwood River,
**South Brule River
*Kadunce River,
*Kimball Creek,
*Durfee Creek
*Devil Track River,
**Little Devil Track River,
*Fall River,
*Cascade River,
**North Branch Cascade River
*Poplar River,
**Tait River,
*Onion River,
**West Branch Onion River
*Temperance River,
**Sawbill Creek,
***Kelso River,
**Vern River,
*Cross River,
*Two Island River,
*Caribou River,
*Little Manitou River,
*Manitou River,
**South Branch Manitou River
*Little Marais River, -
*Baptism River,
**East Branch Baptism River
**West Branch Baptism River
*Beaver River,
**East Branch Beaver River
**West Branch Beaver River (Lake Superior)
*Split Rock River,
**East Split Rock River
**West Split Rock River
*Gooseberry River,
**Skunk Creek,
**Little Gooseberry River,
*Encampment River
*Stewart River
**Little Stewart River
*Knife River,
**[Little Knife River (Minnesota-Ontario)|Knife River (West)|Little Knife River],
**West Branch Knife River
**Little Knife River, located in Lake County
*Little Sucker River,
*Big Sucker Creek,
*French River,
*Talmadge River,
*Lester River,
*Tischer Creek,
*Oregon Creek,
*Chester Creek,
*Brewery Creek,
*Clarkhouse Creek,
*St. Louis River,
**Buckingham Creek,
**Coffee Creek,
**Miller Creek,
**Merritt Creek,
**Keene Creek,
**Kingsbury Creek,
**Pokegama River,
**Knowlton Creek,
**Stewart Creek,
**U.[|S]. Steel Creek,
**Little Pokegama River
**Sargent Creek,
**Red River,
**Mission Creek,
**Little River,
**Midway River,
**Pine River,
**Cloquet River,
***Us-kab-wan-ka River,
***Beaver River,
***Otter River,
***Little Cloquet River,
***West Branch Cloquet River
***Langley River,
****Little Langley River,
**Artichoke River,
**Ahmik River,
**McCarty River,
**East Savanna River,
**Floodwood River,
***West Branch Floodwood River
**Whiteface River,
***Whiteface River (South),
***Little Whiteface River (North),
***Paleface River,
***North Branch Whiteface River
***South Branch Whiteface River
**East Swan River,
***West Swan River,
**West Two River,
**East Two River,
**Embarrass River,
**Partridge River,
***South Branch Partridge River
**East River,
**North River,
*Nemadji River,
**South Fork Nemadji River
***Net River,
****Little Net River,
**North Fork Nemadji River
***Blackhoof River,

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, ; within Minnesota
*Missouri River,
**Little Sioux River,
***Ocheyedan River,
***West Fork Little Sioux River
**Big Sioux River,
***Rock River,
****[Little Rock River (Big Sioux River tributary)|Rock River (Iowa)|Little Rock River]
****East Branch Rock River
***Split Rock Creek,
****Pipestone Creek,
***Flandreau Creek,
***Beaver Creek (Big Sioux River tributary)
*Des Moines River,
**East Fork Des Moines River
**Heron Lake Outlet
***Jack Creek,
***Diversion Creek
****Okabena Creek
**Lime Creek,
**Beaver Creek (Des Moines River tributary)
*Iowa River,
**Cedar River,
***Shell Rock River,
****Winnebago River ,
*****Lime Creek ,
***Cedar River (Iowa and Minnesota) ,
***Little Cedar River (Dodge County, Minnesota),
*Wapsipinicon River,
*Upper Iowa River,
**Pine Creek
**Little Iowa River
**North Branch Upper Iowa River
*Winnebago Creek,
*Crooked Creek,
**North Fork Crooked Creek
**South Fork Crooked Creek
*Root River,
**North Branch Root River
**Middle Branch Root River
**Trout Run
**South Branch Root River
***Camp Creek (Root River tributary)
***Etna Creek
***South Branch Etna Creek
***Canfield Creek
***Forestville Creek
***Willow Creek
**Rush Creek
***Ferguson Creek
***Ahrensfeld Creek
***Borson Spring
***Pine Creek (Rush Creek tributary)
****Coolridge Creek
****Hemingway Creek
**South Fork Root River
***Badger Creek
***Beaver Creek
*Pine Creek,
*Whitewater River,
**North Fork Whitewater River
***Middle Fork Whitewater River
**South Fork Whitewater River
*Zumbro River,
**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,
*Hay Creek,
*Cannon River,
**North Cannon River, a distributary
**Little Cannon River (Cannon River tributary),
**Straight River,
**Little Cannon River (Sabre Lake),
**Belle Creek (Cannon River tributary)
**Trout Brook,
*Vermillion River,
**South Branch Vermillion River

St. Croix River drainage basin

Mississippi River
*St. Croix River,
**Sunrise River,
***North Branch Sunrise River
***West Branch Sunrise River
***South Branch Sunrise River
**Snake River,
***Groundhouse River,
****South Fork Groundhouse River
****West Fork Groundhouse River
***Ann River,
****Little Ann River,
***Knife River,
**Kettle River,
***Grindstone River,
****North Branch Grindstone River
****South Branch Grindstone River
***Pine River,
***Willow River,
****[Little Willow River (Kettle River tributary)|Willow River (Willow River tributary)|Little Willow River],
***Moose Horn River,
****Portage River,
****West Fork Moose Horn River
***Split Rock River,
***Dead Moose River,
***West Branch Kettle River
**Sand Creek,
**Lower Tamarack River,
**Upper Tamarack River,
**Brown's Creek (St. Croix River tributary),

Minnesota River drainage basin

The Minnesota River is the longest river that is entirely within Minnesota.

Mississippi River
*Minnesota River,
**Credit River,
**Sand Creek,
**High Island Creek,
**Rush River,
***South Branch Rush River
***Middle Branch Rush River
***North Branch Rush River
**Blue Earth River,
***Le Sueur River,
****Maple River,
****Cobb River,
*****Little Cobb River,
****Little Le Sueur River,
***Watonwan River,
****Perch Creek,
****South Fork Watonwan River
****North Fork Watonwan River
***Elm Creek,
***East Branch Blue Earth River
***Middle Branch Blue Earth River
***West Branch Blue Earth River
**Little Cottonwood River,
**Cottonwood River,
***Sleepy Eye Creek,
***Plum Creek,
**Redwood River,
**Hawk Creek,
**Yellow Medicine River,
***Spring Creek,
***North Branch Yellow Medicine River
***South Branch Yellow Medicine River
**Chippewa River,
***Shakopee Creek,
***East Branch Chippewa River
***Little Chippewa River,
**Lac qui Parle River,
***West Branch Lac qui Parle River
**Pomme de Terre River,
**Yellow Bank River,
***North Fork Yellow Bank River
***South Fork Yellow Bank River
**Whetstone River,
**Little Minnesota River,

Upper Mississippi River, Headwaters region (above St. Anthony Falls) drainage basin

Mississippi River
*Rice Creek,
*Rum River,
**Mike Drew Brook
**West Branch Rum River
*Crow River,
**North Fork Crow River,
***Middle Fork Crow River,
***Skunk River
**South Fork Crow River,
***Buffalo Creek,
*Elk River,
**St. Francis River,
***West Branch St. Francis River
**Snake River
*Clearwater River,
*Sauk River,
**Ashley Creek,
*Watab River,
**North Fork Watab River
**South Fork Watab River
*Platte River,
**Skunk River,
*Two River,
**North Two River,
**South Two River,
*Little Two River,
*Swan River,
**[Little Swan River (central Minnesota)|Swan River (Minnesota)|Little Swan River],
**Spring Branch Swan River
*Little Elk River,
**South Branch Little Elk River
*Nokasippi River,
**Little Nokasippi River,
*Crow Wing River,
**Gull River,
**Long Prairie River,
**Partridge River,
***Little Partridge River,
**Leaf River,
***Redeye River,
***Wing River,
**Cat River,
**Shell River,
***Fish Hook River,
****Straight River
****Portage River
****Potato River
***Blueberry River,
****Kettle River, <
*Rabbit River,
*Pine River,
**Little Pine River,
**South Fork Pine River
*Little Willow River,
*Ripple River,
*Rice River,
*Willow River,
**Hill River
***Little Hill River
**Moose River
**North Fork Willow River
**South Fork Willow River
*Sandy River
**Prairie River
***Tamarack River
****Little Tamarack River
*West Savanna River
*Swan River,
*Prairie River
**West Fork Prairie River
*Vermilion River,
*Deer River
*Ball Club River
*Leech Lake River
**Bear River
**Leech Lake
***Boy River
****Swift River
***Shingobee River
***Kabekona River
****Necktie River
***Steamboat River
*First River
*Pigeon River
*Third River
*Turtle River
**North Turtle River
**Gull River
*Schoolcraft River,
*Little Mississippi River

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,
**Lost River
**South Fork Roseau River
*Joe River,
*Two Rivers,
**North Branch Two Rivers
***Little Joe River
**South Branch Two Rivers
***Middle Branch Two Rivers
*Tamarac River,
*Snake River,
**Middle River
**South Branch Snake River
*Grand Marais Creek,
*Red Lake River,
**Gentilly River
**Black River
***[Little Black River (Rainy River tributary)|Black River (Minnesota)|Little Black River]
**Clearwater River,
***Lost River
****Poplar River
****Hill River
**Thief River,
***Lost River
***Mud River
***Moose River
**Red Lake
***Sandy River
***Mud River
***Blackduck River
****North Cormorant River
****South Cormorant River
***Battle River
****North Branch Battle River
****South Branch Battle River
***Tamarac River
****Little Tamarac River
****Lost River
*Sand Hill River,
*Marsh River,
*Wild Rice River,
**South Branch Wild Rice River
**White Earth River
*Buffalo River,
**South Branch Buffalo River
*Otter Tail River,
**Pelican River
**Dead River
**Toad River
**Egg River
*Bois de Sioux River,
**Rabbit River
***South Fork Rabbit River
**Mustinka River,
***Twelvemile Creek
****West Branch Twelvemile Creek
****West Fork Twelvemile Creek
****East Fork Twelvemile Creek

Lake of the Woods drainage basin

Lake of the Woods
*Warroad River
**East Branch Warroad River
**West Branch Warroad River
*Rainy River,
**Winter Road River
**Baudette River
***West Fork Baudette River
**Rapid River
***East Fork Rapid River
**** Barton Brook
****Wing River
***North Branch Rapid River
**Black River
***West Fork Black River
***South Fork Black River
**Big Fork River,
***Bear River
***Sturgeon River
***Rice River
***Popple River
****Dunbar River
***Bowstring River
****Turtle River
**Little Fork River,
*** Beaver Brook
***Cross River
**** Deer River
*** Ester Brook
***Nett Lake River
****Lost River
***Rapid River
***Valley River
***Willow River
***Sturgeon River
****Bear River
*****Bearskin River
****Dark River
****East Branch Sturgeon River
****Shannon River
***Rice River
**Rainy Lake/Kabetogama Lake/Namakan Lake/Crane Lake
***Rat Root River
****East Branch Rat Root River
***Ash River,
****Black Duck River
***Moose River
***Johnson River
***Vermilion River
****Pelican River
*****Elbow River
****Vermilion Lake
*****Armstrong River
*****East Two River
*****West Two River
*****Pike River
******Sand River
***Echo River
****Hunting Shack River
***Loon River
****Little Indian Sioux River
*****Little Pony River
*****Korb River
***Namakan River
****Lac la Croix/Crooked Lake
*****Hustler River
*****Boulder River
******Dahlgren River
*******Stuart River
******Nina Moose River
*******Oyster River
*******Moose River
*******Portage River
*****Bottle River
*****Beartrap River
*****Basswood River
******Horse River
******Basswood Lake/Fall Lake
*******Range River
*******Shagawa River
********Burntside River
*********Dead River
*******Bear Island River
********Beaver River
*******Kawishiwi River
********South Kawishiwi River
*********Birch Lake
**********Keeley Creek
**********Birch River
*********Isabella River
**********Little Isabella River
**********Island River
***********Dumbbell River
**********Perent River
*********Snake River
*********Stony River
**********Sand River
**********Greenwood River
*********Dunka River
********Little Saganaga Lake/Gillis Lake
*********Frost River
*********Chub River
********Louse River
********Phoebe River
*******Knife River
********Knife Lake
*****Maligne River
******Saganaga Lake
*******Sea Gull River
*******Granite River
********Pine River
*********Cross River
**********Tucker River
**********Long Island River

Alphabetically

Below is a list of 495 of the 6,564 rivers in Minnesota in alphabetical order. Sections of rivers marked with an * have been designated trout streams by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

[|A] [|B] [|C] [|D] [|E] [|F] [|G] [|H] [|I] [|J] [|K] [|L] [|M] [|N] [|O] [|P] [|Q] [|R] S [|T] [|U] [|V] [|W] [|X] [|Y] [|Z]

A–C