List of longest streams of Minnesota explained

See also: List of rivers of Minnesota.

Longest streams of Minnesota
Map Alt:Minnesota

Out of the 6,564 streams that flow through the U.S. State of Minnesota, there are 114 streams that are at least 30 miles long. The second longest river in the United States, the Mississippi River, originates in Minnesota before flowing south to the Gulf of Mexico. The longest river entirely within the state of Minnesota is the Minnesota River. Other rivers over 200 miles long include the Red River of the North, Des Moines River, Cedar River, Wapsipinicon River, Little Sioux River, and Roseau River.[1]

Sections of several of the longest rivers define sections of the Minnesota border.[2] The Red River of the North forms the border with North Dakota to the west. The Bois de Sioux River forms the border with South Dakota to the west. The Mississippi River, St. Croix River, and the St. Louis River form the border with Wisconsin to the east. The Rainy River and Pigeon River form the border with Ontario, Canada to the north.

Minnesota contains three major drainage basins/watersheds with waters from Minnesota rivers flowing south, north, or east.[3] These major drainage basins meet in a triple divide point located at the Hill of Three Waters, just north of Hibbing, Minnesota (47.4477°N -148.8°W).[4] The Mississippi River drainage basin with water flowing south (1151000sqmi) is made up of the Upper Mississippi River watershed (above St. Paul), Lower Mississippi River (Below St. Paul), Minnesota River drainage basin (17000sqmi), St. Croix River drainage basin, Des Moines River drainage basin, and Missouri River drainage basin . Water flows southwards, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Water flows to the north in the Hudson Bay/Artic drainage basin, which includes the Red River of the North drainage basin (111004sqmi) and Lake of the Woods drainage basin —of which is in Minnesota. Minnesota water flows northward to the Hudson Bay. The Great Lakes Basin to the east includes the Lake Superior drainage basin in Minnesota and Wisconsin .[5] Minnesota water flows eastward through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

Table of longest streams

A sortable table below lists the 114 streams flowing in Minnesota that have a total length greater than or equal to 30 miles. The stream's tributary and watershed are given. The source or mouth of some streams is in other U.S. states or Canadian provinces. Other than border rivers, the only rivers that originate in other states are the Little Minnesota River (South Dakota), St. Croix River (Wisconsin), and Upper Tamarack River (Wisconsin). The 21 streams that are not entirely within the state are indicated by a after the order number. The coordinates and location county of the mouth and source of the stream are indicated, as well as the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System ID and other references and notes. Lengths and elevations are derived from the National Elevation Dataset or reference to it in the USGS GNIS Database.[6] A link to an Open Street Map template is listed at the top of this article that will generate a map showing the source and mouth coordinates of all of these streams. For consistency and accuracy, the sources for this information are primarily data from the USGS GeoNames and National Elevation database, supplemented by other sources.

Rank!scope="col" rowspan=2
Stream nameTributary ofLengthDrainage basinMouth elevationMouth LocationMouth coordinatesSource locationSource coordinatesGNIS ID, References, Notes
mikmftm
112Pigeon RiverLake SuperiorLake SuperiorCook County/Ontario, Pigeon PointCook County/Ontario, South Fowl Lake[7]
93Brule RiverLake SuperiorLake SuperiorCook County, Marr IslandCook County, Hungry Jack Lake
97Temperance RiverLake SuperiorLake SuperiorCook County, Tofte47.5532°N -90.8735°WCook County, Brule Lake [8]
10St. Louis RiverLake SuperiorLake Superior601.71feetSt. Louis County, West Duluth46.75°N -92.1°W [9]
37Cloquet RiverSt. Louis RiverLake SuperiorSt. Louis County46.8614°N -92.5703°WLake County, Cloquet Lake47.4313°N -91.4866°W
109Little Isabella RiverIsabella RiverHudson BayLake County47.8041°N -91.4549°WLake County [10] [11]
60Whiteface RiverSt. Louis RiverLake SuperiorSt. Louis County, McCarty River46.9791°N -92.8113°WSt. Louis County, Whiteface Reservoir47.2813°N -92.1877°W
88West Swan RiverEast Swan RiverLake SuperiorSt. Louis County, Little Swan47.251°N -92.8182°WSt. Louis County, Keewatin47.4135°N -93.0077°W
74Embarrass RiverSt. Louis RiverLake SuperiorSt. Louis County, Gilbert47.696°N -91.9971°WSt. Louis County, Babbitt47.3922°N -92.4144°W
101Partridge RiverSt. Louis RiverLake SuperiorSt. Louis County, Turpela Lake47.4933°N -92.2288°WSt. Louis County, Babbitt47.6377°N -91.9857°W
56Nemadji RiverLake SuperiorLake Superior601.71feetDouglas County, Wisconsin, Superior46.4008°N -92.508°WPine County, Minnesota, Nickerson46.7033°N -92.0274°W
1Mississippi RiverGulf of MexicoMississippi RiverLouisiana, Pilottown, Plaquemines Parish29.1511°N -89.2533°W47.2397°N -95.2075°W
4Minnesota RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Ramsey County, St. Paul44.8969°N -93.1491°W45.3027°N -96.452°W
13St. Croix RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Dakota County, Hastings44.7458°N -92.8027°WDouglas County, Wisconsin, Upper St. Croix Lake46.3886°N -91.7594°W
2Red River of the NorthLake WinnipegHudson BayLake Winnipeg, Manitoba50.4003°N -96.8°W46.2644°N -96.5987°W
7Little Sioux RiverMissouri RiverMississippi River (Lower)Harrison County, Iowa, Little Sioux41.803°N -96.066°WJackson County, Okabena43.6644°N -95.3147°W
65Ocheyedan RiverLittle Sioux RiverMississippi River (Lower)Nobles County, Bigelow43.136°N -95.153°WClay County, Iowa, Spencer43.547°N -95.638°W
22Rock RiverBig Sioux RiverMississippi River (Lower)Sioux County, Iowa, Hawarden43.0827°N -96.4545°WPipestone County, Rhuthotan44.1369°N -96.1231°W
71Split Rock CreekBig Sioux RiverMississippi River (Lower)Rock County, Brandon43.5497°N -96.5975°WMinnehaha County, South Dakota, Pipestone43.9908°N -96.3061°W
72Pipestone CreekSplit Rock CreekMississippi River (Lower)Pipestone County43.8039°N -96.4411°WMoody County, South Dakota44.0311°N -96.2903°W
90Flandreau CreekBig Sioux RiverMississippi River (Lower)Pipestone County44.0583°N -96.5545°WLincoln County44.2314°N -96.285°W
3Des Moines RiverMississippi RiverDes Moines RiverClark County, Missouri / Lee County, Iowa, near Keokuk, Iowa40.3812°N -91.4224°W44.0839°N -95.6881°W [12]
61Jack CreekDes Moines RiverDes Moines RiverJackson County43.7672°N -95.2858°WNobles County43.7944°N -95.8317°W
5Cedar RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Lower)Louisa County, Iowa41.2831°N -91.3469°WDodge County43.8347°N -92.8077°W
31Shell Rock RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Lower)Black Hawk County, Iowa42.6341°N -92.5013°WFreeborn County43.6116°N -93.2935°W
48Little Cedar RiverCedar RiverMississippi River (Lower)Chickasaw County, Iowa42.9506°N -92.5275°WMower County, Brownsdale43.6544°N -92.7561°W
17Upper Iowa RiverMississippi River156milesMississippi River (Lower)Allamakee County, Iowa43.466°N -91.234°WMower County43.621°N -92.623°W
6Wapsipinicon RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Lower)Scott County, Iowa41.7297°N -90.3197°W43.5486°N -92.6444°W
51Root RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Lower)Houston County43.7619°N -91.2518°WFillmore County, Chatfield43.8066°N -92.1704°W[13]
59Zumbro RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Lower)Wabasha County44.2916°N -91.9279°WOlmsted County44.1527°N -92.4671°W
33Cannon RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Lower)Goodhue County44.5858°N -92.5569°WLe Sueur County44.3586°N -93.4474°W[14]
114Little Cannon RiverCannon RiverMississippi River (Lower)Goodhue County44.5122°N -92.9055°WRice County44.3177°N -93.0785°W
69Straight RiverCannon RiverMississippi River (Lower)Rice County44.31°N -93.2702°WFreeborn County44.5122°N -92.9055°W
64Vermillion RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Lower)Goodhue County44.5122°N -92.9055°WScott County44.6205°N -92.6669°W
95Vermilion RiverRainy RiverHudson BaySt. Louis County48.2757°N -92.5065°WSt. Louis County[15]
98Sunrise RiverSt. Croix RiverSt. Croix RiverChisago County45.5666°N -92.8627°WWashington County45.29°N -92.9744°W
38Snake RiverSt. Croix RiverSt. Croix RiverPine County45.8241°N -92.7646°WAitkin County46.288°N -93.1119°W
96Groundhouse RiverSnake RiverSt. Croix RiverKanabec County45.8108°N -93.2622°WMille Lacs County45.9752°N -93.5675°W
46Kettle RiverSt. Croix RiverSt. Croix RiverPine County45.8577°N -92.7363°WCarlton County46.6872°N -92.788°W
111Willow RiverKettle RiverSt. Croix RiverPine County46.3197°N -92.8466°WPine County46.3649°N -92.4738°W
105Moose Horn RiverKettle RiverSt. Croix RiverCarlton County46.3649°N -92.4738°WCarlton County46.6708°N -92.6071°W
87Sand CreekSt. Croix RiverSt. Croix RiverPine County45.9341°N -92.6402°WPine County46.2761°N -92.5321°W
99Lower Tamarack RiverSt. Croix RiverSt. Croix RiverPine County46.0274°N -92.4194°WPine County46.3155°N -92.4288°W
113Upper Tamarack RiverSt. Croix RiverSt. Croix RiverPine County46.0702°N -92.3191°WDouglas County, Wisconsin46.3333°N -92.0863°W
104Sand CreekMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverScott County44.748°N -93.6138°WLe Sueur County44.4789°N -93.5572°W
57High Island CreekMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverSibley County44.5855°N -93.9014°WRenville County44.6494°N -94.7033°W
35Blue Earth RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County44.1641°N -94.0369°WFaribault County43.5722°N -94.103°W[16]
34Le Sueur RiverBlue Earth RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County44.1266°N -94.0477°WFreeborn County43.7675°N -93.4702°W
50Maple RiverLe Sueur RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County44.0872°N -94.0152°WFreeborn County43.7847°N -93.6411°W
53Cobb RiverLe Sueur RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County44.0775°N -94.0008°WFreeborn County43.7544°N -93.5799°W
102Little Cobb RiverCobb RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County43.9919°N -93.9211°WWaseca Countyformat=dms43.8797°N -93.658°W
30Watonwan RiverBlue Earth RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County44.0702°N -94.1263°WCottonwood County44.025°N -95.22°W
100Perch CreekWatonwan RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County44.0019°N -94.2816°WMartin County43.8044°N -94.473°W
43Elm CreekBlue Earth RiverMinnesota RiverFaribault County43.7547°N -94.1966°WJackson County43.7847°N -95.0428°W
47Little Cottonwood RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverBlue Earth County44.2514°N -94.3297°WCottonwood County44.0411°N -95.193°W
19Cottonwood RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverBrown County44.2847°N -94.4152°WLyon County44.2016°N -95.935°W
73Sleepy Eye CreekCottonwood RiverMinnesota RiverBrown County44.2533°N -94.7728°WRedwood County44.4033°N -95.5189°W
107Plum CreekCottonwood RiverMinnesota RiverRedwood County44.2811°N -95.3789°WMurray County44.1758°N -95.6022°W
25Redwood RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverRedwood County44.5711°N -95.0883°WPipestone44.1675°N -96.1717°W
62Hawk CreekMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverRenville County44.7361°N -95.4225°WKandiyohi County45.1244°N -95.075°W
36Yellow Medicine RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverYellow Medicine County44.7391°N -95.4286°WLincoln County44.4114°N -96.3514°W
108Spring CreekYellow Medicine RiverMinnesota RiverYellow Medicine County44.7105°N -95.6731°WYellow Medicine County44.7902°N -96.1353°W
18Chippewa RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverChippewa County44.9347°N -95.7334°WDouglas County45.988°N -95.6456°W
79Shakopee CreekChipppewa RiverMinnesota RiverSwift County45.2047°N -95.6636°WKandiyohi County45.3036°N -95.0472°W
91Little Chippewa RiverChippewa RiverMinnesota RiverPope County45.5925°N -95.6834°WPope County45.73°N -95.5164°W
28Lac qui Parle RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverLac qui Parle County45.5925°N -95.6834°WLincoln County44.5047°N -96.435°W
26Pomme de Terre RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverSwift County45.1758°N -96.087°WOtter Tail County46.1986°N -95.8556°W
55Little Minnesota RiverMinnesota RiverMinnesota RiverBig Stone County45.5539°N -96.7953°WRoberts County, South Dakota45.8358°N -97.3559°W
20Rum RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Anoka County45.1897°N -93.3905°WMille Lacs County46.1297°N -93.7811°W
16North Fork Crow RiverCrow RiverMississippi River (Upper)Wright County45.0814°N -93.7625°WPope County45.6019°N -95.1711°W
83Middle Fork Crow RiverCrow RiverMississippi River (Upper)Meeker County45.2525°N -94.6022°WStearns County45.4347°N -94.9864°W
29South Fork Crow RiverCrow RiverMississippi River (Upper)Wright County45.0814°N -93.7625°WKandiyohi County45.0572°N -94.9217°W
44Buffalo CreekSouth Fork Crow RiverMississippi River (Upper) Carver County44.8544°N -93.9977°WKandiyohi County44.9186°N -94.9903°W
45Elk RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Sherburne County45.298°N -93.5725°WBenton County45.8191°N -93.9278°W
52St. Francis RiverElk RiverMississippi River (Upper)Sherburne County45.3591°N -93.7372°WBenton County45.808°N -93.8919°W
86Clearwater RiverMississippi RiverMississippi RiverStearns County45.4227°N -94.0491°WMeeker County45.3561°N -94.4286°W
27Sauk RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Stearns County45.5916°N -94.1764°WTodd County45.8958°N -95.0959°W
70Platte RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Benton County45.7791°N -94.2792°WCrow Wing County46.2005°N -93.9036°W
106Skunk RiverPatte RiverMississippi River (Upper)Morrison County45.9358°N -94.2233°WMorrison County46.1264°N -93.8616°W
103Swan RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Morrison County45.9194°N -94.3856°WTodd County45.9075°N -94.7461°W
82Nokasippi RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Crow Wing County, Clear Water Lake46.1775°N -94.3647°WCrow Wing County, Fort Ripley46.413°N -93.9114°W
32Crow Wing RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Cass County46.2711°N -94.3397°WHubbard County47.0019°N -94.7414°W[17]
40Long Prairie RiverCrow Wing RiverMississippi River (Upper)Morrison County46.3241°N -94.6128°WDouglas County45.9827°N -95.3331°W[18]
110Partridge RiverCrow Wing RiverMississippi River (Upper)Wadena County46.4197°N -94.8267°WTodd County46.2061°N -95.047°W
85Leaf RiverCrow Wing RiverMississippi River (Upper)Wadena County46.4297°N -94.8142°WOtter Tail County46.4022°N -95.4267°W
54Redeye RiverLeaf RiverMississippi River (Upper)Wadena County46.4861°N -94.885°WBecker County46.8213°N -95.4184°W
80Wing RiverLeaf RiverMississippi River (Upper)Wadena County46.48°N -94.9803°WOtter Tail County46.2425°N -95.292°W
81Shell RiverCrow Wing RiverMississippi River (Upper)Wadena County46.8072°N -94.8878°WBecker County46.9472°N -95.4109°W
67Pine RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Crow Wing County46.5639°N -94.0367°WCass County46.8047°N -94.5239°W
66Rice RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Aitkin County46.5897°N -93.6344°WAitkin County46.3827°N -93.3175°W
84Willow RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Aitkin County46.6727°N -93.5925°WCass County47.0908°N -93.8455°W
63Swan RiverMississippi RiverMississippi River (Upper)Aitkin County47.0091°N -93.2638°WItasca County47.2891°N -93.1983°W
8Roseau RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthKittson County49.15°N -97.2498°WLake of the Woods County48.5289°N -95.2047°W
49Tamarac RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthMarshall County48.4897°N -97.1306°WMarshall County48.5028°N -96.4564°W
42Snake RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthMarshall County48.433°N -97.124°WPolk County48.3558°N -96.4612°W
89Grand Marais CreekRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthPolk County48.07°N -97.097°WPolk County47.8191°N -96.8056°W
9Red Lake RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthPolk County47.9225°N -97.0215°WBeltrami County47.9597°N -95.2744°W
21Clearwater RiverRed Lake RiverRed River of the NorthRed Lake County47.8939°N -96.2828°WMahnomen County47.4805°N -95.5689°W
39Sand Hill RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthPolk County47.5986°N -96.8559°WMahnomen County47.5152°N -95.7478°W
77Marsh RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthNorman County47.47°N -96.8604°WNorman County47.2897°N -96.4717°W
12Wild Rice RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthNorman County47.318°N -96.8373°WClearwater County47.3841°N -95.3084°W
23Buffalo RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthClay County47.088°N -96.8162°WBecker County46.9197°N -95.685°W
11Otter Tail RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthWilkin County46.2644°N -96.5987°WBecker County47.0275°N -95.5445°W
92Bois de Sioux RiverRed River of the NorthRed River of the NorthWilkin County46.2644°N -96.5987°WRoberts County, South Dakota45.8616°N -96.5731°W
24Rainy RiverLake of the WoodsLake of the WoodsLake of the Woods County48.8486°N -94.6916°WKoochiching County48.6149°N -93.3532°W
14Big Fork RiverRainy RiverLake of the WoodsKoochiching County48.5166°N -93.7168°WItasca County47.7563°N -94.0422°W[19]
15Little Fork RiverRainy RiverLake of the WoodsKoochiching County48.5274°N -93.5879°WSaint Louis County47.8202°N -92.4663°W[20]
41Middle RiverSnake RiverRed River of the NorthMarshall County48.3714°N -97.0798°WMarshall County48.4122°N -96.015°W
75Prairie RiverMississippi RiverMississippi RiverItasca County47.2149°N -93.4824°WItasca County47.5941°N -93.181°W
68Rapid RiverRainy RiverRainy RiverLake of the Woods County48.6947°N -94.436°WKoochiching County48.37°N -95.145°W
78Turtle RiverMississippi RiverMississippi RiverBeltrami County47.4961°N -94.5355°WBeltrami County47.6383°N -94.9594°W
76Caldwell BrookMississippi RiverMississippi RiverKoochiching County47.9805°N -93.8182°WItasca County47.8766°N -94.223°W
58Mustinka RiverLake TraverseHudson BayTraverse County45.765°N -96.6176°WOtter Tail County46.2125°N -96.1045°W[21]
94Thief RiverRed Lake RiverHudson bayMarshall County48.1243°N -96.1695°WPennington County[22]

Map of Minnesota streams and lakes

The map below shows the major streams and lakes in Minnesota.[23]

See also

References

General references

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The longest rivers in Minnesota. World Atlas. April 23, 2021.
  2. News: Minnesota eastern border: a river runs through it except this one part. Minnesota Post. Kaul, Greta. March 8, 2019.
  3. Web site: Lakes, rivers & wetlands . MN Facts . . 2003 . September 16, 2006.
  4. Web site: Hill of Three Waters or Triple Divide. Historical Markers Database. December 22, 2021.
  5. Web site: Great Lakes Factos. EPA. https://web.archive.org/web/20101029215637/http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/physfacts.html. May 17, 2021. 2010-10-29.
  6. Web site: National Elevation Dataset. USGS.
  7. Web site: Minnesota Rivers. National Park Service. April 11, 2021.
  8. Web site: Great Lakes Water Levels . United States Army Corps of Engineers . June 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130418004734/http://w3.lre.usace.army.mil/hh/GreatLakesWaterLevels/GLWL-CurrentMonth-Feet.pdf . April 18, 2013 . dead . The link also has daily elevations for the current month.
  9. Web site: Great Lakes Water Levels . United States Army Corps of Engineers . June 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130418004734/http://w3.lre.usace.army.mil/hh/GreatLakesWaterLevels/GLWL-CurrentMonth-Feet.pdf . April 18, 2013 . dead . The link also has daily elevations for the current month.
  10. Web site: Little Isabella River Campground . fs.usda.gov . 2017-09-11.
  11. Web site: Little Isabella River. MN DNR. May 3, 2021.
  12. Web site: Des Moines River State Water Trail Map. MN DNR. April 27, 2021.
  13. Web site: Root River State Water Trail Map. April 27, 2021. MN DNR.
  14. Web site: Cannon and Straight State Water Trail Map. MN DNR. April 27, 2021.
  15. Book: Waters, Thomas F.. Streams and Rivers of Minnesota . University Of Minnesota Press. 1977. Minneapolis. 0816609608. 84–85.
  16. Web site: Blue Earth State Water Trail Map. MN DNR. April 27, 2021.
  17. Web site: Crow Wing River State Water Trail Map. MN DNR. April 27, 2021.
  18. Web site: Long Prairie State Water Trail Map. MN DNR. April 27, 2021.
  19. Web site: Big Fork River State Water Trail Map. MN DNR. April 27, 2021.
  20. Web site: Little Fork River State Water Trail Map. MN DNR. April 27, 2021.
  21. Book: Waters, Thomas F.. Streams and Rivers of Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Press. 1977. Minneapolis. 0816609608. 119.
  22. Book: Waters, Thomas F.. Streams and Rivers of Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Press. 1977. Minneapolis. 0816609608. 107.
  23. Web site: U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. Map of Minnesota Rivers. December 16, 2021.