List of tributaries of the Missouri River

Summary

Tributaries of the Missouri River, a major river in the central United States, are listed here in upstream order. These lists are arranged into river sections between cities or mouths of major tributaries for ease of navigation. Two large tributaries (the Platte and Yellowstone) have their own separate lists because they would be too lengthy to include in part of another section.

Map of the Missouri River watershed
The White River flowing into the Missouri River and coloring it with clay

Data is derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographical maps and the USGS National Map.

Table of primary tributaries edit

Waterway Orientation Length (km) Mouth coordinates Mouth location Source coordinates Source location
Arrow Creek Right 185 47°42′52″N 109°49′43″W / 47.714444444°N 109.828611111°W / 47.714444444; -109.828611111 Chouteau County, Montana 47°24′03″N 110°36′20″W / 47.400833333°N 110.605555555°W / 47.400833333; -110.605555555 Judith Basin County, Montana
Auxvasse Creek Left 80 38°40′55″N 91°49′23″W / 38.68194444°N 91.82305556°W / 38.68194444; -91.82305556 Auxvasse Township, Callaway County, Missouri 38°57′25″N 92°03′57″W / 38.956944444°N 92.065833333°W / 38.956944444; -92.065833333 Kingdom City, Missouri
Bad River Right 260 44°21′16″N 100°22′05″W / 44.3544°N 100.368°W / 44.3544; -100.368 Fort Pierre, South Dakota 44°02′06″N 101°39′58″W / 44.035111111°N 101.666083333°W / 44.035111111; -101.666083333 Haakon County
Belt Creek Right 129 47°35′53″N 111°02′55″W / 47.598055555°N 111.048611111°W / 47.598055555; -111.048611111 Great Falls, Montana 46°50′46″N 110°41′33″W / 46.846222222°N 110.692611111°W / 46.846222222; -110.692611111 White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Blue River Right 64 39°07′48″N 94°28′15″W / 39.1300042°N 94.470786°W / 39.1300042; -94.470786 Kansas City, Missouri 38°48′31″N 94°40′50″W / 38.8086194°N 94.680513°W / 38.8086194; -94.680513 Overland Park, Kansas
Big Berger Creek Right 40 38°37′14″N 91°13′43″W / 38.620555555°N 91.228611111°W / 38.620555555; -91.228611111 New Haven, Missouri 38°33′30″N 91°26′25″W / 38.558361111°N 91.440194444°W / 38.558361111; -91.440194444 Boeuf Township, Gasconade County, Missouri
Big Dry Creek Right 165 47°30′55″N 106°16′41″W / 47.51528°N 106.27809°W / 47.51528; -106.27809 Circle, Montana 47°16′20″N 107°08′32″W / 47.272166666°N 107.142305555°W / 47.272166666; -107.142305555 Jordan, Montana
Big Muddy Creek Left 307 48°08′30″N 104°36′43″W / 48.141666666°N 104.611944444°W / 48.141666666; -104.611944444 Roosevelt County, Montana 49°02′55″N 104°52′46″W / 49.048527777°N 104.879416666°W / 49.048527777; -104.879416666 Rural Municipality of Happy Valley No. 10
Big Sioux River Left 674 42°29′27″N 96°26′47″W / 42.490833333°N 96.446388888°W / 42.490833333; -96.446388888 Sioux City, Iowa 45°19′18″N 97°02′33″W / 45.3216285°N 97.0425776°W / 45.3216285; -97.0425776 Roberts County, South Dakota
Boyer River Left 224 41°27′11″N 95°55′09″W / 41.4531°N 95.9192°W / 41.4531; -95.9192 Pottawattamie County, Iowa 42°35′56″N 95°16′34″W / 42.598805555°N 95.276138888°W / 42.598805555; -95.276138888 Maple Valley Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa
Cannonball River Right 217 46°25′45″N 100°35′54″W / 46.429166666°N 100.598333333°W / 46.429166666; -100.598333333 Sioux County, North Dakota 46°28′12″N 103°12′24″W / 46.47°N 103.206666666°W / 46.47; -103.206666666 Slope County, North Dakota
Chariton River Left 351 39°18′47″N 92°57′29″W / 39.313°N 92.958°W / 39.313; -92.958 Keytesville, Missouri 40°49′50″N 93°30′32″W / 40.830555555°N 93.508888888°W / 40.830555555; -93.508888888 Humeston, Iowa
Cheyenne River Right 475 44°46′15″N 100°43′04″W / 44.770833333°N 100.717777777°W / 44.770833333; -100.717777777 Stanley County, South Dakota 43°25′34″N 105°03′32″W / 43.426111111°N 105.058888888°W / 43.426111111; -105.058888888 Converse County, Wyoming
Cow Creek Left 100 47°47′18″N 108°56′06″W / 47.788333333°N 108.935°W / 47.788333333; -108.935 Blaine County, Montana 48°05′26″N 109°20′03″W / 48.090472222°N 109.334305555°W / 48.090472222; -109.334305555 Blaine County, Montana
Crooked River Left 113 39°13′00″N 93°50′33″W / 39.216666666°N 93.8425°W / 39.216666666; -93.8425 Ray County, Missouri 39°30′24″N 94°16′37″W / 39.506666666°N 94.276944444°W / 39.506666666; -94.276944444 Clinton County, Missouri
Cuivre River Right 56 38°56′00″N 90°41′11″W / 38.9334°N 90.6865°W / 38.9334; -90.6865 St. Charles County, Missouri 39°01′02″N 90°59′34″W / 39.017222222°N 90.992777777°W / 39.017222222; -90.992777777 Bedford Township, Lincoln County, Missouri
Dearborn River Left 113 47°07′41″N 111°54′37″W / 47.128055555°N 111.910277777°W / 47.128055555; -111.910277777 Cascade, Montana 47°18′33″N 112°49′10″W / 47.309166666°N 112.819444444°W / 47.309166666; -112.819444444 Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Fishing River Left 63 39°10′31″N 94°08′27″W / 39.17528°N 94.14078°W / 39.17528; -94.14078 Orrick, Missouri 39°18′53″N 94°29′45″W / 39.314722222°N 94.495777777°W / 39.314722222; -94.495777777 Platte Township, Clay County, Missouri
Floyd River Left 180 42°28′59″N 96°23′30″W / 42.4830497°N 96.3916957°W / 42.4830497; -96.3916957 Sioux City, Iowa 43°14′02″N 95°37′12″W / 43.233888888°N 95.620055555°W / 43.233888888; -95.620055555 Sanborn, Iowa
Gallatin River Left 193 45°56′20″N 111°29′35″W / 45.9389°N 111.493°W / 45.9389; -111.493 Gallatin County, Montana 44°51′27″N 110°52′59″W / 44.85739°N 110.8831°W / 44.85739; -110.8831 Park County, Montana
Gasconade River Right 450 38°40′28″N 91°32′55″W / 38.674444444°N 91.548611111°W / 38.674444444; -91.548611111 Gasconade, Missouri 37°11′55″N 92°43′06″W / 37.198666666°N 92.718361111°W / 37.198666666; -92.718361111 Seymour, Missouri
Grand River Left 760 39°23′02″N 93°06′29″W / 39.384°N 93.108°W / 39.384; -93.108 Brunswick, Missouri 41°01′29″N 94°16′04″W / 41.024611111°N 94.267694444°W / 41.024611111; -94.267694444 Union County, Iowa
Grand River Right 303 45°34′32″N 100°28′02″W / 45.575555555°N 100.467222222°W / 45.575555555; -100.467222222 Mobridge, South Dakota 45°45′13″N 102°12′16″W / 45.753666666°N 102.204527777°W / 45.753666666; -102.204527777 Perkins County, South Dakota
Heart River Right 475 46°46′03″N 100°50′31″W / 46.7675°N 100.842°W / 46.7675; -100.842 Bismarck, North Dakota 46°56′25″N 103°18′56″W / 46.940194444°N 103.315527777°W / 46.940194444; -103.315527777 Belfield, North Dakota
James River Right 1,143 42°52′17″N 97°17′26″W / 42.8714°N 97.2906°W / 42.8714; -97.2906 Yankton, South Dakota 46°56′25″N 103°18′56″W / 46.940194444°N 103.315527777°W / 46.940194444; -103.315527777 Belfield, North Dakota
Jefferson River Left 134 45°55′39″N 111°30′29″W / 45.9275°N 111.508056°W / 45.9275; -111.508056 Three Forks, Montana 45°33′42″N 112°20′15″W / 45.561722222°N 112.337472222°W / 45.561722222; -112.337472222 Twin Bridges, Montana
Judith River Right 220 47°44′06″N 109°38′46″W / 47.735°N 109.646111111°W / 47.735; -109.646111111 Fergus County, Montana 46°50′56″N 110°16′10″W / 46.849027777°N 110.269444444°W / 46.849027777; -110.269444444 Judith Basin County, Montana
Kansas River Right 238 39°06′55″N 94°36′38″W / 39.115278°N 94.610556°W / 39.115278; -94.610556 Kansas City, Kansas 39°03′36″N 96°48′05″W / 39.06°N 96.801389°W / 39.06; -96.801389 Junction City, Kansas
Knife River Right 193 47°19′17″N 101°22′08″W / 47.321388888°N 101.368888888°W / 47.321388888; -101.368888888 Mercer County, North Dakota 47°11′02″N 103°12′40″W / 47.184027777°N 103.211083333°W / 47.184027777; -103.211083333 North Billings, North Dakota
Lamine River Right 100 38°58′47″N 92°51′05″W / 38.97975°N 92.8513°W / 38.97975; -92.8513 Boonville, Missouri 38°40′05″N 92°57′17″W / 38.668166666°N 92.95475°W / 38.668166666; -92.95475 Richland Township, Dickinson County, Iowa
Little Blue River Right 73 39°12′28″N 94°13′07″W / 39.207777777°N 94.218555555°W / 39.207777777; -94.218555555 Sibley, Missouri 38°50′08″N 94°32′06″W / 38.835611111°N 94.535055555°W / 38.835611111; -94.535055555 Belton, Missouri
Little Missouri River Right 901 47°34′41″N 102°43′23″W / 47.578138888°N 102.723083333°W / 47.578138888; -102.723083333 Dunn County, North Dakota 44°32′25″N 104°59′57″W / 44.5403°N 104.9991°W / 44.5403; -104.9991 Crook County, Wyoming
Little Muddy River Left 154 48°08′07″N 103°35′31″W / 48.1353°N 103.592°W / 48.1353; -103.592 Williams County, North Dakota 48°32′00″N 103°10′12″W / 48.533361111°N 103.169916666°W / 48.533361111; -103.169916666 Williams County
Little Sioux River Left 415 41°48′11″N 96°03′58″W / 41.803°N 96.066°W / 41.803; -96.066 Little Sioux Township, Harrison County, Iowa 43°39′35″N 95°18′19″W / 43.659833333°N 95.305333333°W / 43.659833333; -95.305333333 Rost Township, Jackson County, Minnesota
Loutre River Left 92 38°42′43″N 91°25′03″W / 38.71199°N 91.41738°W / 38.71199; -91.41738 Hermann, Missouri 39°05′08″N 91°47′57″W / 39.085611111°N 91.799138888°W / 39.085611111; -91.799138888 Loutre Township, Montgomery County, Missouri
Madison River Right 295 45°55′39″N 111°30′29″W / 45.9275°N 111.508055555°W / 45.9275; -111.508055555 Three Forks, Montana 44°38′32″N 110°51′56″W / 44.642155555°N 110.865488888°W / 44.642155555; -110.865488888 Park County, Wyoming
Marias River Right 338 47°55′48″N 110°29′26″W / 47.929972222°N 110.490611111°W / 47.929972222; -110.490611111 Chouteau County, Montana 48°29′12″N 112°13′41″W / 48.486666666°N 112.228055555°W / 48.486666666; -112.228055555 Glacier County, Montana
Milk River Left 1,173 48°03′22″N 106°19′08″W / 48.056111111°N 106.318888888°W / 48.056111111; -106.318888888 Valley County, Montana 48°51′20″N 113°01′10″W / 48.8555376°N 113.0195347°W / 48.8555376; -113.0195347 Glacier County, Montana
Moreau River Right 320 45°21′19″N 100°22′31″W / 45.355277777°N 100.375277777°W / 45.355277777; -100.375277777 Dewey County, South Dakota 45°08′40″N 102°50′21″W / 45.144388888°N 102.839055555°W / 45.144388888; -102.839055555 Perkins County, South Dakota
Mosquito Creek Left 97 41°10′34″N 95°50′25″W / 41.176°N 95.8402°W / 41.176; -95.8402 Council Bluffs, Iowa 41°47′55″N 95°22′51″W / 41.798666666°N 95.380916666°W / 41.798666666; -95.380916666 Union Township, Davis County, Iowa
Musselshell River Right 470 47°22′29″N 107°56′35″W / 47.374722°N 107.943056°W / 47.374722; -107.943056 Winnett, Montana 46°28′47″N 110°16′21″W / 46.479722°N 110.2725°W / 46.479722; -110.2725 Wheatland County, Montana
Niobrara River Right 915 42°46′18″N 98°02′46″W / 42.7717°N 98.0461°W / 42.7717; -98.0461 Niobrara, Nebraska 42°49′15″N 104°38′50″W / 42.8208°N 104.6472°W / 42.8208; -104.6472 Niobrara County, Wyoming
Nishnabotna River Left 26 40°28′57″N 95°41′43″W / 40.4825°N 95.695222222°W / 40.4825; -95.695222222 Watson, Missouri 40°39′09″N 95°37′25″W / 40.6525°N 95.623611111°W / 40.6525; -95.623611111 Hamburg, Iowa
Nodaway River Left 106 39°54′07″N 94°57′58″W / 39.902°N 94.966°W / 39.902; -94.966 Andrew County, Missouri 40°38′06″N 95°01′09″W / 40.635°N 95.019166666°W / 40.635; -95.019166666 Shambaugh, Iowa
Osage River Right 444 38°35′49″N 91°56′43″W / 38.596944444°N 91.945277777°W / 38.596944444; -91.945277777 Callaway County, Missouri 38°01′39″N 94°14′39″W / 38.0275321°N 94.2441147°W / 38.0275321; -94.2441147 Schell City, Missouri
Peace Creek Right 80 38°10′28″N 98°13′46″W / 38.174456°N 98.229508°W / 38.174456; -98.229508 Rice County, Kansas 37°57′59″N 98°38′48″W / 37.966403°N 98.64675°W / 37.966403; -98.64675 Stafford County, Kansas
Platte River Right 499 41°03′08″N 95°52′51″W / 41.0523°N 95.8807°W / 41.0523; -95.8807 Plattsmouth, Nebraska 41°06′50″N 100°40′33″W / 41.1139°N 100.6758°W / 41.1139; -100.6758 North Platte, Nebraska
Platte River Left 275 39°15′51″N 94°50′15″W / 39.2642°N 94.8375°W / 39.2642; -94.8375 Farley, Missouri 41°09′23″N 94°23′02″W / 41.156305555°N 94.383861111°W / 41.156305555; -94.383861111 Union County, Iowa
Poplar River Left 269 48°05′03″N 105°11′08″W / 48.084166666°N 105.185555555°W / 48.084166666; -105.185555555 Poplar, Montana 49°15′13″N 106°23′32″W / 49.253611111°N 106.392222222°W / 49.253611111; -106.392222222 Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43
Redwater River Right 177 48°03′41″N 105°12′38″W / 48.061388888°N 105.210555555°W / 48.061388888; -105.210555555 Poplar, Montana 47°03′37″N 105°52′53″W / 47.060277777°N 105.881388888°W / 47.060277777; -105.881388888 Prairie County, Montana
Sixteen Mile Creek Left 111 46°06′20″N 111°23′52″W / 46.105555555°N 111.397777777°W / 46.105555555; -111.397777777 Broadwater County, Montana 46°15′29″N 110°32′42″W / 46.258138888°N 110.544888888°W / 46.258138888; -110.544888888 Meagher County, Montana
Smith River Right 200 47°24′49″N 111°28′43″W / 47.413611111°N 111.478611111°W / 47.413611111; -111.478611111 Cascade County, Montana 46°31′43″N 110°58′40″W / 46.528638888°N 110.977861111°W / 46.528638888; -110.977861111 Meagher County, Montana
Soldier River Left 108 41°44′15″N 96°05′52″W / 41.7375°N 96.0978°W / 41.7375; -96.0978 Mondamin, Iowa 42°16′11″N 95°19′47″W / 42.269694444°N 95.329694444°W / 42.269694444; -95.329694444 Hayes Township, Crawford County, Iowa
Sun River Left 209 47°29′42″N 111°18′43″W / 47.495°N 111.312°W / 47.495; -111.312 Great Falls, Montana 47°37′47″N 112°51′25″W / 47.629722222°N 112.856944444°W / 47.629722222; -112.856944444 Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Tarkio River Left 130 40°09′46″N 95°26′19″W / 40.16278°N 95.43859°W / 40.16278; -95.43859 Holt County, Missouri 41°11′38″N 95°03′45″W / 41.193877777°N 95.062488888°W / 41.193877777; -95.062488888 Cass County, Iowa
rivière Vermillion Left 154 42°43′59″N 96°53′26″W / 42.732931°N 96.890567°W / 42.732931; -96.890567 Vermillion, South Dakota 43°23′36″N 97°04′06″W / 43.393456°N 97.068215°W / 43.393456; -97.068215 Turner County
White River Right 933 43°42′00″N 99°26′08″W / 43.700111111°N 99.435694444°W / 43.700111111; -99.435694444 Chamberlain, South Dakota 42°41′10″N 103°50′14″W / 42.6861°N 103.8372°W / 42.6861; -103.8372 Harrison, Nebraska
Wolf River Right 73 39°53′55″N 95°11′30″W / 39.8986°N 95.1917°W / 39.8986; -95.1917 Doniphan County, Kansas 39°47′38″N 95°38′28″W / 39.793888888°N 95.641111111°W / 39.793888888; -95.641111111 Powhattan, Kansas
Yellowstone River Right 1,114 47°58′42″N 103°58′56″W / 47.978333333°N 103.982222222°W / 47.978333333; -103.982222222 Williams County, North Dakota 43°59′18″N 109°55′45″W / 43.988333333°N 109.929166666°W / 43.988333333; -109.929166666 Park County, Wyoming

Mouth to Kansas City edit

Kansas City to Plattsmouth edit

Platte River Basin edit

Plattsmouth to Pierre edit

Vermillion River

Pierre to Bismarck edit

Bismarck to Williston edit

  • Burnt Creek
  • Painted Woods Creek
  • Turtle Creek
  • Knife River
    • Spring Creek
    • Elm Creek
    • Deep Creek
    • Crooked Creek
    • Little Knife River
  • Garrison Creek
  • Douglas Creek (submerged under Lake Sakakawea)
    • East Branch Douglas Creek
    • Middle Branch Douglas Creek
    • West Branch Douglas Creek
  • Little Missouri River
    • Cherry Creek
      • Rough Creek
    • Crosby Creek
    • Beicegel Creek
    • Beaver Creek
      • Elk Creek
    • Knutson Creek
    • Davis Creek
    • Sand Creek
    • Deep Creek
      • West Fork Deep Creek
      • East Fork Deep Creek
    • Cannonball Creek
    • Beaver Creek
    • Boxelder Creek
      • Cabin Creek
    • Willow Creek
    • North Fork Little Missouri River
    • Prairie Creek
  • Shell Creek
    • East Fork Shell Creek
    • West Shell Creek
  • Bear Den Creek
  • Little Knife River
  • White Earth River
    • Paulsen Creek
  • Little Muddy River

Yellowstone River Basin edit

  • Yellowstone River
    • Charbonneau Creek
    • Horse Creek
    • Fox Creek
    • Burns Creek
    • Box Elder Creek
    • Clear Creek
    • Cedar Creek
    • O'Fallon Creek
      • Sandstone Creek
    • Powder River
      • Mispah Creek
      • Little Powder River
      • Clear Creek
      • Wild Horse Creek
      • Crazy Woman Creek
        • South Fork Crazy Woman Creek
        • Middle Fork Crazy Woman Creek
        • North Fork Crazy Woman Creek
      • Dry Fork Powder River
      • Salt Creek
      • South Fork Powder River
      • North Fork Powder River
      • Middle Fork Powder River
        • Red Fork Powder River
        • Buffalo Creek
    • Tongue River
      • Pumpkin Creek
      • Ash Creek
      • Foster Creek
      • Lay Creek
      • Liscom Creek
      • Beaver Creek
      • Otter Creek
      • Hanging Woman Creek
      • Prairie Dog Creek
      • Goose Creek
      • Wolf Creek
    • Rosebud Creek
      • Little Rosebud Creek
      • West Rosebud Creek
      • Lame Deer Creek
      • Muddy Creek
      • Davis Creek
    • Armells Creek
      • East Fork Armells Creek
      • West Fork Armells Creek
    • Sarpy Creek
    • Bighorn River
      • Tullock Creek
      • Little Bighorn River
      • Beauvais Creek
      • Rotten Grass Creek
      • Soap Creek
      • Porcupine Creek
      • Crooked Creek
      • Shoshone River
        • Sage Creek
        • Spring Creek
        • North Fork Shoshone River
          • Elk Fork Shoshone River
        • South Fork Shoshone River
      • Dry Creek
      • Shell Creek
        • Beaver Creek
      • Greybull River
        • Meeteetse Creek
        • Wood River
          • South Fork Wood River
        • Francs Fork Greybull River
      • Nowood River
      • Fifteenmile Creek
        • Middle Fork Fifteenmile Creek
          • South Fork Fifteenmile Creek
      • Nowater Creek
      • Gooseberry Creek
      • Cottonwood Creek
        • Grass Creek
        • Prospect Creek
      • Kirby Creek
      • Owl Creek
      • Wind River
        • Muddy Creek
        • Badwater Creek
        • Poison Creek
        • Fivemile Creek
        • Muskrat Creek
        • Little Wind River
          • Beaver Creek
          • Popo Agie River
          • Sage Creek
          • South Fork Little Wind River
          • North Fork Little Wind River
        • Dry Creek
        • Bull Lake Creek
        • Crow Creek
        • Dinwoody Creek
        • East Fork Wind River
          • Wiggins Fork Wind River
        • Horse Creek
        • Du Noir Creek
    • Fly Creek
    • Arrow Creek
    • Pryor Creek
      • Hay Creek
    • Blue Creek
    • Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
      • Rock Creek
        • Red Lodge Creek
      • Bear Creek
      • Bennett Creek
      • O'Hara Creek
      • Sunlight Creek
      • Crandall Creek
    • Stillwater River
      • Rosebud Creek
        • West Rosebud Creek
        • East Rosebud Creek
      • Limestone Creek
    • Sweet Grass Creek
    • Otter Creek
    • Boulder River
      • West Boulder River
      • East Boulder River
      • East Fork Boulder River
    • Big Timber Creek
      • Swamp Creek
    • Duck Creek
    • Shields River
      • Rock Creek
      • Cottonwood Creek
      • Flathead Creek
    • Gardiner River
      • Lava Creek
      • Winter Creek
      • Obsidian Creek
    • Hellroaring Creek
    • Lamar River
    • Tower Creek
    • Raven Creek
    • Thorofare Creek
    • North Fork Yellowstone River
    • South Fork Yellowstone River

North Dakota-Montana Border to Great Falls edit

Great Falls to Three Forks edit

Headwaters edit

See also edit

References edit

  • USGS Topo Maps for United States (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper.
  • The National Map Seamless Server (Map). Cartography by USGS. U.S. Geological Survey.
  • The National Map Viewer (Map). Cartography by USGS. U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29.