List of tributaries of the Missouri River explained
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.
Data is derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographical maps and the USGS National Map.
Table of primary tributaries
| Waterway | Orientation | Length (km) | Mouth coordinates | Mouth location | Source coordinates | Source location |
|---|
| Arrow Creek | Right | align=right | 185 | 47.7144°N -109.8286°W | Chouteau County, Montana | 47.4008°N -110.6056°W | Judith Basin County, Montana |
| Auxvasse Creek | Left | align=right | 80 | 38.6819°N -91.8231°W | Auxvasse Township, Callaway County, Missouri | 38.9569°N -92.0658°W | Kingdom City, Missouri |
| Bad River | Right | align=right | 260 | 44.3544°N -100.368°W | Fort Pierre, South Dakota | 44.0351°N -101.6661°W | Haakon County |
| Belt Creek | Right | align=right | 129 | 47.5981°N -111.0486°W | Great Falls, Montana | 46.8462°N -110.6926°W | White Sulphur Springs, Montana |
| Blue River | Right | align=right | 64 | 39.13°N -94.4708°W | Kansas City, Missouri | 38.8086°N -94.6805°W | Overland Park, Kansas |
| Big Berger Creek | Right | align=right | 40 | 38.6206°N -91.2286°W | New Haven, Missouri | 38.5584°N -91.4402°W | Boeuf Township, Gasconade County, Missouri |
| Big Dry Creek | Right | align=right | 165 | 47.5153°N -106.2781°W | Circle, Montana | 47.2722°N -107.1423°W | Jordan, Montana |
| Big Muddy Creek | Left | align=right | 307 | 48.1417°N -104.6119°W | Roosevelt County, Montana | 49.0485°N -104.8794°W | Rural Municipality of Happy Valley No. 10 |
| Big Sioux River | Left | align=right | 674 | 42.4908°N -96.4464°W | Sioux City, Iowa | 45.3216°N -97.0426°W | Roberts County, South Dakota |
| Boyer River | Left | align=right | 224 | 41.4531°N -95.9192°W | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | 42.5988°N -95.2761°W | Maple Valley Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa |
| Cannonball River | Right | align=right | 217 | 46.4292°N -100.5983°W | Sioux County, North Dakota | 46.47°N -103.2067°W | Slope County, North Dakota |
| Chariton River | Left | align=right | 351 | 39.313°N -92.958°W | Keytesville, Missouri | 40.8306°N -93.5089°W | Humeston, Iowa |
| Cheyenne River | Right | align=right | 475 | 44.7708°N -100.7178°W | Stanley County, South Dakota | 43.4261°N -105.0589°W | Converse County, Wyoming |
| Cow Creek | Left | align=right | 100 | 47.7883°N -108.935°W | Blaine County, Montana | 48.0905°N -109.3343°W | Blaine County, Montana |
| Crooked River | Left | align=right | 113 | 39.2167°N -93.8425°W | Ray County, Missouri | 39.5067°N -94.2769°W | Clinton County, Missouri |
| Cuivre River | Right | align=right | 56 | 38.9334°N -90.6865°W | St. Charles County, Missouri | 39.0172°N -90.9928°W | Bedford Township, Lincoln County, Missouri |
| Dearborn River | Left | align=right | 113 | 47.1281°N -111.9103°W | Cascade, Montana | 47.3092°N -112.8194°W | Lewis and Clark County, Montana |
| Fishing River | Left | align=right | 63 | 39.1753°N -94.1408°W | Orrick, Missouri | 39.3147°N -94.4958°W | Platte Township, Clay County, Missouri |
| Floyd River | Left | align=right | 180 | 42.483°N -96.3917°W | Sioux City, Iowa | 43.2339°N -95.6201°W | Sanborn, Iowa |
| Gallatin River | Left | align=right | 193 | 45.9389°N -111.493°W | Gallatin County, Montana | 44.8574°N -110.8831°W | Park County, Montana |
| Gasconade River | Right | align=right | 450 | 38.6744°N -91.5486°W | Gasconade, Missouri | 37.1987°N -92.7184°W | Seymour, Missouri |
| Grand River | Left | align=right | 760 | 39.384°N -93.108°W | Brunswick, Missouri | 41.0246°N -94.2677°W | Union County, Iowa |
| Grand River | Right | align=right | 303 | 45.5756°N -100.4672°W | Mobridge, South Dakota | 45.7537°N -102.2045°W | Perkins County, South Dakota |
| Heart River | Right | align=right | 475 | 46.7675°N -100.842°W | Bismarck, North Dakota | 46.9402°N -103.3155°W | Belfield, North Dakota |
| James River | Right | align=right | | 42.8714°N -97.2906°W | Yankton, South Dakota | 46.9402°N -103.3155°W | Belfield, North Dakota |
| Jefferson River | Left | align=right | 134 | 45.9275°N -111.5081°W | Three Forks, Montana | 45.5617°N -112.3375°W | Twin Bridges, Montana |
| Judith River | Right | align=right | 220 | 47.735°N -109.6461°W | Fergus County, Montana | 46.849°N -110.2694°W | Judith Basin County, Montana |
| Kansas River | Right | align=right | 238 | 39.1153°N -94.6106°W | Kansas City, Kansas | 39.06°N -96.8014°W | Junction City, Kansas |
| Knife River | Right | align=right | 193 | 47.3214°N -101.3689°W | Mercer County, North Dakota | 47.184°N -103.2111°W | North Billings, North Dakota |
| Lamine River | Right | align=right | 100 | 38.9798°N -92.8513°W | Boonville, Missouri | 38.6682°N -92.9548°W | Richland Township, Dickinson County, Iowa |
| Little Blue River | Right | align=right | 73 | 39.2078°N -94.2186°W | Sibley, Missouri | 38.8356°N -94.5351°W | Belton, Missouri |
| Little Missouri River | Right | align=right | 901 | 47.5781°N -102.7231°W | Dunn County, North Dakota | 44.5403°N -104.9991°W | Crook County, Wyoming |
| Little Muddy River | Left | align=right | 154 | 48.1353°N -103.592°W | Williams County, North Dakota | 48.5334°N -103.1699°W | Williams County |
| Little Sioux River | Left | align=right | 415 | 41.803°N -96.066°W | Little Sioux Township, Harrison County, Iowa | 43.6598°N -95.3053°W | Rost Township, Jackson County, Minnesota |
| Loutre River | Left | align=right | 92 | 38.712°N -91.4174°W | Hermann, Missouri | 39.0856°N -91.7991°W | Loutre Township, Montgomery County, Missouri |
| Madison River | Right | align=right | 295 | 45.9275°N -111.5081°W | Three Forks, Montana | 44.6422°N -110.8655°W | Park County, Wyoming |
| Marias River | Right | align=right | 338 | 47.93°N -110.4906°W | Chouteau County, Montana | 48.4867°N -112.2281°W | Glacier County, Montana |
| Milk River | Left | align=right | | 48.0561°N -106.3189°W | Valley County, Montana | 48.8555°N -113.0195°W | Glacier County, Montana |
| Moreau River | Right | align=right | 320 | 45.3553°N -100.3753°W | Dewey County, South Dakota | 45.1444°N -102.8391°W | Perkins County, South Dakota |
| Mosquito Creek | Left | align=right | 97 | 41.176°N -95.8402°W | Council Bluffs, Iowa | 41.7987°N -95.3809°W | Union Township, Davis County, Iowa |
| Musselshell River | Right | align=right | 470 | 47.3747°N -107.9431°W | Winnett, Montana | 46.4797°N -110.2725°W | Wheatland County, Montana |
| Niobrara River | Right | align=right | 915 | 42.7717°N -98.0461°W | Niobrara, Nebraska | 42.8208°N -104.6472°W | Niobrara County, Wyoming |
| Nishnabotna River | Left | align=right | 26 | 40.4825°N -95.6952°W | Watson, Missouri | 40.6525°N -95.6236°W | Hamburg, Iowa |
| Nodaway River | Left | align=right | 106 | 39.902°N -94.966°W | Andrew County, Missouri | 40.635°N -95.0192°W | Shambaugh, Iowa |
| Osage River | Right | align=right | 444 | 38.5969°N -91.9453°W | Callaway County, Missouri | 38.0275°N -94.2441°W | Schell City, Missouri |
| Peace Creek | Right | align=right | 80 | 38.1745°N -98.2295°W | Rice County, Kansas | 37.9664°N -98.6468°W | Stafford County, Kansas |
| Platte River | Right | align=right | 499 | 41.0523°N -95.8807°W | Plattsmouth, Nebraska | 41.1139°N -100.6758°W | North Platte, Nebraska |
| Platte River | Left | align=right | 275 | 39.2642°N -94.8375°W | Farley, Missouri | 41.1563°N -94.3839°W | Union County, Iowa |
| Poplar River | Left | align=right | 269 | 48.0842°N -105.1856°W | Poplar, Montana | 49.2536°N -106.3922°W | Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43 |
| Redwater River | Right | align=right | 177 | 48.0614°N -105.2106°W | Poplar, Montana | 47.0603°N -105.8814°W | Prairie County, Montana |
| Sixteen Mile Creek | Left | align=right | 111 | 46.1056°N -111.3978°W | Broadwater County, Montana | 46.2581°N -110.5449°W | Meagher County, Montana |
| Smith River | Right | align=right | 200 | 47.4136°N -111.4786°W | Cascade County, Montana | 46.5286°N -110.9779°W | Meagher County, Montana |
| Soldier River | Left | align=right | 108 | 41.7375°N -96.0978°W | Mondamin, Iowa | 42.2697°N -95.3297°W | Hayes Township, Crawford County, Iowa |
| Sun River | Left | align=right | 209 | 47.495°N -111.312°W | Great Falls, Montana | 47.6297°N -112.8569°W | Lewis and Clark County, Montana |
| Tarkio River | Left | align=right | 130 | 40.1628°N -95.4386°W | Holt County, Missouri | 41.1939°N -95.0625°W | Cass County, Iowa |
| rivière Vermillion | Left | align=right | 154 | 42.7329°N -96.8906°W | Vermillion, South Dakota | 43.3935°N -97.0682°W | Turner County |
| White River | Right | align=right | 933 | 43.7001°N -99.4357°W | Chamberlain, South Dakota | 42.6861°N -103.8372°W | Harrison, Nebraska |
| Wolf River | Right | align=right | 73 | 39.8986°N -95.1917°W | Doniphan County, Kansas | 39.7939°N -95.6411°W | Powhattan, Kansas |
| Yellowstone River | Right | align=right | | 47.9783°N -103.9822°W | Williams County, North Dakota | 43.9883°N -109.9292°W | Park County, Wyoming | |
Platte River Basin
Plattsmouth to Pierre
Vermillion River
- 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
- Crosby Creek
- Beicegel Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Knutson Creek
- Davis Creek
- Sand Creek
- Deep Creek
- West Fork Deep Creek
- East Fork Deep Creek
- Cannonball Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Boxelder 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
- Little Muddy River
- Yellowstone River
- Charbonneau Creek
- Horse Creek
- Fox Creek
- Burns Creek
- Box Elder Creek
- Clear Creek
- Cedar Creek
- O'Fallon 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
- South Fork Shoshone River
- Dry Creek
- Shell Creek
- Greybull River
- Meeteetse Creek
- 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
- Horse Creek
- Du Noir Creek
- Fly Creek
- Arrow Creek
- Pryor Creek
- Blue Creek
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
- Rock 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
- 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
- Little Muddy Creek
- Big Muddy Creek
- Poplar River
- Boxelder Creek
- West Fork Poplar River
- Police Creek
- Hell Creek
- Butte Creek
- Middle Fork Poplar River
- East Fork Poplar River
- Wolf Creek
- Little Porcupine Creek
- Milk River
- Porcupine Creek
- Middle Fork Porcupine Creek
- Willow Creek
- Rock Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Frenchman Creek
- Whitewater Creek
- Little Cottonwood Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
- Black Coulee
- Woody Island Coulee
- Battle Creek
- Lodge Creek
- Clear Creek
- Boxelder Creek
- Big Sandy Creek
- Verdigris Coulee
- North Fork Milk River
- Middle Fork Milk River
- South Fork Milk River
- Big Dry Creek
- Woody Creek
- Little Dry Creek
- Musselshell River
- Armells Creek
- Cow Creek
- Birch Creek
- Judith River
- Wolf Creek
- Warm Springs Creek
- Sage Creek
- Big Spring Creek
- Louse Creek
- Ross Fork Creek
- Middle Fork Judith River
- South Fork Judith River
- Arrow Creek
- Cowboy Creek
- Surprise Creek
- Marias River
- Highwood Creek
- Belt Creek
- Sun River
- Smith River
- Hound Creek
- Tenderfoot Creek
- Whitetail Deer Creek
- Dearborn River
- South Fork Dearborn River
- Middle Fork Dearborn River
- Cuniff Creek
- Little Prickly Pear Creek
- Prickly Pear Creek
- Deep Creek
- Crow Creek
- Sixteen Mile Creek
- South Fork Sixteen Mile Creek
- Middle Fork Sixteen Mile Creek
Headwaters
See also
References
