List of tributaries of the Missouri River facts for kids

Map of the Missouri River watershed

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

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

Mouth to Kansas City

• Gasconade River
  • Big Piney River
    • Spring Creek
  • Roubidoux Creek
  • Osage Fork Gasconade River
  • Beaver Creek
• Auxvasse Creek
• Osage River
  • Maries River
  • Niangua River
    • Little Niangua River
    • Greasy Creek
  • Pomme de Terre River
    • Little Pomme de Terre River
  • South Grand River
    • Tebo Creek
    • Big Creek
  • Weaubleau Creek
  • Sac River
    • Little Sac River
    • Turnback Creek
  • Clear Creek
  • Little Osage River
    • Marmaton River
  • Marais des Cygnes River
    • Bull Creek
    • Pottawatomie Creek
• Moreau River
  • North Moreau Creek
  • South Moreau Creek
• Cedar Creek
• Moniteau Creek
• Perche Creek
• Lamine River
  • Blackwater River
    • Salt Fork Blackwater River
  • Heaths Creek
  • Muddy Creek
  • Richland Creek
  • Flat Creek
    • Haw Creek
• Little Chariton River
  • Middle Fork Little Chariton River
  • East Fork Little Chariton River
• Chariton River
  • Mussel Fork Chariton River
  • Walnut Creek
  • Blackbird Creek
• Grand River
  • Locust Creek
  • Medicine Creek
  • Thompson River
    • Honey Creek
    • Weldon River
  • Shoal Creek
  • Big Creek
  • Grindstone Creek
  • East Fork Grand River
  • Middle Fork Grand River
• Fishing River
  • East Fork Fishing River
• Little Blue River
• Blue River
  • Indian Creek
  • Coffee Creek
  • Wolf Creek

Kansas City to Plattsmouth

• Kansas River
  • Wakarusa River
  • Delaware River
  • Soldier Creek
  • Big Blue River
    • Fancy Creek
    • Little Blue River
      • Mill Creek
    • Turkey Creek
    • West Fork Big Blue River
  • Republican River
    • White Rock Creek
    • Prairie Dog Creek
    • Sappa Creek
      • Beaver Creek
    • Medicine Creek
    • Red Willow Creek
    • Frenchman River
      • Stinking Water Creek
    • South Fork Republican River
    • North Fork Republican River
    • Arikaree River
  • Smoky Hill River
    • Solomon River
      • North Fork Solomon River
        • Cedar Creek
        • Beaver Creek
        • Bow Creek
      • South Fork Solomon River
        • Covert Creek
        • Medicine Creek
    • Saline River
      • Mulberry Creek
      • Spillman Creek
      • Wolf Creek
    • Big Timber Creek
    • North Fork Smoky Hill River
• Platte River
  • Little Platte River
  • Third Fork Platte River
• Nodaway River
  • East Nodaway River
  • West Nodaway River
    • Middle Nodaway River
• Wolf River
• Big Nemaha River
  • Muddy Creek
  • North Fork Big Nemaha River
  • South Fork Big Nemaha River
• Tarkio River
• Little Nemaha River
  • South Fork Little Nemaha River
• Nishnabotna River
  • West Nishnabotna River
    • Walnut Creek
  • East Nishnabotna River
• Weeping Water Creek
• Keg Creek
• James Creek

Platte River Basin

• Platte River
  • Salt Creek
    • Oak Creek
    • Stevens Creek
    • Middle Creek
    • Antelope Creek
    • Elk Creek
    • Beal Slough
    • Haines Branch
    • Cardwell Branch
    • Lynn Creek
    • Deadman's Run
    • Little Salt Creek
  • Elkhorn River
    • Maple Creek
    • Logan Creek
    • North Fork Elkhorn River
    • Cache Creek
    • South Fork Elkhorn River
  • Shell Creek
  • Loup River
    • Cedar River
    • North Loup River
      • Calamus River
      • Goose Creek
    • Middle Loup River
      • South Loup River
        • Mud Creek
      • Dismal River
      • South Branch Middle Loup River
      • Middle Branch Middle Loup River
      • North Branch Middle Loup River
  • Prairie Creek
  • Wood River
  • Buffalo Creek
  • North Platte River
    • Birdwood Creek
    • Blue Creek
    • Rush Creek
    • Horse Creek
    • Cherry Creek
      • Box Elder Creek
    • Rawhide Creek
    • Laramie River
      • North Laramie River
      • Chugwater Creek
        • Richeau Creek
      • Sybille Creek
      • Fourmile Creek
      • Little Laramie River
      • Sand Creek
    • Horseshoe Creek
    • La Bonte Creek
    • La Prele Creek
    • Casper Creek
    • Bates Creek
    • Sweetwater River
      • Sage Hen Creek
      • Long Creek
      • Willow Creek
      • Little Sweetwater River
      • East Sweetwater River
    • Sage Creek
    • Medicine Bow River
      • Little Medicine Bow River
      • Rock Creek
      • Wagonhound Creek
    • Pass Creek
    • Encampment River
      • North Fork Encampment River
    • Douglas Creek
    • Pinkham Creek
    • Canadian River
    • Michigan River
      • Illinois River
      • Owl Creek
      • South Fork Michigan River
    • North Fork North Platte River
    • Roaring Fork North Platte River
    • Grizzly Creek
      • Buffalo Creek
    • Little Grizzly Creek
  • South Platte River
    • Lodgepole Creek
      • Muddy Creek
    • Cottonwood Creek
    • Beaver Creek
    • Bijou Creek
      • East Bijou Creek
      • West Bijou Creek
    • Kiowa Creek
    • Box Elder Creek
    • Cache La Poudre River
      • South Fork Cache La Poudre River
    • Big Thompson River
      • Little Thompson River
      • Dry Creek
      • North Fork Big Thompson River
    • St. Vrain River
      • Boulder Creek
      • Left Hand Creek
    • Clear Creek
      • North Clear Creek
    • Cherry Creek
    • Bear Creek
    • Deer Creek
    • Plum Creek
    • North Fork South Platte River
      • Craig Creek
    • Horse Creek
    • Tarryall Creek
    • Middle Fork South Platte River
    • South Fork South Platte River

Plattsmouth to Pierre

• Mosquito Creek
• Boyer River
  • Willow River
  • East Boyer River
• Soldier River
  • East Soldier River
    • Middle Soldier River
• Little Sioux River
  • Maple River
    • Elk Creek
  • West Fork Little Sioux River
  • Mill Creek
  • Ocheyedan River
    • Little Ocheyedan River
• Floyd River
  • West Branch Floyd River
    • Little Floyd River
• Perry Creek
• Big Sioux River
  • Rock River
    • Little Rock River
    • East Branch Rock River
  • Beaver Creek
  • Split Rock Creek
  • Silver Creek
  • Flandreau Creek
  • Medary Creek
  • Indian River

Vermillion River

• James River
  • Wolf Creek
  • Pierre Creek
  • Rock Creek
  • Shue Creek
  • Timber Creek
  • Snake Creek
  • Mud Creek
  • Elm River
  • Pipestem River
  • Kelly Creek
• Bazile Creek
• Niobrara River
  • Verdigre Creek
  • Redbird Creek
  • Eagle Creek
  • Keya Paha River
    • Shadley Creek
  • Plum Creek
  • Minnechaduza Creek
  • Snake River
    • Steer Creek
  • Bear Creek
  • Leander Creek
  • Rush Creek
  • Pine Creek
  • Butte Creek
• Ponca Creek
• Choteau Creek
• Garden Creek
• Platte Creek
• White River
  • White Thunder Creek
  • Little White River
    • Pine Creek
    • Cut Meat Creek
  • Black Pipe Creek
  • Porcupine Creek
  • Potato Creek
  • Wounded Knee Creek
• American Creek
• Crow Creek
• Knoll Creek
• Bad River
  • War Creek
  • White Clay Creek
  • Dry Creek
  • Mitchell Creek
  • North Fork Bad River
  • South Fork Bad River

Pierre to Bismarck

• Okobojo Creek
• Cheyenne River
  • Cherry Creek
  • Belle Fourche River
    • Alkali Creek
    • Bear Butte Creek
    • Whitewood Creek
    • Redwater River
      • Spearfish Creek
    • Blacktail Creek
    • Kara Creek
  • Elk Creek
  • Boxelder Creek
  • Rapid Creek
  • Spring Creek
  • Battle Creek
  • French Creek
  • Beaver Creek
  • Horsehead Creek
  • Cascade Creek
  • Hat Creek
  • Red Canyon Creek
  • Lance Creek
  • Black Thunder Creek
    • Little Thunder Creek
  • Antelope Creek
  • Dry Fork Cheyenne River
• Moreau River
  • Virgin Creek
  • Little Moreau River
  • Red Earth Creek
  • Bear Creek
  • Irish Creek
  • Thunder Butte Creek
  • Deep Creek
  • Beverly Creek
  • North Fork Moreau River
  • South Fork Moreau River
    • Battle Creek
• Grand River
  • High Bank Creek
  • Firesteel Creek
  • Black Horse Butte Creek
  • Thunder Hawk Creek
  • Willow Creek
  • North Fork Grand River
    • Buffalo Creek
    • Lightning Creek
    • Spring Creek
  • South Fork Grand River
    • Flat Creek
    • Lodgepole Creek
    • Big Nasty Creek
    • Skull Creek
• Oak Creek
• Fourmile Creek
• Porcupine Creek
• Beaver Creek
• Cannonball River
  • Cantapeta Creek
  • Dogtooth Creek
  • Cedar Creek
    • Hay Creek
    • Brushy Creek
    • Duck Creek
  • Snake Creek
  • Morris Creek
  • Sheep Creek
  • Thirtymile Creek
• Apple Creek
• Heart River
  • Sweetbriar Creek
  • Big Muddy Creek
    • Haymarsh Creek
  • Antelope Creek
  • Heart Butte Creek
  • Green River
  • Ash Creek
  • South Branch Heart River

Bismarck to Williston

• 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

• 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
      • Buffalo Creek
      • Piney Creek
        • Little Piney Creek
      • Rock Creek
        • French 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
      • Soldier Creek
      • Big Goose Creek
      • Little 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
      • Paint Rock Creek
      • Tensleep Creek
      • Otter Creek
      • Deep Creek
    • 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
          • North Popo Agie River
          • Middle Popo Agie River
          • Little 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
    • Slough Creek
    • Soda Butte Creek
    • Cache Creek
    • Miller Creek
  • 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
  • Smoke Creek
  • Lake Creek
• Poplar River
  • Boxelder Creek
  • West Fork Poplar River
    • Police Creek
    • Hell Creek
    • Butte Creek
    • Middle Fork Poplar River
      • Lost Child Creek
      • Coal Creek
    • East Fork Poplar River
• Wolf Creek
• Little Porcupine Creek
• Milk River
  • Porcupine Creek
    • Middle Fork Porcupine Creek
  • Willow Creek
  • Rock Creek
    • Willow Creek
    • Snake Creek
  • Beaver Creek
  • Frenchman Creek
  • Whitewater Creek
  • Little Cottonwood Creek
  • Cottonwood Creek
    • Black Coulee
    • Woody Island Coulee
  • Battle Creek
    • East Fork Battle Creek
  • Lodge Creek
  • Clear Creek
  • Boxelder Creek
  • Big Sandy Creek
    • Sage Creek
  • Verdigris Coulee
  • North Fork Milk River
    • Lonely Valley Creek
  • Middle Fork Milk River
  • South Fork Milk River
• Big Dry Creek
  • Woody Creek
  • Little Dry Creek
• Musselshell River
  • Flatwillow Creek
    • Box Elder Creek
      • McDonald Creek
    • Elk Creek
  • American Fork Musselshell River
  • South Fork Musselshell River
  • North Fork Musselshell River
• Armells Creek
• Cow Creek
• Birch Creek
• Judith River
  • Wolf Creek
    • Dry Wolf Creek
  • Warm Springs Creek
  • Sage Creek
  • Big Spring Creek
  • Louse Creek
  • Ross Fork Creek
  • Middle Fork Judith River
    • Lost Fork Judith River
  • South Fork Judith River
• Arrow Creek
  • Cowboy Creek
  • Surprise Creek
• Marias River
  • Teton River
    • Deep Creek
      • Willow Creek
  • Pondera Coulee
  • Willow Creek
  • Dry Fork Marias River
  • Cut Bank Creek
    • Greasewood Creek
  • Two Medicine River
    • Birch Creek
      • Dupuyer Creek
    • Badger Creek
• Highwood Creek
• Belt Creek

Great Falls to Three Forks

• Sun River
  • Muddy Creek
  • Elk Creek
  • North Fork Sun River
  • South Fork Sun River
    • West Fork 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
  • Tenmile Creek
• Deep Creek
• Crow Creek
• Sixteen Mile Creek
  • South Fork Sixteen Mile Creek
  • Middle Fork Sixteen Mile Creek

Headwaters

• Gallatin River
  • East Gallatin River
    • Dry Creek
    • Bridger Creek
  • Hyalite Creek
  • Spanish Creek
  • Storm Castle Creek
  • West Fork Gallatin River
  • Taylor Creek
• Madison River
  • Cedar Creek
  • Ruby Creek
  • West Fork Madison River
    • Lake Creek
    • Elk River
  • Duck Creek
  • South Fork Madison River
  • Firehole River
    • Little Firehole River
  • Gibbon River
• Jefferson River
  • South Boulder River
  • Boulder River
    • Little Boulder River
  • Whitetail Deer Creek
  • Big Pipestone Creek
  • Fish Creek
  • Big Hole River
    • Divide Creek
    • Wise River
      • Pettengill Creek
    • North Fork Big Hole River
    • Big Lake Creek
    • Governor Creek
  • Beaverhead River
    • Ruby River
      • Granite Creek
      • Sweetwater Creek
    • Blacktail Deer Creek
    • Rattlesnake Creek
    • Grasshopper Creek
    • Horse Prairie Creek
      • Trail Creek
    • Red Rock River
      • Sage Creek
      • Junction Creek
      • Long Creek
      • Odell Creek
      • Red Rock Creek
        • Hell Roaring Creek
          • Brower's Spring

See also

• List of tributaries of the Mississippi River