Wild Rice River (Minnesota) facts for kids

The Red River drainage basin, with both Wild Rice rivers highlighted

The Wild Rice River is a river in northwestern Minnesota, United States. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river, which is called the Red River of the North. This river is about 183 miles (295 kilometers) long. Its water travels a long way, through the Red River, then into Lake Winnipeg, and finally into the Nelson River, which empties into Hudson Bay. It's interesting because there's another river with the exact same name, the Wild Rice River, located in North Dakota!

The name "Wild Rice River" comes from the native Ojibwe language. It's an English translation of their original name for the river.

Where Does the Wild Rice River Flow?

The Wild Rice River starts its journey from a place called Mud Lake in Clearwater County. From there, it mostly flows towards the west. It travels through Mahnomen and Norman counties.

Along its path, the river goes through the White Earth Indian Reservation. It also flows past several towns like Mahnomen, Twin Valley, and Hendrum. It passes just south of Ada. Sometimes, during very high water, a nearby river called the Marsh River can even connect to the Wild Rice River, helping to carry water to the Red River.

Closer to where it joins the Red River, in an area called the Red River Valley, some parts of the Wild Rice River have been made straighter. This is sometimes done to help with water flow.

What Rivers Join the Wild Rice River?

The Wild Rice River has some important smaller rivers that flow into it. These are called tributaries.

White Earth River

One of its biggest tributaries is the White Earth River. This river joins the Wild Rice River close to the town of Mahnomen.

South Branch Wild Rice River

Another major tributary is the South Branch Wild Rice River. This branch connects with the main Wild Rice River further downstream in Norman County. The South Branch starts near Ogema in northwestern Becker County. It flows for about 61.4 miles (98.8 kilometers) mostly westward through Clay and Norman counties, passing by the town of Ulen.