Root River (Minnesota)

Root River
The North Branch of the Root River in Olmsted County Park
The Root River in Minnesota
Native name	Hokah (Dakota)
Location
Country	United States
States	Minnesota
Counties	Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona
Cities	Chatfield, Forestville, Hokah, Houston, Lanesboro, Rushford, Peterson, Preston, Stewartville, Whalan
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	43°48′24″N 92°10′14″W / 43.8066305°N 92.1704397°W / 43.8066305; -92.1704397 (Root River Source)
Mouth	Mississippi River
• coordinates	43°45′43″N 91°15′06″W / 43.7619120°N 91.2518017°W / 43.7619120; -91.2518017 (Root River Mouth)
Length	80 miles (130 km)
Discharge
• location	43°45′43″N 91°15′06″W / 43.7619°N 91.2518°W / 43.7619; -91.2518
Basin features
River system	Mississippi River
Tributaries
• left	Kinney Creek, Lynch Creek, Mill Creek, Money Creek, North Branch Root River, Raaen Creek, Rush Creek, Torkelson Creek, Trout Run
• right	Diamond Creek (Root River tributary), Ferndale Creek, Gribben Creek, Middle Fork Root River, Partridge Creek, South Branch Root River, Rice Creek, South Fork Root River
Bridges	Moen's Bridge

The Root River flows for 80 miles (130 km)^[1] through the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota and is a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River. The Root River is formed by three branches, the North, South and Middle branches of the Root River and the South Fork Root River. It is an excellent river for canoeing and fishing. The gentle to moderate flowing river drops an average of 3.4 ft/mile from Chatfield, Minnesota, to its pour point in the Mississippi River into Navigation Pool 7 just south of La Crosse, Wisconsin and east of Hokah, Minnesota.