The Rock River is a tributary of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...

, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data
The National Map
accessed May 13, 2011 in the U.S. states of

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

and

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

. The river was known as the Sinnissippi to Sauk and Fox Indians; the name means "rocky waters". The river, which has a notable higher western bank, begins with three separate branches which flow into the Horicon Marsh. The northernmost branch, the West Branch, begins just to the west of the village of Brandon in

Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Fond du Lac County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,154. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The county was created in the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and later organized in 1844. Fond du ...

and flows east and then south to Horicon Marsh. The South Branch rises north of Fox Lake in Dodge County and flows east through

Waupun Waupun is a city in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 11,344 at the 2020 census. Of this, 7,795 were in Dodge County, and 3,549 were in Fond du Lac County. In Fond du Lac County, the Town of Waup ...

to the marsh. The East Branch rises southeast of Allenton in Washington County just west of the

Niagara Escarpment The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in Canada and the United States that runs predominantly east–west from New York through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, and into Illinois. The escarpment is most famous as the cliff ove ...

, and flows north and west through

Theresa Teresa (also Theresa, Therese; french: Thérèse) is a feminine given name. It originates in the Iberian Peninsula in late antiquity. Its derivation is uncertain, it may be derived from Greek θερίζω (''therízō'') "to harvest or rea ...

to the marsh. Leaving the marsh, it meanders southward to the Illinois border, ending about 300 miles later at the Mississippi River at the

Quad Cities The Quad Cities is a region of cities (originally four, see History) in the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport and Bettendorf in southeastern Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in northwestern Illinois. These cities are t ...

in Illinois and Iowa. During its course it passes through Watertown, collects the Crawfish River in Jefferson, and receives the Bark River at Fort Atkinson. Shortly before merging, the Rock and Crawfish rivers cross

Interstate 94 Interstate 94 (I-94) is an east–west Interstate Highway connecting the Great Lakes and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. Its western terminus is just east of Billings, Montana, at a junction with I-90; its eastern term ...

. Both rivers flood the nearby land regularly, and lanes on I-94 were temporarily closed in 2008 because of this flooding. In northern

Rock County, Wisconsin Rock County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 163,687. Its county seat is Janesville. Rock County comprises the Janesville- Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the M ...

, it receives the Yahara River, and flows southward through tiny Fulton, Janesville and Beloit into northern Illinois, where it receives the Pecatonica River 5 miles (8 km) south of the state line. It flows south through Rockford, then southwest across northwestern Illinois, picking up the Kishwaukee River, passing

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

Dixon Dixon may refer to: Places International * Dixon Entrance, part of the Inside Passage between Alaska and British Columbia Canada * Dixon, Ontario United States * Dixon, California * Dixon, Illinois * Dixon, Greene County, Indiana * Dixon, In ...

, Sterling (which has the Sinnissippi Mounds national historic site and local park) and Rock Falls before joining the

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

at Rock Island. It was on the Rock River in Dixon where

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

was a lifeguard. Reagan's favorite fishing spot, now called "Dutch Landing" after Reagan's

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

, was just southwest of Lowell Park on the Rock River. There are 25 dams on the Rock River. These are in Theresa (WI, 3 dams), Waupun (WI), Horicon (WI), Mayville (WI, 2 dams), Kekoskee (WI), Hustisford (WI), Watertown (WI, 2 dams), Jefferson (WI, 4 dams), Indianford (WI), Janesville (WI), Beloit (WI), Rockton (IL), Rockford Fordham (IL), Oregon (IL), Dixon (IL), Sterling / Rock Falls (IL, 2 dams), Milan (IL) and Rock Island (IL). Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route Dodge County Wisconsin

Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route Dodge County Wisconsin

The river is used for various water and paddling sports. The Rock River Water Trail is on the river from its headwaters above the

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Horicon Marsh is a marsh A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Ma ...

in south central Wisconsin to the confluence with the Mississippi River at the

of Illinois and Iowa 330 miles downriver. It crosses five counties in Wisconsin, six counties in Illinois and runs through 37 municipalities. The slow moving river passes scenic rural landscapes, wilderness areas and urban areas. The first two trailheads are at Waupun County Park in Waupun, Wisconsin and Rivers Edge Park in

Theresa, Wisconsin Theresa is a village in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,262 at the 2010 census. The village is within the Town of Theresa. History Theresa was founded by Solomon Juneau along with his Metis wife and children in th ...

and there are 32 additional access points in

Dodge County, Wisconsin Dodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 89,396. Its county seat is Juneau. The county was created from the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and organized in 1844. Dodge County co ...

. The trail is part of the National Water Trails System and the first National Water Trail in Wisconsin and Illinois. Rock River Park is on County Road B about a half mile west of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin in Jefferson County, Wisconsin and offers river access and an artesian spring. Watertown River Walk 02

Cities and villages along the river

Communities listed from north to south. *

Brandon, Wisconsin Brandon is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 879 at the 2010 census. History Brandon was originally dubbed "Bungtown" in the town's creation in 1856. The Rens Hemp Company of Brandon, Wisconsin, cl ...

(West Branch) * Waupun, Wisconsin (South Branch) *

(East Branch) * Mayville, Wisconsin (East Branch) * Kekoskee, Wisconsin (East Branch) *

Horicon, Wisconsin Horicon is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,655 at the 2010 census. Geography Horicon is located at (43.4482, -88.6329). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which ...

* Hustisford, Wisconsin *

Ixonia, Wisconsin Ixonia is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The population was 4,385 at the time of the 2010 census. The unincorporated communities of Ixonia and Pipersville are located within the town. History The town of Union was separated from th ...

* Watertown, Wisconsin * Johnson Creek, Wisconsin *

Jefferson, Wisconsin Jefferson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States, and is its county seat. It is at the confluence of the Rock and Crawfish rivers. The population was 7,973 at the 2010 census. The city is partially bordered by the Town of Jef ...

* Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin * Indianford, Wisconsin * Fulton, Wisconsin *

Janesville, Wisconsin Janesville is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat and largest city in the county. It is a principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Madison–Jan ...

Afton, Wisconsin Afton (also Middledale) is an unincorporated community in the Town of Rock, in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. The town hall for the Town of Rock is in Afton. History Originally called Middletown, the community was renamed in about 1857� ...

Beloit, Wisconsin Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 36,657 people. History Twelve men in Colebrook, New Hampshire, created the "New England Emigrating Company" in October 1836 and sen ...

* South Beloit, Illinois *

Rockton, Illinois Rockton is a village in Winnebago County, Illinois. It is located in the Rock River Valley and is part of the Rockford metropolitan area. The population was 7,685 at the time of the 2010 census, up from 5,296 at the time of the 2000 census. Geo ...

* Roscoe, Illinois * Machesney Park, Illinois *

Loves Park, Illinois Loves Park is a city in Boone and Winnebago counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Most of the city is in Winnebago County, with a tiny sliver in the east located in Boone County. The population was 23,996 at the 2010 census, up from 20,044 in ...

Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, located in the far northern part of the state. Situated on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County). ...

Byron, Illinois Byron is a city in Ogle County, Illinois, United States, probably best known as the location of the Byron Nuclear Generating Station, one of the last nuclear power plants commissioned in the United States. Byron is located in Byron Township, al ...

Oregon, Illinois Oregon ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,721 in 2010.U.S. Census BureaPopulation, Age, Sex, Race, Households/ref> History The land Oregon, Illinois was founded on was previously he ...

Grand Detour, Illinois Grand Detour is an unincorporated census-designated place in Ogle County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 429. The village is named after an odd turn in the Rock River, which flows north past the village, rather ...

Dixon, Illinois Dixon is a city and the county seat of Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 in 2000. The city is named after founder John Dixon, who operated a rope ferry service across the R ...

* Sterling, Illinois *

Rock Falls, Illinois Rock Falls is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. The recorded population was 8,606 at the 2020 census, down 7.12% from 9,266 in 2010. The city is located on the Rock River, directly opposite its twin city of Sterling. Geogr ...

Lyndon, Illinois Lyndon is a village in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. The population was 648 at the 2010 census, up from 566 in 2000. Geography Lyndon is located at (41.716821, -89.923186). According to the 2010 census, Lyndon has a total area of , ...

* Prophetstown, Illinois * Erie, Illinois * Hillsdale, Illinois * Cleveland, Illinois *

Colona, Illinois Colona is a city in Henry County, Illinois, along the Green River. It is part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area. The population was 5,099 at the 2010 census, down from 5,173 at the 2000 census. The City of Colona was created in 1997 by ...

Moline, Illinois Moline ( ) is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. With a population of 42,985 in 2020, it is the largest city in Rock Island County. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Islan ...

* Coal Valley, Illinois *

Milan, Illinois Milan ( ) is a village in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,099 at the 2010 census. The village is located near the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. History The village is on the Rock River in northwest Illinois ...

Rock Island, Illinois Rock Island is a city in and the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The original Rock Island, from which the city name is derived, is now called Arsenal Island. The population was 37,108 at the 2020 census. Located on t ...

References

External links

Rock River Trail
{{authority control Rivers of Illinois Rivers of Wisconsin Tributaries of the Mississippi River Rivers of Dodge County, Wisconsin Rivers of Jefferson County, Wisconsin Rivers of Rock County, Wisconsin Rivers of Winnebago County, Illinois Rivers of Ogle County, Illinois Rivers of Lee County, Illinois Rivers of Whiteside County, Illinois Rivers of Rock Island County, Illinois

Cities and villages along the river

See also

References

External links