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THE EARTH′S RIVERS AND RIVERWAYS
The Missouri River Tributaries

The Platte River Go Down go back
The Platte river is a major river in the state of Nebraska and has one major division into the North Platte and South Platte, which is located at North Platte, Nebraska about 310 miles upriver from its mouth at the confluence with the Missouri River just south of Omaha, Nebraska. The combined waters of the Platte and the Missouri Rivers flow southeast into the state of Missouri and then combine with the Mississippi River. From this junction, the waters then flow to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Platte River, if combined with its tributary, the North Platte river has a total distance from its source to it mouth of 1050 miles. Over most of its length, the Platte river is a broad shallow meandering waterway with a sandy bottom with many island.
The Platte River is a significant tributary system of the Missouri and drains a large portion of the central Great Plains in Nebraska as well as the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in both Colorado and Wyoming.
The Platte River
Image
(m2wa-riv-missouri-platte.image) The Platte River Drainage Basin 1

Platte River System Information
Confluence with Primary:
Missouri River,
Mouth: 41.053153, -95.880833
Elevation at Mouth: 955 feet

The Tributaries of the Platte River Go Down Go Up
Platte River
Source:
Location: Diversion Dam, 41.113203, -100.675931
Location: N. Platte and S. Platte River Confluence, 41.115072, -100.682534
Elevation at Source: 2772 feet
Total Length:
Tributary Left
Source: North Platte River, Wood River, Loup River, Lost Creek, Elkhorn River,
Mouth: Missouri River
Tributary Right:
Source: South Platte River, Bone Creek, Skull Creek, Salt Creek
Mouth: Missouri River

North Platte River
Source: 40.639821, -106.405963
Source Tributary: Grizzly Creek and Little Grizzly Creek
Elevation at Source: 8,050 feet
Total Length: 716 miles
Tributaries Left:
Source: Grizzly Creek, Roaring Fork, North Fork North Platte River,
Threemile Creek, CO-Wyoming State Line, Big Creek, Encampment River,
Saratoga Hot Springs, IH 80, Seminoe Reservoir-Dam, Kortes Reservoir-Dam
Pathfinder Reservoir-Dam, Sweetwater River, Casper, WY,
IH 25, Glendo Reservoir-Dam, Guernsey Reservoir-Dam, US 26,
Wy-Nebraska state line, Scottsbluff, NE, McConaughy Lake-Dam
Mouth: Platte River
Tributaries Right:
Source: Little Grizzly Creek, Michigan River, Canadian River, Camp Creek,
CO-Wyoming State Line, Douglas Creek, IH 80, Seminoe Reservoir-Dam,
Medicine Bow River, Kortes Reservoir-Dam, Pathfinder Reservoir-Dam,
Alcova Reservoir-Dam, Casper, Wyoming, IH 25, Box Elder Creek,
Glendo Reservoir-Dam, Guernsey Reservoir and Dam, US 26, Laramie River,
WY-Nebraska state line, Horse Creek, Scottsbluff, NE, McConaughy Lake-Dam,
Mouth: South Platte River

South Platte River
Source: 39.011111, -105.740278
Location: Middle Fork and South Fork of South Platte River
Elevation at Source: 8773 feet
Total Length: 439 miles
Tributaries Left: (39.3771581, -106.131245) Middle Fork South Platte River, Elevemile Cayon Reservoir, Elevenmile Canyon Dam, Lake George, US 24, Tarryall Creek, Cheeseman Lake and Dam, Colorado Trail Bridge, North Fork South Platte River, Strontia Springs Reservoir and Dam, Chatfield Reservoir, State Park and Dam, Denver Metroplex City Limits, Bear Creek, US 6, IH 25, IH 70, Clear Creek, Leaving Denver, Bolder Creek, Big Thompson River, US 85, US 34, Box Elder Creek, Cache la Poudre River, Crow Creek, Longepole Creek, Nebraska State Line, IH 80, US 26, Enter Central Time Zone, North Platte City Limits, North Platte River.
Tributaries Right: (39.128466, -106.180817) South Fork South Platte River, Threemile Creek, Elevemile Cayon Reservoir, Elevenmile Canyon Dam, Lake George, US 24, Cheeseman Lake and Dam, Colorado Trail Bridge, Strontia Springs Reservoir and Dam, Chatfield Reservoir, State Park and Dam, Denver Metroplex City Limits, US 6, IH 25, Cherry Creek, IH 70, Sand Creek, Leaving Denver, US 85, US 34, Nebraska State Line, IH 80, US 26, Kiowa Creek, Bijou Creek, Enter Central Time Zone, North Platte City Limits, Platte River.

The 2024 Journey, North Platte River Go Down Go Up
Tuesday, 14 May 2024, Fort Collins, CO.
(Day 93 TS) 48°F. 6:00 am, sunny
Journey On, Day 93
Overnighting in a parking lot
After I drive the twenty-one miles south on SH 130, I arrive at the North Platte river. I stop here briefly for a couple of photos and then drive into town, turn left onto Walnut Avenue and drive east to the Hobo Hot Springs. Just before entering town, I cross the North Platte river.
The Platte River
North Platte at Saratoga, WY The Platte River
North Platte at Saratoga, WY
I had been thinking that if the hot springs was crowded, then, I would just use the restroom and get into the hot shower.
Upon walking to the main pool, I decide that I will get into the main pool and soak for a half hour or so and then take a hot shower.
The Hot Springs
Saratoga Hot Springs
(m2wo-hot-saratoga-2024-0514.1019) Main Pool at 105.0 degrees
Later, after packing out, walking back to the jammer and then hanging my wet shorts on the back clothes rack, I get into the driver′s seat and begin my drive out of here, stopping to take a couple of photos, one of the river and another of a home atop a bluff overlooking the river west of town.
The Platte River
North Platte at Saratoga, WY The Platte River
North Platte at Saratoga, WY

The 2023 Journey, Platte River Go Down Go Up
Monday, 08 May 2023, Dodge City, KS.
(Day 721 TN) 58°F. 7:30 am, sunny
Journey On, Day Eight
Overnighting in a parking lot
In the afternoon, I drive further northeast on US 56 to Great Bend, Kansas, where I depart from the Santa Fe Trail, turn left on SH 96, drive back to US 183 and then turn right to continue my north bound drive through the center of Kansas. After about and hour of driving, I arrive in Hays, Kansas, put off the SH at a w-mart, park, grab my computer bag and go inside for the air conditioning.
I continue inside until the mid day heat cools off just a little bit, then I return to the jammer and continue north on US 183, cross into Nebraska, continue until I cross the Platte River, a wide shallow watercourse and stop here to take a few photos.
The Platte River
Image The Platte River
Image The Platte River
Image
(m2wa-riv-missouri-platte-2023-0508.1840) Down-river view of Platte River
The Platte River
Image
(m2wa-riv-missouri-platte-2023-0508.1841) Platte River in Nebraska from US 183
The Platte River
Image
Continuing north, I soon arrive at IH 80 just west of Kearney, Nebraska, turn west and drive a little over 80 miles to North Plate, Nebraska. Here, I exit the interstate highway, drive north on US 83 towards town, cross the South Platte River and stop at the d-mart for the night.
Soon after, the sun drops to the horizon, after which, I climb into the rear of the jammer and get into the horizontal for the night. Too, I notice that it has begun to rain, lightly at first and then increasing in intensity during the night.

The 2022 Journey, North Platte River Go Down Go Up
The Platte River
Image
(m2wa-riv-missouri-platte-2022-0529.1355) Drive north from Saratoga, Wyoming

1  
Photo Credit: By Shannon1 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

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This Page Last Updated: 31 March 2026


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