Knife River

The Knife River, highlighted in a map of the watershed of the Missouri River

This article is about the river in North Dakota. For other meanings, see Knife River (disambiguation)

The Knife River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 120 mi (193 km) long, in North Dakota in the United States.

It rises in west central North Dakota, in the Killdeer Mountains in Billings County. It flows east, and is joined by Spring Creek near Beulah. It joins the Missouri north of Stanton, at the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.

Much of the terrain surrounding the river valley still remains in native grasslands, supporting many species of wildlife, including Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Coyote, Fox, Native Grouse, Pheasant, etc. Many of the small tributaries such as the Little Knife support local farms and ranches; some have been family owned for over 100 years. Some of the larger ranches include the Circle Five Ranch, Dressler Ranch, and Greenshield Ranch.

See also

• List of North Dakota rivers

Knife River at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site