The States With the Most Rivers in America

The American topography is fantastic and has enamored geologists and other scientists for centuries. When it comes to rivers, some states have very few, but others have many rivers. The National Wild and Scenic River System assigns “designated wild and scenic” rivers in each state. Currently, there are 228 designated rivers (but 250,000 total rivers) in the country —  6,452.1 miles are classified as wild, 2,995.4 miles are classified as scenic, and 4,019.3 miles are classified as recreational. Let’s take a look at the number of designated rivers by state and other fun facts about all the rivers in the US.

Hawaii

Hawaii does not have any designated rivers, but there are minor ones, including streams and springs, throughout the state.

Kansas

Kansas does not have any designated rivers, but there are minor ones throughout the state.

Indiana

Indiana does not have any designated rivers, but there are minor ones throughout the state.

Alabama

Alabama has 1 designated river.

Colorado

Colorado has 1 designated river, but many other minor rivers.

Delaware

Delaware has 1 designated river, but many other minor rivers.

Florida

Florida has 2 designated rivers.

Georgia

Georgia has 1 designated river, but many other minor rivers.

Iowa

Iowa does not have any designated rivers, but there are minor ones throughout the state.

Maryland

Maryland does not have any designated rivers, but there are minor ones throughout the state.

Illinois

Illinois has 1 designated river, but many other minor rivers.

Idaho

Idaho has a whopping 22 designated rivers and many minor ones.

Connecticut

Connecticut has 5 designated rivers.

California

California has 26 designated rivers, but the state’s overall river system encompasses 189,454 miles.

Kentucky

Kentucky has 1 designated river.

Arkansas

Arkansas has 8 designated rivers.

Louisiana

Louisiana has 1 designated river, but many waterways are located throughout the state.

Alaska

Alaska has 25 designated rivers, but there are about 12,000 smaller rivers, as well. The state also has 365,000 miles of river.

Maine

Maine has 2 designated rivers, but many minor ones are located throughout the state.

Arizona

Arizona has 2 designated rivers.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 4 designated rivers.

Michigan

Michigan has 16 designated rivers.

North Carolina

North Carolina has 5 designated rivers.

Minnesota

Minnesota has 1 designated river, but many minor ones.

Mississippi

Mississippi has 1 designated river, but many minor ones.

Montana

Montana has 3 designated rivers, but many minor ones.

Nebraska

Nebraska has 2 designated rivers, but many minor ones.

Nevada

Nevada does not have any designated rivers, but there are minor ones, including streams and creeks, throughout the state.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire has 2 designated rivers.

New Jersey

New Jersey has 4 designated rivers.

New Mexico

New Mexico has 4 designated rivers.

New York

New York only has 1 designated river, but many creeks, streams, and minor rivers located throughout the state.

North Dakota

North Dakota has no designated rivers.

Virginia

Virginia has no designated rivers by the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, but has several non-designated ones.

Ohio

Ohio has 3 designated rivers.

Missouri

Missouri has 1 designated river, but many minor ones.

Oregon

Oregon has a whopping 68 designated rivers, with 2,424 miles of rivers and 18% of the country’s total river miles.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 4 designated rivers.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island has 1 designated river, but several minor ones.

South Carolina

South Carolina has 1 designated river, but several minor ones.

South Dakota

South Dakota has 1 designated river, but a few minor ones.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has no designated rivers.

Tennessee

Tennessee has 1 designated river, but several minor ones.

Texas

Even though it’s a huge state, Texas has 1 designated river, but several minor ones.

Utah

Utah has 2 designated rivers.

Vermont

Vermont has 1 designated river.

Washington

Washington has 6 designated rivers, but many non-designated ones.

West Virginia

West Virginia has 1 designated river, but several non-designated ones.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin has 2 designated rivers, but several non-designated ones.

Wyoming

Wyoming has 2 designated rivers, but several non-designated ones.