For the tributary of the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois, see Apple River (Illinois)

Apple River (Illinois)

The Apple River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about long, in southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois in the United States. It rises in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, and flows for most of its length in Illinois, through Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties. Along its course it...

. For the town in northwestern Wisconsin, see Apple River, Wisconsin

Apple River, Wisconsin

Apple River is a town in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,067 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Range is located partially in the town.-Geography:...

.

The Apple River is a tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the St. Croix River

St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)

The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...

, about 70 mi (113 km) long, in northwestern Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Via the St. Croix, it is part of the watershed

Drainage basin

A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...

 of the Mississippi River

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

.

It issues from Staples Lake in Barron County and flows generally southwestwardly through Polk and St. Croix

St. Croix County, Wisconsin

St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 84,345. Its county seat is Hudson. St. Croix County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area . It is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.-Geography:According to the U.S...

 counties. In northern Polk County, it gathers the Fox Creek

Straight River (Wisconsin)

The Straight River is a tributary of the Apple River, about 20 miles long, located entirely within Polk County, Wisconsin in the United States. The Straight River flows from wetlands west of Straight Lake in Straight Lake State Park, Polk County, Wisconsin. After exiting Straight Lake, the river...

 near White Ash Lake and traverses several lakes throughout its course. The river flows through the city of Amery

Amery, Wisconsin

Amery is a city in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Apple River. The population was 2,845 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Amery is located at ....

 and the villages of Star Prairie

Star Prairie, Wisconsin

Star Prairie is a village in St. Croix County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 574 at the 2000 census. The village is located along the Apple River on the boundary between the Town of Star Prairie and the Town of Stanton.-Geography:...

 and Somerset

Somerset, Wisconsin

Somerset is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, along the Apple River. The population was 1,556 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Somerset.-Geography:Somerset is located at ....

. It joins the St. Croix River 7 mi (11.3 km) northeast of Stillwater, Minnesota

Stillwater, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...

.

In the Ojibwe language

Ojibwe language

Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...

, the Apple River is called Waabizipinikaan-ziibi, meaning "River Abundant with Swan Potato

Sagittaria

Sagittaria is a genus of about 30 species of aquatic plants whose members go by a variety of common names, including arrowhead, duck potato, iz-ze-kn, katniss, kuwai , swan potato, tule potato, and wapato...

es". This name was translated into French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

, but only pomme (apple) of the French word for "potato" (pomme de terre - apple from the earth) was translated into English.

The Apple River was once an important route of trade for the logging industry; timber was floated downstream from logging camps in the north to a sawmill in Amery, Wisconsin

Amery, Wisconsin

Amery is a city in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Apple River. The population was 2,845 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Amery is located at ....

 where it was cut, loaded onto trains and transported throughout the region. Today, the river generates tourism revenue through recreation and resorts. Its relatively gentle rapids make it very popular for canoe

Canoe

A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...

ing, tubing

Tubing (recreation)

Tubing is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.-Water:Tubing on water generally consists of two forms: towed and free-floating, also...

, camping, concerts, and is a popular fishing spot through all seasons. Tubing involves floating on a river on top of an inner tube.