The Eel River is a 52.8 miles (85 km) tributary of the White River

White River (Indiana)

The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...

 in southwestern Indiana

Indiana

Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

. Via the White, Wabash

Wabash River

The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...

, and Ohio

Ohio River

The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...

 rivers, its waters flow to 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...

 and the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...

. The Eel River flows through Greene

Greene County, Indiana

Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to include the mean center of U.S. population in 1930. As of 2010, the population was 33,165. The county seat is Bloomfield....

, Owen

Owen County, Indiana

Owen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to include the mean center of U.S. population in 1920. As of 2010, the population was 21,575...

, Clay

Clay County, Indiana

Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 26,890. The county seat is Brazil. Clay County is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :Clay County was formed in 1825...

, and Putnam

Putnam County, Indiana

As of the census of 2000, there were 36,019 people, 12,374 households, and 9,119 families residing in the county. The population density was 75 people per square mile . There were 13,505 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...

 counties.

The river forms in southwestern Putnam County at the confluence of Mill Creek and Big Walnut Creek. It runs generally south and slightly west for most of its course until it takes a southeast turn about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Middlebury

Middlebury, Indiana

Middlebury is a town in Middlebury Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, in the United States. It is located approximately 15 miles east of Elkhart, 35 miles east of South Bend, 130 miles east of Chicago, and 165 miles north of Indianapolis. Middlebury is a small farm and manufacturing town nestled...

. It then flows about 18 miles (29 km) to its junction with the White River

White River (Indiana)

The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...

 near Worthington

Worthington, Indiana

Worthington is a town in Jefferson Township, Greene County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,481 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bloomington, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

. One of its tributaries, Big Walnut Creek, has a drainage basin of 318 square miles (823.6 km²). Another tributary is Mill Creek, which flows into Cagles Mill Lake, also known as Cataract Lake, before joining the Eel.