The Kettle 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 80 mi (130 km) long, in eastern Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

 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 River, 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...

. The river's English name is due to the large number of large rounded holes (kettles) in the sandstone in and around the river, carved out by the swirling waters of the river. The river's Dakota

Dakota language

Dakota is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people of the Sioux tribes. Dakota is closely related to and mutually intelligible with the Lakota language.-Dialects:...

 name Céġa watpa entered into English via Anishinaabe

Anishinaabe

Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...

 people's Akiko-ziibi, both meaning "Kettle River".

River character

Throughout the course of the river, the waters of the Kettle have an amber tint. This tint comes from tannins (leaf colorings) from wetlands which drain into the river, rather than manmade causes.

The Kettle's flow changes fairly quickly with rainfall in the area of drainage, which is about 1060 square miles (2,745.4 km²). It is not uncommon for the river to be reduced to a trickle during dry summer spells, and rise to a whitewater torrent after a few days of rain. Normal water flows vary seasonally from 200 to over 6000 ft³/min (0.09 to 2.8 m³/s). Check the USGS Water Gauge for current flows before you go.

Very deep sections of the river exist, with some pools reaching over 100 feet (30 m) in depth. The astounding depth of the river and general good water quality support a population of the ancient Sturgeon

Sturgeon

Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, including the genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhynchus and Pseudoscaphirhynchus. The term includes over 20 species commonly referred to as sturgeon and several closely related species that have distinct common...

. The record largest fish ever caught in the state of Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

, was a 70 inch (1.8 m), 94 pound 4 oz (42.8 kg) Sturgeon caught in the Kettle river in 1994.

Sections of river

The upper section of the river (above Banning State Park

Banning State Park

Banning State Park is a Minnesota state park stretched along of the Kettle River near Sandstone, Minnesota in Pine County. The centerpiece of the park is of churning rapids, some up to Class IV. The daring kayakers and canoeists who shoot Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, Dragon's Tooth,...

) is generally quick moving with frequent riffles and a few class I rapids. This section of the river is runnable when water levels are moderate to high (900 ft³/min).

As the river flows to Banning State Park

Banning State Park

Banning State Park is a Minnesota state park stretched along of the Kettle River near Sandstone, Minnesota in Pine County. The centerpiece of the park is of churning rapids, some up to Class IV. The daring kayakers and canoeists who shoot Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, Dragon's Tooth,...

, its character quickly changes as the river drops through a series of rapids ranging from class I to class IV. This rapids are easily runnable in an open canoe when water levels are low to moderate(600 to 900 ft³/min), but can become dangerous to even experienced whitewater kayakers and rafters during very high water (4,500 ft³/min). The steep rocky sides to the river, and undercut banks and kettles can make a rescue very difficult in these conditions.

Shortly after exiting the park, the river quiets significantly before Big Spring Falls. The falls was recreated when a dam built in 1908 was removed in 1995 to help restore the river. The removal of the dam has allowed the sturgeon a greater range on the river. There is also a small picnic area next to the falls, and a bit of a rough portage down to the water.

From the falls to the confluence of the St. Croix, the Kettle continues to drop at a moderate rate with frequent riffles and occasional class I rapids. The rapids increase in frequency, but not intensity as the river approaches the St. Croix. This last section of the river is some of the best canoeing available in the state with manageable rapids, good fishing, frequently wildlife sightings (including bears) and absence of other people.

Tributaries

The Kettle flows into the St. Croix River 10 mi (16 km) east-northeast of Pine City

Pine City, Minnesota

Pine City is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census. Pine City is the county seat of, and the largest city in, Pine County...

.

Near its headwaters the river collects the West Branch Kettle River, which flows southeastwardly from its source near Wright. Other tributaries include the Dead Moose

Dead Moose River

The Dead Moose River is a short tributary of the Kettle River in eastern Minnesota in the United States. Via the Kettle and St. Croix Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....

 and Split Rock

Split Rock River (Kettle River)

-References:***USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Minnesota...

 Rivers, which join the Kettle in Carlton County, and the Moose Horn

Moose Horn River

-References:***USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Minnesota...

, Willow

Willow River (Kettle River)

The Willow River is a short tributary of the Kettle River in eastern Minnesota in the United States. It is one of three rivers by that name in Minnesota. Via the Kettle and St. Croix Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....

, Pine

Pine River (Kettle River)

-References:***USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Minnesota...

 and Grindstone

Grindstone River

The Grindstone River is a river of Minnesota, a tributary of the Kettle River. Its name is derived either from the Dakota Iŋswú watpá or from the Ojibwe Zhiigwanaabikokaa-ziibi...

Rivers, which join it in Pine County.
Wolf Creek, in Banning State Park, drops over a twelve foot water falls just before it enters into the Kettle River.

External links

• Kettle River canoe route from the Minnesota DNR
• American Whitewater - Minnesota Rivers
• USGS Kettle River Current Water Flow

Kettle River Paddle Festival