Middle River (Iowa)

The Middle River is a tributary of the Des Moines River in south-central Iowa in the United States. It is 123 mi long and drains an area of 489.5 sqmi. Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.

The Middle River rises in southwestern Guthrie County and initially flows southeastwardly through Adair County, then eastwardly through Madison County, then east-northeastwardly through Warren County, passing the towns of Casey, Winterset, Patterson, Bevington, Martensdale, Spring Hill and Carlisle. A substantial portion of the Middle River's course through Warren County has been straightened and channelized. It joins the Des Moines River in Warren County near Carlisle, 13 mi southeast of Des Moines.

A short headwaters tributary of the river is known as the South Fork Middle River. It rises near the western edge of Guthrie County, about a mile north of Adair, at an elevation of 1433 ft and flows generally east-southeast for about 5 mi passing just south of Casey before turning northeast as it empties into the Middle River just east of Casey at an elevation of 1195 ft.