The Maple River is a 74.1 miles (119.3 km) 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 Grand River

Grand River (Michigan)

The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...

 in the central part of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. It rises in Shiawassee Township

Shiawassee Township, Michigan

Shiawassee Township is a civil township of Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...

, Shiawassee County

Shiawassee County, Michigan

-Transportation:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,687 people, 26,896 households, and 19,849 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile . There were 29,087 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile...

 south of the city of Owosso

Owosso, Michigan

Owosso is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,713 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the eastern side of Owosso Township, but is politically independent...

. It flows west through Clinton

Clinton County, Michigan

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...

, Gratiot

Gratiot County, Michigan

-US Highways:* US-127 routes north to I-75 and south to Lansing.*   BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown Alma.*   BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown Ithaca.*   BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown St. Louis....

 and Ionia

Ionia County, Michigan

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...

 counties, flowing into the Grand River at Muir

Muir, Michigan

Muir is a village in Lyons Township, Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 634 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.30% is water....

. Other cities it flows through along the way include Ovid

Ovid, Michigan

Ovid is a village in Clinton and Shiawassee counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Nearly all of the village is located within Ovid Township in Clinton County. The population was 1,514 at the 2000 census.The village is on M-21, about east of St...

, Elsie

Elsie, Michigan

Elsie is a village in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,055 at the 2000 census.The village consists of two noncontiguous portions within Duplain Township in the northeast portion of Clinton County.-Geography:...

 and Maple Rapids

Maple Rapids, Michigan

Maple Rapids is a village in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 643 at the 2000 census.The village is in Essex Township in the northern part of the county. It is about 10 miles northwest of St...

.

There are 5 major dams along the river and its tributaries: Lake Victoria, Lake Ovid, Elsie, Rainbow and Hubbardston.