The Maunesha River is a 33.5 miles (53.9 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 Crawfish River

Crawfish River

The Crawfish River is a tributary of the Rock River, long, in south-central Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Rock River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....

 in south-central 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 Crawfish and Rock rivers, it is part 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...

 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...

.

Course

The Maunesha is formed in the town of Bristol

Bristol, Dane County, Wisconsin

Bristol is a town in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States located just north of the city of Sun Prairie and 15 miles northeast of Madison. The population was 2,698 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of East Bristol and North Bristol are located in the town.-Economy:Bristol is...

 in Dane County

Dane County, Wisconsin

As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...

 from a collection of headwaters tributaries flowing from Columbia County

Columbia County, Wisconsin

-Unincorporated communities:*Anacker*Belle Fountain*Durwards Glen*East Friesland*Harmony Grove*Ingle*Keyeser*Lake Wisconsin*Leeds*Lowville*Marcellon*North Leeds*Okee*Otsego-External links:***...

. It flows generally eastward through northeastern Dane County (past the village of Marshall

Marshall, Dane County, Wisconsin

Marshall is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Maunesha River. The population was 3,432 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...

), northwestern Jefferson County

Jefferson County, Wisconsin

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 74,021. Its county seat is Jefferson.-Geography:According to the U.S...

 (past the city of Waterloo) and southwestern Dodge County

Dodge County, Wisconsin

Dodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 88,759. Its county seat is Juneau.-Geography:According to the U.S...

, where it joins the Crawfish River in the town of Portland

Portland, Dodge County, Wisconsin

Portland is a town in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,106 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Portland is located in the town.-Geography:...

.

An excellent public area to view this narrow fast-flowing river is in Waterloo at Fireman's Park.