The Soldier River 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 Missouri River

Missouri River

The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...

, about 67 miles (107.8 km) long, in western Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Several portions of the river's course have been straightened and channelized.

The Soldier River rises in southeastern Ida County

Ida County, Iowa

-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,089 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,426 housing units, of which 3,052 were occupied.-2000 census:...

 and flows generally southwestwardly through northwestern Crawford

Crawford County, Iowa

-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,096 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,943 housing units, of which 6,413 were occupied.-2000 census:...

, southeastern Monona

Monona County, Iowa

-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,243 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,697 housing units, of which 4,050 were occupied.-2000 census:...

 and northwestern Harrison

Harrison County, Iowa

-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,928 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,731 housing units, of which 5,987 were occupied.-2000 census:...

 Counties, past the towns of Ute

Ute, Iowa

Ute is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States, along the Soldier River. The population was 378 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ute is located at ....

, Soldier

Soldier, Iowa

Soldier is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States, along the Soldier River. The population was 207 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Soldier is located at ....

, Moorhead

Moorhead, Iowa

Moorhead is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. Moorhead stands along the Soldier River and, as of the 2000 census, its population was 232.-Geography:Moorhead is located at ....

 and Pisgah

Pisgah, Iowa

Pisgah is a city in Harrison County, Iowa, United States, along the Soldier River. The community is located in the midst of the modestly scenic Loess Hills.The population was 316 at the 2000 census....

. It flows into the Missouri River via a diversion channel about 5 mi (8 km) west-northwest of Mondamin

Mondamin, Iowa

Mondamin is a city in Harrison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 423 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mondamin is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....

.

At Ute, the river collects the East Soldier River, which rises near Schleswig

Schleswig, Iowa

Schleswig is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States. The population was 833 at the 2000 census.Schleswig is named after the region of the same name in Germany and Denmark, from which the original settlers came.-Geography:...

 and flows past Charter Oak

Charter Oak, Iowa

Charter Oak is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the East Soldier River. The population was 530 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Charter Oak is located at ....

. The East Soldier River collects the Middle Soldier River, which flows past Ricketts

Ricketts, Iowa

Ricketts is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Middle Soldier River. The population was 144 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ricketts is located at ....

.