South Branch Kishwaukee River

South Branch Kishwaukee River
The South Branch Kishwaukee River flowing through Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife Area, spring 2025
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationShabbona Township, DeKalb County, Illinois
 • coordinates41°46′24″N 88°54′06″W / 41.7733333°N 88.9016667°W / 41.7733333; -88.9016667 (South Branch Kishwaukee River origin)
 • elevation900 ft (270 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Confluence with the Kishwaukee River near Rockford, Illinois
 • coordinates
42°12′00″N 88°59′01″W / 42.2°N 88.9836111°W / 42.2; -88.9836111 (South Branch Kishwaukee River mouth)
 • elevation
709 ft (216 m)
Length64 mi (103 km)
Discharge 
 • locationFairdale, Illinois, United States
 • average305 cu ft (8.6 m3)/s
Basin features
ProgressionSouth Branch Kishwaukee River → Kishwaukee → Rock → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico
GNIS ID422087

The South Branch Kishwaukee River is a 63.6-mile-long (102.4 km) tributary of the Kishwaukee River in northern Illinois. The South Branch is the main branch of the Kishwaukee River, joining it 10.6 miles (17.1 km) above its confluence with the Rock River. The South Branch flows through DeKalb County; in 2007 flooding along the tributary inundated areas of DeKalb County and Sycamore, Illinois.

Another stream, also named South Branch Kishwaukee River, flows through Kane County and McHenry County, joining the main stem of the Kishwaukee east of Marengo.