The Apple River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about long, in southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois in the United States. It rises in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, and flows for most of its length in Illinois, through Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties. Along its course it passes through Apple River Canyon State Park and the town of Hanover. It flows into the Mississippi River about 7 mi (11 km) northwest of Savanna. In Jo Daviess County, it collects two short tributaries known as the West Fork Apple River and South Fork Apple River. Toponymy Apple River was so named on account of the crabapple trees along its course. A folk etymology maintains the river derives its name from a German named Appel who fell near the river in the Black Hawk War. Geology The river is part of the Driftless Area of Illinois, a region that was bypassed by the last ice age; "the glacial sweep which ironed out hills and filled valleys in other parts of the state left this area unscratched. During the Ice Age, the Apple River had its original course reversed. It once flowed to the Pecatonica River. It now flows southwest to the Mississippi River. The result is a deep canyon, part of which is preserved in Apple River Canyon State Park. See also List of tributaries of the Mississippi River List of Illinois rivers List of Wisconsin rivers Millville Town Site Notes References Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry DeLorme (2003). Illinois Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. . DeLorme (1992). Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer. Freeport, Maine: DeLorme. . Prairie Rivers Network Rivers of Illinois Rivers of Wisconsin Tributaries of the Mississippi River Rivers of Carroll County, Illinois Rivers of Jo Daviess County, Illinois Rivers of Lafayette County, Wisconsin Driftless Area