▁the ▁Rock ▁River , ▁it ▁is ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁waters hed ▁of ▁the ▁Mississippi ▁River . ▁ ▁The ▁Y ah ara ▁River ▁links ▁the ▁la kes ▁around ▁which ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Mad ison ▁was ▁built . ▁ ▁Description ▁The ▁river ▁begins ▁in ▁W inds or ▁in ▁northern ▁D ane ▁County ▁and ▁flows ▁for ▁a ▁short ▁distance ▁in ▁the ▁town ▁of ▁Le eds ▁in ▁Columbia ▁County , ▁then ▁returns ▁to ▁D ane ▁County ▁and ▁flows ▁south ward ▁through ▁the ▁villages ▁of ▁De For est ▁and ▁W inds or , ▁and ▁the ▁towns ▁of ▁Bur ke ▁and ▁West port ▁into ▁Lake ▁M end ota ▁in ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Mad ison . ▁ ▁Down stream ▁from ▁Lake ▁M end ota , ▁the ▁river ▁is ▁channel ized ▁through ▁the ▁Mad ison ▁Ist hm us ▁sout heast ward , ▁and ▁flows ▁through ▁Lake ▁Mon ona , ▁Lake ▁Wa ub esa ▁and ▁Lake ▁K eg ons a , ▁passing ▁through ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Mon ona , ▁the ▁village ▁of ▁Mc F ar land , ▁the ▁towns ▁of ▁D unn ▁and ▁Ple asant ▁Spr ings , ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁St ought on ▁and ▁the ▁town ▁of ▁D unk irk ▁( including ▁the ▁un in cor por ated ▁community ▁of ▁D unk irk ) ▁in ▁D ane ▁County ; ▁and ▁the ▁towns ▁of ▁Por ter ▁( including ▁the ▁un in cor por ated ▁community ▁of ▁Ste bb ins ville ) ▁and ▁F ult on ▁( including ▁the ▁un in cor por ated ▁community ▁of ▁F ult on ) ▁in ▁northern ▁Rock