The Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan, where it empties into Muskegon Lake. Muskegon Lake is connected to Lake Michigan via a mile-long channel. The river has several major branches, such as the Hersey River, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon River.

The three dams of the Muskegon River (Rogers, Hardy and Croton) generate about 45,500 kilowatts with about 30,000 of that from Hardy Dam. That is enough electricity to serve a community of nearly 23,000.