- St. Marys River: Connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron
- St. Clair River: Connects Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair
- Detroit River: Connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie
- Niagara River: Connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario
- St. Lawrence River: Connects Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean
In addition to these primary rivers, there are also a number of smaller rivers and channels that help connect the Great Lakes, including:
- The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal: Connects Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River Basin
- The Welland Canal: A series of canals that bypass the Niagara Falls and connect Lake Erie to Lake Ontario
- The Trent-Severn Waterway: A series of canals and rivers that connect Lake Huron to Lake Ontario
- The Rideau Canal: A series of canals that connects Lake Ontario to the Ottawa River
These rivers and channels play a vital role in the transportation of goods and people, as well as in the regulation of water levels in the Great Lakes.