Little Wood River is a 130 miles (209.2 km) river in south-central Idaho

Idaho

Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is a tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Malad River

Malad River

The Malad River is a tributary of the Snake River in Idaho in the United States. It is formed by the confluence of the Big Wood River and the Little Wood River near Gooding. From there the river flows south and west for to join the Snake River near Hagerman....

, which in turn is tributary to the Snake River

Snake River

The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...

 and Columbia River

Columbia River

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...

.

The Little Wood River originates in the Pioneer Mountains of northern Blaine County

Blaine County, Idaho

Blaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 21,376. The county seat and largest city is Hailey. The county is home to the Sun Valley ski resort....

, then flows south through Little Wood Reservoir near Carey

Carey, Idaho

Carey is a city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States. The population was 513 at the 2000 census. Carey is primarily an agricultural city and is the location of the Blaine County Fairgrounds. Nearby recreational destinations include the Craters of the Moon National Monument, Carey Lake, Silver...

. Below the reservoir the river flows south into Lincoln County

Lincoln County, Idaho

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 census the county had a population of 4,044 The county seat and largest city is Shoshone....

, past Richfield

Richfield, Idaho

Richfield is a city in Lincoln County, Idaho, in the United States. The population was 412 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richfield is located at ....

, and then west, past Shoshone

Shoshone, Idaho

Shoshone is the county seat and largest city of Lincoln County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census. In contrast to the Shoshone Native American tribe for which it is named, the city's name is correctly pronounced "Show-shown," with a silent 'e'.- History :Shoshone has...

, after which it enters Gooding County

Gooding County, Idaho

Gooding County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 14,155...

. Just west of Gooding

Gooding, Idaho

Gooding is the county seat and largest city of Gooding County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 3,384 at the 2000 census.The city is named for Frank R. Gooding, a local sheep rancher who became a prominent political figure in Idaho in the early 20th Century, serving as both Governor of...

, the Little Wood River joins the Big Wood River

Big Wood River

The Big Wood River is a river in central Idaho. It is a tributary of the Malad River, which in turn is tributary to the Snake River and Columbia River.-Course:...

 to form the Malad River.

The Little Wood River is the key source of irrigation

Irrigation

Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...

water for eastern Blaine County and most of Lincoln County. Its water was a major attraction for the region's first permanent settlement at Carey. The river's water flow is regulated by reservoirs and affected by diversions of water into irrigation canals.

Variant names of the Little Wood River, according to the USGS, include McArthurs River and Wood River.