Like the rest of Uttarakhand or the western Himalayan region, Kumaon too is the land of mountains and rivers. All the rivers of Kumaon are tributaries of the Ganga.

The three major river systems - the Yamuna, Ganga and Kali - originate from Uttarakhand. Rivers like Kuti, Dhuali E., Gori, Saryu, Ramganga E are tributaries of the Kali system, while the Pindari and Girthi along with their tributaries join the Alaknanda; the Kosi, Ramganga W., Gola, Nandaur, Sanetha, Kamin, Damoha, Begul and Bhakhra finally join the Ganga in the plains. 
 

Of the major rivers which do not originate in glaciers, the Saryu originating at Sarmul flows through Loharkhet, Kapkot, Bageshwar and Seraghat; it meets Ramganga E. at Rameswar and the combined stream meets the Kali and Pancheshwar. The Ramganga W. originating at Dudhatoli flows through Mehalchauri, Chaukhutia- Ganai, Masi etc. and reaches Corbett National Park. The Kosi originates at Bhatkot (Kausani ) and flows through Someshwar, Hawalbagh and Chopra, where it is joined by the river suyal, turns south - west at Khairna before reaching Ramanagar. On the other side of Kausani is the river Gomti which joins the Saryu at Bageshwar.

The river Gori originates from the Milam glacier and its tributaries are watered by the Syuntapani , Bamras, Mangroon, Sakram, Shalang, Poting, Ralam and Panchchuli (southern) glaciers, Milam glacier itself is joined by many smaller glaciers. The Dhauli E. is mainly watered by the glaciers of the Panchchuli (northern) and Chhota Kailas ranges such as the Nipchukang, Ngalphu, Sona, Meola , Balati, Trigal and Nigal. The Kuti gets water from Jonglingkang and its surroundings, while the Kali is watered by many glaciers adjoining Lipulekh, as also some glaciers from western Nepal including those from the catchment area of the river Tinkar.