Saline River, river of northern Kansas, U.S. It rises near Oakley, in the northwestern corner of the state, and flows about 340 miles (550 km) east past Sylvan Grove and Lincoln to join the Smoky Hill River 6 miles (10 km) east of Salina, in central Kansas. West of Sylvan Grove the river is dammed to impound Wilson Lake, a flood-control and irrigation project as well as a popular recreation area.