[3] The Snake River with its tributaries drains a 1,009 square miles (2,610 km2) area of Aitkin, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine counties.

Pokegama Lake, located 17.5 miles (28.2 km) from the river's mouth, gets its name from the Ojibwa bakegamaa, meaning "a side-lake (of another body of water)".

As recorded by Henry Schoolcraft, Chief Kappamappa made his home at Chengwatana at the mouth of the Snake.

Eventually, the Biitan-akiing-enabijig who defined themselves as Ojibwa became part of the St. Croix Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the Snake River sub-band subsequently became part of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, one of the four constituent tribes of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

The North West Company fur trade post was established on the river in 1804, near present Pine City.