The Vorderrhein and nearly all of its tributaries are located in the Swiss canton of Grisons (Graubünden), with the largest communities along the river being Disentis and Ilanz.

[1] According to the Atlas of Switzerland of the Swiss Federal Office of Topography,[2] the source of the Vorderrhein—and thus of the Rhine—is located north of the Rein da Tuma and Lake Toma.

In the uppermost part of its course, it runs in the Val Cadlimo, south of the geomorphological main Alpine ridge, west of the Lukmanier Pass.

The high point of the Vorderrhein's drainage basin is the Piz Russein of the Tödi massif of the Glarus Alps at 3,613 metres (11,854 ft) above sea level.

Thanks to its attractive scenery and some interesting passages, the Vorderrhein is a popular river for paddling and rafting, especially the section between Ilanz and Versam.

In the Ruinaulta area, the main road runs to the north of the river, and at its highest point, at Flims, it is about 480 metres (1,575 ft) above the Rhine.