[2] The Big River rises below the ski resort at Falls Creek in the Alpine National Park, on the northern slopes of Spion Kopje at an elevation of 1,837 metres (6,027 ft) above sea level.

The river then flows south-southeast, forming the eastern edge of the national park, before turning southward near the Omeo Highway crossing around Glen Valley, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of Anglers Rest.

Despite some land clearing and livestock damage to river banks, the aquatic habitat is generally very good.

[3] In early 2003, large areas of forest around the Big River and its catchments were severely impacted by the Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires.

These fires burnt through approximately 13,000 square kilometres (5,000 sq mi) of the area's bushland for close to two months.