Fort Defiance, Arizona, is at a northwest section of Black Creek.
The Chuska Mountains, of Arizona and New Mexico, trend southeasterly, (in the south) and form the east border of Black Creek Valley; an extension south from the Chuskas, the Manuelito Plateau, forms the east border, from Red Lake south, to just east of Fort Defiance.
Approximately 6-mi[2] south of St. Michaels, the smaller Oak Springs Valley begins.
Black Creek exits the valley southwest, through a 4-mi long canyon to enter a due-south flowing stretch to Houck, Arizona, and its confluence with the Puerco River.
[4] At Window Rock, IR-12 traverses due-north at the east bank of Black Creek.