It flows north from its source in the Brokenhead Swamp[3] within Sandilands Provincial Forest,[4] to its mouth in Lake Winnipeg south of Stoney Point.

[6][7] Fishers based in the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation use the lower reaches of the river to access Lake Winnipeg.

[8] Brokenhead River Ecological Reserve preserves 66 hectares (160 acres) of river-bottom forest adjacent to the river in the Rural Municipality of Brokenhead.

[9] Hazel Creek joins the Brokenhead as a right tributary several miles north of PTH 15.

[10] Bears Creek joins as a right tributary south of Mile 76 road N.[11] Beaver Creek joins as a left tributary south of PR 435.