The upper part of the river is located south of Lawagamau Lake and east of Ontario Highway 652.

Then the river continues towards 17.9 kilometres (11.1 mi) to the north shore of Burntbush Lake.

The current crosses Burntbush Lake on its full length, 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) to the southeast.

The current flows south-easterly for 29.6 kilometres (18.4 mi) to the mouth of the Kabika River (Ontario), which drains the waters of the Kabika East River and several streams including Tomlinson Creek.

The confluence of the Burntbush River is located at 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) (direct line) west of the Ontario - Quebec border; 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) north of the mouth of the Patten River; 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) downstream of the Interprovincial Border on the Turgeon River and 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) upstream of the second interprovincial boundary crossing.