Safe circulation on the ice is generally done from the end of December to the beginning of March.

It winds its way northward through several towns and villages in Quebec, Canada, such as Elgin, Hinchinbrooke, Huntingdon, Dewittville, Ormstown and Châteauguay, before emptying into the Saint Lawrence River near Montreal.

The Châteauguay River originates at Upper Chateauguay Lake (length: 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi); altitude: ), in Clinton County, New York, in New York State, in Adirondacks.

The Châteauguay River flows over 106.8 kilometres (66.4 mi), with a drop of , according to the following segments: Upper course of the river, in American territory (segment of 32.9 kilometres (20.4 mi)) Intermediate course of the river, down the Canada-US border (segment of 53.7 kilometres (33.4 mi)) Lower course, downstream from the rivière des Anglais (segment of 20.2 kilometres (12.6 mi)) The river is home to many species of birds and fish and is a major stopping-point for migrating ducks and Canada geese.

Although polluted for many years, the river has been cleaned up and is beginning to be an eco-tourism destination for canoeing and kayaking.