The East Fork, shown on federal maps as the main stem of the river, begins south of Murray near the community of Puryear in Henry County, Tennessee and is paralleled by the Paducah, Tennessee and Alabama Railroad.
The West Fork begins about 4 miles (6 km) west of Murray near the intersection of Jones-Sparkman and Butterworth Roads in Calloway County and flows through Kaler and Symsonia in Graves County before joining with the East Fork at Oaks Station in McCracken County.
This river is full of wildlife including the venomous water moccasin snake.
Documented evidence states that many Native American encampments and Indian tribes camped and lived along its banks.
To this day artifacts have been found including spearheads, arrowheads and pottery.