The Dorval river valley is mainly served by the route 170 (boulevard du Royaume), for forestry and recreational tourism activities.

The surface of the Dorval River is usually frozen from the beginning of December to the end of March, however safe circulation on the ice is generally done from mid-December to mid-March.

His work site was apparently located "by the Dorval river /.../ a short distance from Alma's territory".

The Lac Saint-Jean region, 1888, page 18 (extract from the report of the surveyor Du Tremblay, possibly dating from 1883).

The river Dorval toponym was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.