It is located in the east-central part of the province at the terminus of Midnight Creek in the Porcupine Hills and Porcupine Provincial Forest.

The lake is in the Woody River Block of Porcupine Hills Provincial Park[2] and is situated in boreal forest[3] surrounded by hills, other small lakes, and muskeg.

Prior to the formation of Porcupine Hills Provincial Park in 2018, the parkland around Elbow Lake was a provincial recreation site called Woody River Recreation Site.

A stream from Spirit Lake enters along the northern shore and at the southern end of the lake, a short river flows out and into Woody Lake, which is the source of the Woody River.

[5] Fish commonly found in the lake include walleye, perch, and northern pike.