The river begins as glacial runoff in the Gaularfjellet mountains and it runs through the municipalities of Sunnfjord and Sogndal.

The river starts up in the mountains and empties into a fjord at sea level, and so the water drops over 700 metres (2,300 ft) in elevation throughout its course.

The northern branch begins in the mountains east of the village of Haukedalen in Førde Municipality.

The southern branch begins at the lake Norddalsvatnet on the border of the municipalities of Sunnfjord and Sogndal.

It then finishes its course by flowing westward, passing through the municipal center of Sande, before emptying into the Dalsfjorden at Osen near the village of Bygstad.