[1] It is part of the Great Lakes Basin and is a left tributary of the East Branch Don River.

It originates in Vaughan (near Bathurst Street and the King–Vaughan Town Line), flows south through Richmond Hill and Markham, and empties into the East Branch Don River in the East Don Parklands in Toronto, south of Steeles Avenue between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street.

It is part of a number of streams, swamps and swales located near the Oak Ridges Moraine.

The Richmond Hill portions of the river snake through residential development with a very narrow greenbelt on either side of the creek.

The Markham sections run through a mix of residential, commercial and light industrial areas.