The Hackett River's watershed covers 528 km2 (204 sq mi),[6] and its estimated mean annual discharge is 7.28 m3/s (257 cu ft/s).

The Hackett River's watershed's land cover is classified as 35.2% conifer forest, 30.5% shrubland, 11.8% mixed forest, 11.6% barren, 5.4% herbaceous, and small amounts of other cover.

[6] The Hackett River is in the traditional territory of the Tahltan people.

[7] The Hackett River originates with several small streams flowing into Kennicott Lake, on the south side of Level Mountain on the Nahlin Plateau.

[3] From its source, near Hyland Ranch,[8] the river flows northwest through the Tahltan Highland for about 33 km (21 mi).