Its largest tributary is its South Fork,[citation needed] which joins the Hoback about nine miles downstream of its head as it turns northeast and continues to U.S. Route 191.

It then turns northwest, where it spreads onto a large marshy flat in a braided floodplain once known as Jackson's Little Hole,[3] but now referred to as the "Hoback Basin" in which lies the town of Bondurant.

It then heads west, entering the steep, narrow Hoback Canyon[4] from which it emerges to join the Snake about 11 miles (18 km) south of Jackson Hole, just upstream of head of the Snake River Canyon near the town of Hoback.

The entire length of the Hoback is free flowing and unobstructed by dams.

About 30 miles (48 km) downstream from the confluence with the Hoback River, the Snake River crosses into the state of Idaho and is impounded by Palisades Dam.