It flows from Baeyanggol Valley (배양골), Wolpyeong-ri (월평리/月坪里), Dudong-myeon (두동면/斗東面), Ulju County in Ulsan to the Sea of Japan, covering a distance of about 62 km.

The estuary of the Hyeongsan has been covered by the massive industrial development around the port of Pohang, including the POSCO steel mill.

The Hyeongsan is primarily notable for the Silla civilization which arose within its valley, centered at Gyeongju.

Several significant Mumun settlements arose along the river after 1100 BC, notably Wolsan-ri and Hwangseong-dong (FPCP 2005; GNRICH 2003).

The eastern bank of the river in the suburbs north of the old city of Gyeongju are the home to many industrial facilities.