The drainage area, part of the Royal National City Park and divided into several nature reserves, is shared by the municipalities of Järfälla, Sollentuna, Solna, Stockholm, and Sundbyberg.

Stretching more than 10 kilometres west to east from Säbysjön in Järfälla to Edsviken near the Ulriksdal Palace, Igelbäcken's main feeder is the stream Djupanbäcken carrying water from the small lake Djupan.

[3] The upper part of the watershed is constituted of Norra Järvafältet, an open-air area characterized by moraine ridges covered with forests separated by water meadows and tilled fields.

Thereafter, the stream flows some 4 km in the valley separating the suburbs Akalla-Hjulsta and Tensta-Rinkeby and where are several rural structures including an ecological farm (Hästa Gård), eight allotment-gardens, and some minor overgrown wetlands.

Next to the poor running waters near Ulriksdal Palace are intermediate water-starwort and further upstream two-metre tall great willowherb is found along the shores as are instances of blue water-speedwell.

[5] Numerous birds, such as thrush nightingale, common snipe, and Eurasian woodcock, breed along the stream, and species feeding in and around it include white-throated dipper, herons, and lesser spotted woodpecker.

The cultivated grounds located along the central reach of the stream attract species such as long-eared owl, common kestrel, red-backed shrike, whinchat, and skylark.