The river begins at an unnamed lake in the southeast corner of Algonquin Provincial Park, in geographic Master Township in the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District.

From this point, the river valley is used as the route of the now abandoned Canadian National Railway Beachburg Subdivision, a section of track that was originally constructed as the Canadian Northern Railway main line.

The river passes the railway point of Dahlia, and leaves the park and Nipissing District to enter Renfrew County, at geographic Richards Township in the municipality of Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards.

After only 1,100 metres (3,600 ft), it passes into geographic Fraser Township in the municipality of Laurentian Valley, then reaches the unincorporated place and railway point of Indian.

It continues east, loops under Renfrew County Road 58, and reaches the community of Alice.