A certain distance north of Akzhol it makes a wide bend heading first northwestwards and then westwards.

In its lower reaches it divides into branches and flows among small lakes and clayey areas encrusted with salt.

Finally the Karkaraly enters a bay located on the southern shore of lake Karasor.

[3][4] The valley is wide and the river channel is steep in the upper course, becoming flat in the final stretch, where it flows among meadows and willow thickets.

The Karkaraly stays frozen between November and early to mid April.