[3] The headwaters of the river rise to the west of the Ashton Range and flow in a northerly direction through the Drysdale River National Park past the Seppelt Range, joined by one minor tributary before reaching its river mouth and emptying into Koolama Bay and the Timor Sea, approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) east of Kalumburu.

The river descends 216 metres (709 ft) over its 112-kilometre (70 mi) course,[2] including a 38–40-metre (125–131 ft) descent over the dual drop waterfall of King George Falls, approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) upriver from the river mouth.

[4] The recorded height of the waterfall varies widely, with some sources claiming the descent is in the range of 80–100 metres (262–328 ft).

[5][6] The falls are in full force from late December through to early May each year and gradually recede to a small flow in September.

[9] The river was named in 1911 by explorer Charles Conigrave after a privately funded expedition in the area.