It is about 20 km (12 mi) long and rises on the southwestern slopes of the Eierberg near Lichtenberg in the district of Bautzen at an elevation of 320 m (1,050 ft).

Below Leppersdorf (a village in the borough of Wachau), the stream changes its course from southwest to north, following the general lie of the land.

On the edge of the mighty Okrilla Basin Sands (Okrillaer Beckensande) it swings west and discharges into the Große Röder in Cunnersdorf (a village in the borough Ottendorf-Okrilla).

Its longest tributaries are, from the south, the Orla and, from the north, the Großnaundorfer Wasser.

There are frequent floods in the catchment area of the Kleinen Röder.