It drains 62 square miles (160 km2) of the Northern Oregon Coast Range in the extreme northwest corner of the state, entering Youngs River just above its mouth on the Columbia River at Youngs Bay.

Near the river's mouth is the site of former Fort Clatsop of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The river is home to bottom-feeding white sturgeon, which is a sport fish in the area.

The salmon fry, called "fingerlings" can be seen writhing and jumping within their net-lined pens along the river's eastern banks.

[citation needed] The river also supports runs of wild steelhead and cutthroat trout.