The Little River rises below Mount Stradbroke in a remote alpine wilderness area within the Alpine National Park, and flows generally southeast, the south and leaves the national park, before heading southeast, then south by southeast, re-entering the Alpine National Park and flowing through the Snowy River National Park; joined by one minor tributary, before reaching its confluence with the Snowy River west of the Sugarloaf in the Shire of East Gippsland.

The river descends 842 metres (2,762 ft) over its 27-kilometre (17 mi) course.

[2] The Little River Gorge, located at 37°5′3″S 148°18′43″E / 37.08417°S 148.31194°E / -37.08417; 148.31194, is the deepest gorge in the state of Victoria;[3] and is located in the Snowy River National Park in East Gippsland.

[3][4] A cliff-top lookout with views over the gorge is accessed by a walking track that is 400 metres (1,300 ft) long.

[5] The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Little River are the Australian Aboriginal Bidawal and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero peoples.