The upper and intermediate parts are served by a few forest roads for the needs of forestry and recreational tourism activities.

The water level of the river varies with the seasons and the precipitation; the spring flood occurs in March or April.

The Mauvaise River takes its source at the confluence of Lake Masson (length: 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi); altitude 425 metres (1,394 ft)).

The mouth of this lake is located at: From this confluence, the Mauvaise river flows on 22.4 kilometres (13.9 mi) first towards the south, the south-east, then the north-east, generally in the forest zone, sometimes agricultural at the end of the course, with a drop of 269 metres (883 ft), according to the following segments: The mouth of the Mauvaise River spills onto the west bank of the Bras du Nord.

The toponym "rivière Mauvaise" was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.