The river originates in the Sierra Nevada east of Porterville and consists of three forks, North, Middle and South.

Tulare Lake is the terminal sink of an endorheic basin that historically also received the Kaweah and Kern Rivers as well as southern distributaries of the Kings.

The Yaudanchi, also called Nutaa, of the Yokuts peoples held Tule River in the foothills, especially the North and Middle Forks.

Sycamore and Whitney Creeks join the river from the east and west, respectively, before it meets the Middle Fork at Springville.

The South Fork flows northwest and west, paralleling California State Route 190, from its headwaters near Camp Nelson.

From the confluence, the Tule River flows about 10 miles (16 km) south and west, still following State Route 190, to Lake Success.

Kenneth McDarment, a Tule River Tribe member and past tribal councilman, led the effort with CDFW to return beaver for their potential to improve habitat conditions for endangered amphibians and birds that live in the area, including foothill and southern mountain yellow-legged frogs, western pond turtles, least Bell’s vireo and southwestern willow flycatchers.