The Nelson River is located in the administrative region of Capitale-Nationale, in province of Quebec, in Canada.

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

Formerly also called by its residents "Grand-Désert river", it rises near the Canadian Forces Base of Valcartier (a garrison of the Canadian Armed Forces), runs through the Val-Bélair district then flows into the Saint-Charles River a little upstream of the drinking water supply point of the Quebec city, at the level of rue Jeanne-D'Arc on the territory of 7th arrondissement.

[1] From this confluence, the current descends on 25.6 kilometres (15.9 mi) generally towards the south-east, then towards the north-east, following the course of the Saint-Charles river.

[2] The toponym "Nelson River" was formalized on March 28, 1974 at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.