The surrounding hydrographic slopes of the Nipukatasi River are: A small unnamed lake (length: 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi), elevation: 410 metres (1,350 ft)) is the head of the Nipukatasi River.

From the mouth of this lake, the Nipukatasi River first flows 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the west.

The river branches north to flow 8.6 kilometres (5.3 mi) to a dump from the east.

Next, the river branches north for 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi) to the south shore of Lake Rocher (elevation 255 metres (837 ft)), which flows 26.4 kilometres (16.4 mi) (full length) to the northeast.

The toponym Nipukatasi River was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.