Approaching the marsh area located west of the southern part of lac des Neiges, the road makes a detour to the east to bypass this latter lake from the south and continue north on the east bank.

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

The Black River has its source in Lake Asticot (length: 0.4 kilometres (0.25 mi); altitude: 906 metres (2,972 ft)), in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, in the territory not organized by Lac-Jacques-Cartier.

This lake between the mountains is located at the foot (western slope) of Mont Jean-Hubert whose summit (altitude: 1,061 metres (3,481 ft) is located at 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) at Its mouth is located 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) west of lac des Neiges, at 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) east of Lac Gamache which constitutes the head lake of the Malbaie River.

[1] The Black River toponym was formalized on June 1, 1972 at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.