The course of the river successively crosses the townships of Bourbaux, Berthiaume, Noyelles, Le Tardif, Comporte and Pouchot.

The northern route from Matagami passing at 19.4 kilometres (12.1 mi) to the northwest of the mouth of the Opaoca River.

The surface of the river is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice circulation is generally from mid-November to mid-April.

The “Commission de géographie du Québec” (English: Geographical Survey of Quebec) had formalized this name in 1948.

The graphism Opaoka appears on the map of the township of Pouchot designed by the Department of Lands and Forests in 1965.