[4] It is a tributary of the Muskoka River via Lake of Bays, flowing in a mostly south-westerly direction through undisturbed mixed forest that is home to many native mammal species.

[2] The Oxtongue River subwatershed, dominated by mixed forest, is home to moose, bear, and other mammal species.

[1] The coniferous forest in the Oxtongue River valley is inhabited by various bird species, such as black-backed woodpecker, winter wren, northern saw-whet owl, boreal chickadee, spruce grouse, and various warbler species (including northern parula).

Its basin is almost entirely undeveloped, consisting of 28% Crown land and 69% protected in various provincial parks and conservation areas.

[5] The Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park is about 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Huntsville, Ontario, protecting a 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi) long section of the Oxtongue River from the west boundary of Algonquin Provincial Park to Highway 60.

In the 1960s, it was considered to add this area to the perimeter recreation system program of Algonquin Provincial Park.