It is about 27 km (17 mi) long and flows through the Bavarian region of Franconian Switzerland in Germany.

Blocked by a hill range, it turns 90 degrees to the west before cutting through the ridge and passes through the upper Püttlach valley, past the Adamsfels Cave[3] as far as Pottenstein.

The Püttlach now flows westwards through a narrow gorge and empties into the Wiesent at Behringersmühle where the Ailsbach (or Aßbach) joins from the right (mouth height approximately 324 m above sea level (NN)).

The Püttlach Valley has been incised deep into the countryside of the Franconian Jura and has many prominent rock formations.

In the valley lie the settlements of Pottenstein and Tüchersfeld; in both places some of the houses are built directly on or against the rocks.