Forestry is the main economic activity in this valley; second, recreational tourism.

Because of its altitude, the surface of "Petite rivière Smith" is generally frozen from late November to early April; however, safe circulation on the ice is generally done from mid-December to the end of March.

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

This source is located between two mountains in the unorganized territory of Lac-Jacques-Cartier, at: From it source, the Petite rivière Smith descends on 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) in the forest zone, with a drop of 63 metres (207 ft) according to the following segments: From the confluence of "Petite rivière Smith", the current descends the Smith River on 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) southwest, then on 40.7 kilometres (25.3 mi) generally south along the course of the Montmorency river, to the northwest bank of the Saint-Laurent river.

The toponym "Petite rivière Smith" was formalized on November 1, 1988 at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.