The river is approximately 12.9 miles (20.8 km) long[4][a] and drains an area of 61.7 square miles (160 km2)[6][b] in a generally rural area situated between the cities of Holland and Grand Haven.

The Pigeon River's watershed and course are located entirely in western Ottawa County.

The river has been stocked annually with brown trout by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources since 2003.

[12] A 1997 watershed management plan found that approximately half of the land in the Pigeon River watershed was used for agriculture, with most of this area in Blendon, Olive, and Robinson townships.

Agricultural production in the watershed included ornamental nursery crops, Christmas tree, blueberries, upland vegetables, field crops, turkeys, poultry eggs, beef and dairy cattle, and hogs.