The stream rises in the Gunnison National Forest and is formed by the merger of the North, Middle, and South Quartz creeks.

[2] It flows through the Quartz Creek Valley and through the towns of Pitkin and Ohio City.

A non-profit association, the Quartz Creek Property Owners Association, advocates for managing and preserving the Quartz Creek Valley's natural resources.

Focusing on fingerling- and catchable-size rainbow and cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon, the hatchery is a brood and production facility.

[3] Ironically, most of the land along Quartz Creek in the valley is privately held, so there is little public fishing there.