The river rises in West Central Connecticut from Dead Wood Swamp near the city of New Britain.

[8] Paddling is a frequent recreational activity along the Quinnipiac River, especially within the tidal marsh in North Haven.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the river suffered from severe pollution problems because of the presence of heavy industry and population centers in its watershed.

In 1886, the state legislature passed a measure prohibiting the City of Meriden from discharging raw sewage into the river.

[5] Nevertheless, by 1914, the State Board of Health reported that the major fish life had largely disappeared from its mouth.