The river begins on the western side of the Lower Red Lake and flows westward.

The Red Lake River covers a wide variety of terrain.

Afterward, St. Hilaire the sides of the river grow steeper, becoming large eroding cliffs.

The Red Lake River is one of the few Minnesota state canoe routes in the area.

[3] The Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) website (see References section) describing the nature of the river mentions three dams on the river (note that this is not to be taken as the total number of dams and/or structures located on this river): Note: The Otter Tail Power Company site does not list the above two dams as a source of hydropower.