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

[1] The designation "Rivière aux Pins" evokes the fact that in XIXth pines were present on the territory around this river; this species was rather rare elsewhere in the area belonging to Séminaire de Québec.

Under the French Regime, pine wood was used for the construction of Royal Navy vessels, notably the masts.

The exploitation of pine contributed to the colonization of Mauricie, the Gatineau Valley, Lac-Saint-Jean and Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in particular.

The toponym "Rivière des Pins" was formalized on February 4, 1982, at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.