The Rivière des Étangs has its source in an agricultural zone in Deschambault-Grondines at the confluence of the Ruisseau du Grand Nord, near the limit of Saint-Casimir, between the course of the Sainte-Anne River and the Canadian Pacific railway.

[1] From its source, the Étangs river then flows over a distance of 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi), with a drop in level of 30 metres (98 ft).

Its course descends first to the southwest in the agricultural and forest zone, entering in Saint-Casimir, then to the southeast reentering in Deschambault-Grondines, bending to the east, crossing the Canadian Pacific Railway, to its mouth.

[2] The "rivière des Étangs" refers to ponds that once existed before the digging of ditches and streams in agricultural areas in the upper part of its course.

The toponym "Rivière des Étangs" was formalized on August 17, 1978, at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.