It flows in the municipalities of Courcelles-Saint-Évariste, Adstock (Sainte-Method-de-Frontenac sector) and Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce, in the administrative region of Chaudière-Appalaches, in Quebec, in Canada.

The main neighboring watersheds of the Hamel river are: The Hamel river has its source on the north side of the route du lac aux Grelots, at 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) northeast of lac aux Grelots, in the municipality of Courcelles-Saint-Évariste.

From its source, the Hamel river flows over 20.2 kilometres (12.6 mi) divided into the following segments: The Hamel river "flows on the west bank of the Bras Saint-Victor in the municipality of Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce.

The confluence of the Hamel river is located 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) north of the hamlet "Saint-Éphrem-Station" and 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) at the east of the village center of Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce.

The toponym Rivière des Hamel was made official on May 29, 1980, at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.