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

The Martres river rises from the Lac de la Loutre (length: 0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi); altitude: 596 metres (1,955 ft)) landlocked between the mountains, located in a forest area in the territory not organized from Lac-Pikauba.

It is named after the American marten, carnivorous mammal of the Mustelidae family, whose fur was much sought after.

Since the mid-20th century, due to intensive logging and the increase in the acidity rate of lakes, this mammal has become rarer in this sector.

[2] The toponym "Rivière des Martres" was formalized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec.